The Presidency

By Hugh Sidey

John Kennedy really was in the cross hairs of nuclear history in 1962. Last week's reminder of the Cuban missile crisis showed more clearly than ever the world's close call.

The U.S., of course, had a raft of contingency plans in case of a nuclear attack. One called for the emergency evacuation by helicopter, from the South Lawn, of the President and the 50 or so people who made up the heart of the Government. They were to be whisked to the Blue Ridge Mountains and secreted in a command post under 600 ft. of stone, from there to run the war and the nation. Some newsmen were to be included to send out dispatches on presidential decisions, should any printing presses or broadcast facilities be left standing. We were ordered to stay within 20 minutes of the White House and near a phone. I brooded for a couple of days over the prospect of leaving a wife and three small children behind, and decided I could not do it. I asked to be taken off the pool. I felt the moment was so unreal that none of us knew for sure what we were doing.

When the crisis had passed, a Kennedy insider told the following story: When the President and his inner circle were briefed on the plans to hurry to the South Lawn for the helicopter lift, one aide was deeply troubled. This fellow went to the President and told Kennedy that he did not plan to leave the White House and his family, attack or not. Kennedy reportedly looked up with that wry smile on his face and said, "That's O.K. Neither do I. I'm staying right here." So much for the doomsday scenario.

The participants who trickled back from the Moscow conference last week confirmed Kennedy's state of mind. Robert McNamara recalled hearing Kennedy say something just like those words. And McGeorge Bundy, J.F.K.'s National Security Adviser, said that no one he recalled had any intention of leaving the White House.

Former Secretary of State Dean Rusk, who did not go to Moscow for the conference but followed it closely, added his agreement, then explained it in his tough, clear fashion. "Evacuation under those circumstances is psychologically impossible," he said. "There is no way you are going to get people to leave their families and intimate friends and colleagues. I've thought about this a good deal, and I think there should be an alternate Government designated out around the country, perhaps using the Governors." A good idea. May there never be the need.