2:01:00
So what are we gonna say
to the Soviets
2:01:03
about this offer?
2:01:05
Well, it depends, doesn't it?
2:01:06
Do we really believe
there's been a coup?
2:01:10
What if Fomin wasn't a ploy?
2:01:13
What if his message was real?
2:01:15
What if what is happening
is a series of accidents?
2:01:18
Accidents like them
shooting down our U-2?
2:01:23
Yes. Accidents like that
2:01:25
And the accidents are making the
second letter seem more aggressive
2:01:28
and the whole situation
appear worse than it really is
2:01:32
"The Gun of August"
2:01:33
That's right
2:01:35
So we just reject the second letter?
2:01:38
No
2:01:39
We don't...
2:01:40
reject it
2:01:42
We accept the first letter
2:01:43
and pretend
the second one doesn't exist
2:01:48
It won't work
because that's wishful thinking
2:01:50
Look, he made an offer. So I...
2:01:52
The same wishful thinking, Bobby
that blinded us all these months
2:01:54
while the Soviets were sneaking
those missiles in under our noses
2:01:58
Ignore the second letter
2:01:59
agree to the conditions of the first
2:02:01
There is no reason to believe
the Soviets will let it go
2:02:03
Max is right. Why will they accept it?
2:02:05
It can work
2:02:07
If they believe
we're gonna hit 'em hard
2:02:11
We've got time for one more round
of diplomacy, and that's it
2:02:14
First airstrikes start in 28 hours
2:02:16
But we have to make them agree to it
2:02:18
So how do we do that?
2:02:19
We give them something
2:02:20
We tell them
we'll remove the missiles from Turkey
2:02:23
Hang on
2:02:24
But we don that six months from now
so it appears there's no linkage
2:02:28
We also tell them
if they go public about it
2:02:31
we'll deny it
2:02:31
Right we deny it. The deal's off
2:02:33
And we do it under the table
so we can disavow any knowledge of it
2:02:35
It's transparent, Kenny
The press will be all over it
2:02:38
Six months from now
we're not gonna care, are we?
2:02:41
We'll deal with it then
2:02:42
At the least, it'll expulse
whether Kruschev has been overthrown
2:02:45
We'll know who we're up against
2:02:47
I've been thinking about Kruschev
2:02:49
And if this is a move to appease
the hard-liners in his government
2:02:52
it may be just the bone he needs to
regain control of his own house
2:02:55
Whoever carries the message
has to hit the nail on the head
2:02:59
If we come across as too soft
they'll push us