One Minute To Midnight

Forces beyond their control. Kennedy and Khrushchev had both served in the armed forces, during wartime, during a bad war. Both were acquainted with Murphy, even if they didn't know his name. Both were personally aware of the suffering war causes. Both were fighting desperately, within the confines of their political frameworks, to avoid war. Especially to avoid this kind of war.

Dobbs chronicles the crisis, describing the players and what they knew and when they knew it. And what they thought they knew, which (hi, Murphy!) is so often at odds with reality. The crisis was defused because sober, intelligent, rational people made great efforts to think of consequences. To avoid them. Who do we have like that today?

1962 probably wasn't the closest we've been to Armageddon. The 1983 incident was arguably worse, and there may be others we don't know about. But 1983 was resolved swiftly, heroically, and silently by just one man. In 1962, the entire world was watching. And fortunately for us, great men acted nobly.

Dobbs's research seems impeccable. His writing is fluid and gripping. This is an important book for understanding our world. Highly recommended.