The Shadow of War by Jeff Shaara

Author:Jeff Shaara
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: St. Martin's Publishing Group

CHAPTER NINETEEN Khrushchev

Tuesday, October 23, 1962

Moscow, the Kremlin

Throughout the day on Monday, Khrushchev had felt an odd itch, that something was happening in Washington that no one around him could truly explain. Vague reports still flowed from various sources in the American capital, those whose job it was to keep their ears to the ground, picking up any tidbits of information that could tell Khrushchev just what might be going on in the hearts and minds of the American leaders. This Monday had been particularly intriguing, word coming from Dobrynin’s office, as well as the far more low-key source, the spy Bolshakov, reporting a heightened sense of agitation in the capital. It had become clear that great efforts were being made to display a business-as-usual attitude, yet nothing about the behavior of several key American officials was usual at all. Most obvious was the absence of men like Rusk and McNamara from their usual haunts, social and diplomatic gatherings; if they were present at all, it was for short minutes. Gone seemed to be the social chatter that usually surrounded Kennedy and his staff, and in Moscow, it was seen as most strange that Kennedy himself seemed to cut short his efforts at campaigning for the midterm elections. But Khrushchev knew not to trust rumor, even from those he otherwise trusted completely, though the heightened presence of American troops and ships near Cuba was no rumor at all. Khrushchev still couldn’t believe that Kennedy would be reckless enough to invade Cuba, not with so many warnings passing from Moscow to Washington. Kosygin had been no help at all defusing the mystery, his meeting with Kennedy as bland as both men tried to portray. As usual, there had been the perfunctory warnings passed back and forth about Berlin and Cuba, and if Kennedy had anything of substance to say, he didn’t say it to Kosygin. Dobrynin seemed more interested in playing the role of the genial diplomat, enjoying the various state dinners, all the while trying to feel the pulse of official Washington. But Dobrynin had nothing useful to offer, and Khrushchev had begun to wonder if Dobrynin was enjoying himself a bit too much in Washington. At any rate, Khrushchev had long since avoided passing on highly sensitive information to his ambassador. If Dobrynin didn’t have secrets to reveal, he couldn’t reveal them.

He looked at his watch, after midnight, stretched his back, felt the weariness of another day of haphazard news and unreliable reporting. But finally, word had come from Dobrynin that Kennedy was to speak to the American people via television, which seemed to be Kennedy’s favorite venue. Khrushchev received that news with a sense of relief, that surely, Kennedy wouldn’t waste his time speaking to his public unless he had something significant to say. With so many mysteries about, perhaps Kennedy would clear them up.

Kennedy’s speech had prompted him to summon the Presidium into a rare nighttime session, preparing, as always, to react to any kind of important news.

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