“You really think they would do that?”
“Yes. That’s how they think.”
“Well, they’re making a big mistake, my friend. There’ll be no changes to that proposal or the deal’s off.”
“You’d really turn it down and leave only twenty-four hours before you went in to Cuba?”
“Yes. Congress would impeach me if I chickened out in these circumstances.”
“Then you must make that clear so that they can fall back on the original proposal.”
“Are you certain about that?”
“No. But it fits the pattern so far.” He paused. “Unless I’m quite wrong and they really do want war.” He shook his head. “If it had got to that stage they would have warned me and given me new tasks.”
“I hope you’re right, Andy. I’d planned on sleeping tonight, and I’m gonna keep to it.”
Malloy and Aarons had made their way back to their accommodation in the Green Room and some instinct made Aarons switch on the radio. Radio Moscow was just beginning its day with weather reports state by state of the Soviet Union. These were followed by talks on Soviet agricultural experiments. There was a programme on various transport subjects and news of a new car being designed in conjunction with an unnamed European car manufacturer. Then came the news but there was no mention of Khrushchev’s approach, not even of the missile crisis despite a mention of a record Cuban coffee crop.
There was an hour’s programme from a running series on the history of the Revolution and then the broadcast stopped in mid-sentence. After a few seconds’ silence the announcer said that there was a news-flash. Then followed the text of a letter from Khrushchev to President Kennedy. As a condition of removing the missiles from Cuba he demanded that the NATO missile bases in Turkey should be dismantled. And this letter was not in Khrushchev’s own rather emotional style but the kind of letter that had obviously been put together by a committee.
Malloy was still asleep and Aarons walked over to the telephone and dialled the internal operator’s number and asked for Robert Kennedy. Kennedy was already reading a typed transcript of Khrushchev’s letter. He said that he would speak to his brother and call Aarons back. He also mentioned that the President had reports from the FBI that Soviet diplomats were preparing to destroy embassy and consular documents.
He woke Malloy and told him the news and Malloy was still shaving when the President and Robert Kennedy came in.
“Your instincts were right, Andy. At least it doesn’t come entirely as a surprise. To add to the scenario I’ve just been told that one of our U-2s has been shot down over Cuba. That means that they’ve got the SAM bases operational.” He paused. “Any ideas?”
“Maybe you should reply to the first letter and ignore the second.”
Bobby Kennedy said urgently, “That’s it. That’s it, Jack. Get them drafting a reply immediately.”
The President obviously wasn’t happy with the idea but he went along with it. Several senior members of the executive composed draft replies but Robert Kennedy found fault with all of them. Finally the President said, “If you disagree so violently with all the drafts then you do the draft.”
Robert Kennedy and Ted Sorensen picked the bits that suited them from both Khrushchev letters and the Fomin proposals. They were aware that they were confirming the US agreement to a set of proposals that the Kremlin had, formally, never made. The final letter was sent to Moscow just after 5 p.m. that evening and at the same time the White House announced that the United States had agreed to Moscow’s conditions.
There was then nothing for any of the members of the Ex Comm to do. It was a time of extreme tension and several long-experienced members admitted later they had looked out at the October sunshine and wondered if it was the last time that they would do that. One had told his wife where to go with the children if Washington should be evacuated.
The two clocks that had been mounted on the wall showing local time and Moscow time only seemed to emphasise the distance between the two capitals.
Aarons went to bed early and set the small bed-side alarm that Bobby had lent him to 6 a.m. local time. But in fact he woke at 5 a.m. and washed, shaved and dressed for the new day. The radio had been on all night and he sat reading with the programmes as a permanent background.
Just before 9 a.m. there was an announcement that there was to be an important statement on the hour. Andrei woke Malloy who sat on the edge of his bed waiting for Andrei to translate what was going to be said.
The message was not long and it was the third paragraph that mattered. Aarons translated it slowly and carefully.
“In order to eliminate … as rapidly as possible … the conflict which … endangers the cause of peace … the Soviet government … has given a new order … to dismantle the arms which you consider … as offensive … and to crate them and … return them to the Soviet Union …”
Aarons smiled at Malloy. “How about you phone through to Bobby in case he hasn’t already been told.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Find another phone and call home.” He paused. “Can we go back today?”
“I’m sure they’ll arrange anything you want.”
“What day is it today?”
Malloy laughed. “Sunday, October 28, 1962.”
Malloy and Aarons had packed their few belongings and the phone rang to say that their car was waiting. They were about to leave when the President came in looking tired but calm.
“I just wanted to say thanks for your help, Andy. It won’t be forgotten.” He held out his hand. “Have a good journey home.” He looked from one to the other. “You don’t need an invitation to Hyannisport, just come when you need some fresh air.”
CHAPTER 50
In the list of telephone messages that Tania had noted
