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Eavesdropping on JFK & Ike: Hear Their Cuban Missile Crisis Phone Call

This week marks two significant anniversaries in the realm of American rhetoric and politics  — the 50th anniversaries of President Eisenhower's farewell address and President Kennedy's inaugural — and On Point is looking at both. (Hear our show on Eisenhower; and catch our show on JFK.)

The John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum has just put online a number of documents, to mark the anniversary. One of the new items made available is a phone call between Eisenhower and Kennedy, who was grappling with the Cuban missile crisis and seeking advice from his predecessor. Note the uneasy laughter from both at the end of the call, which we excerpt here:

President John Kennedy and former President Dwight Eisenhower at Camp David in Maryland, April 22, 1961, where the two met to discuss Cuba. (AP Photo)
President John Kennedy and former President Dwight Eisenhower at Camp David in Maryland, April 22, 1961, where the two met to discuss Cuba. (AP Photo)

This program aired on January 18, 2011. The audio for this program is not available.

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