Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
International Journal of Research in Humanities and Social Sciences (IJRHS), cilt.12, sa.07, ss.1-13, 2024 (Hakemli Dergi)
This study analyzes the unconventional strategies employed by
President John F. Kennedy during the Cuban Missile Crisis, with a particular
focus on the influential role of his brother. The first aim is to explore how
familial bonds were leveraged in high-stakes governance, addressing the gap in
scholarly attention regarding the pivotal involvement of President Kennedy's
brother in the decision-making process. Despite extensive literature on the
crisis, only a handful have written about it, and little has been said about
this aspect. The second aim is to elucidate the unorthodox methods used by
President Kennedy, especially his delegation of significant responsibilities to
his younger brother and confidant (Scott and Hughes, 2015:208), who held no
formal defense or diplomatic position. Through a comprehensive analysis of
primary sources and seminal works from the Cold War era, the study highlights
how Robert F. Kennedy facilitated dynamic discussions within the Executive
Committee (ExComm) and conducted confidential negotiations with Soviet
officials. The findings reveal that President Kennedy's reliance on his brother
and the ExComm, rather than traditional cabinet structures, marked a
significant departure from conventional governance practices. During the crisis,
the USA and the USSR engaged in a strategic chess game, employing
unconventional methods, including back-door diplomacy, to avert catastrophe.
This study highlights these dramatic events and underscores the innovative and
familial approach to crisis management that defined this pivotal historical
period.