Lessons from the Cuban Missile Crisis

Source:  Boston Globe (from JFK Library)

On this day in 1962, President John F. Kennedy addressed the nation to discuss the Cuban Missile Crisis.  In his speech, Kennedy informed the public that the U.S. would be establishing a naval quarantine around the island of Cuba until the missiles were removed.  I have written extensively about Kennedy's decision-making process during the crisis.   Ten years ago, I had the opportunity to talk to Kennedy's Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara, about the crisis.  He came to Harvard to address my students at that time.  For more on what we can learn from how Kennedy led his team through that ordeal, you might wish to read an article that I published in the Ivey Business Journal.