In retrospect the Cuban Missile Crisis reminds us of the fragility of decision-making systems under extreme pressure. Gambling With Armageddon avoids the mythmaking that many of President Kennedy's group of advisors, given the futuristic name "Ex-Comm", were cool rationalists. At certain points every member pushed for an invasion of Cuba, which had a high probability of triggering a chain reaction leading to nuclear catastrophe. Everyone was prepared for war and seemingly made their own peace with that decision.
The political pressures of the Cold War led to the existential moment of the crisis. Kennedy and his advisors always had domestic politics on their minds, any hint that concessions were made must never see the light of day. Khruschev insisted the missiles placed in Turkey and Europe were like a loaded gun to the head of the Soviet Union, placing missiles in Cuba reciprocated the feeling for Americans. Khruschev got the missiles out of Turkey and secured the long-term survival of Castro. Kennedy got the missiles out of Cuba and salvaged his legacy as a master of managing a crisis.
The crisis also showed how technology limited the actions of both sides. In a compressed time frame, each side had to consider their options and possible consequences. A nuclear exchange would destroy civilization, nullifying all human achievements. Sherwin contends we got lucky and still live on borrowed time. If even the most rational individuals barely dodged a bullet, what if unbalanced or delusional minds are in control?
The 1951 film The Day the Earth Stood Still ends with an alien intelligence warning humanity they might have to intervene if Earth continues its self-destructive path, which is oddly comforting, a superintelligence protecting us from ourselves. But no insurance policy against nuclear war exists, we are stuck with ourselves.
Sherwin credits political cartoonist Herb Block to summing up the crisis best.
