The year is 1962. You are John F. Kennedy, in charge of handling the rapidly evolving Cold War.
The past few decades have been mired by uncertainty. You yourself had served in World War II, had seen first-hand the destruction brought by war. Those around you are paranoid, distrustful - hell, your government had been gutted by a communist witch hunt only a few years earlier.`*` The threat of nuclear war is around every corner. Each decision is laden with immense responsibility.
This year will bring the Cuban Missile Crisis, one of the most terrifying periods in human history when we consider how close we came to total mutual destruction.
Some decisions will be time-sensitive. These decisions will be marked by a red prompt. Clicking the prompt will lead you to two decisions, where you will have varying amounts of time to answer, depending on the time-pressure. This is to emulate the constant pressure faced by JFK and Nikita Khrushchev, then-Soviet First Secretary. It is also to reflect the ever-present weight of nuclear war that so heavily affected the culture at that time.
Please note that this 'game' takes a lot of liberties with history. It is not really historically accurate. However, that being said, it does borrow a lot from real life events, and is meant to give an insight into the era and the types of decisions made.
[[Start->1]]
`*`Look up McCarthyism for more detail''January 1962''
It is late in the morning, almost reaching noon.
You are sitting at your desk in the Oval Office. Behind you, sunbeams stream through thin polyester curtains, splaying out in a hazy glow onto white carpet. In front of you sits the Army General and several others who were involved in executing the previous year’s Operation Mongoose. He is outlining the new plans to send CIA agents in to infiltrate Cuba, sabotage their infrastructure, and carry out guerilla operations within the country.
“I’m sure I don’t have to tell you twice, Mr. President, about the importance of stopping the spread of the Iron Curtain,” continues Army General Edward Lansdale. He takes a pause, considering his words. “Cuba could very well be one of the last dominoes to fall if we can’t stand up to the Soviets.”
[["The fate of the world depends on us." Approve the mission->Approve]]
[["This sounds like state-sponsored terrorism." Veto the mission->Veto]]''February 1962''
Crisp winter wind stings your face as you are guided out of the presidential state car - a bulky, dark blue Lincoln Continental code-named the X-100 - and into the White House. As part of your increasing efforts to gain control over Cuba and push back against the rising red tide, you have recently authorized a full embargo against Cuba. All trade between the US and Cuba is to be stopped completely.
Your senior advisor, Kenny O’Donnell, has planned for you to spend some recreational time amongst your constituents.
He wants you to choose:
[[Go see a film->Film]]
[[Read a book to kindergarteners->Book]]You go to a local elementary school. You read a book to a group of kindergarteners. They are excited you are there, even if they don't fully understand who you are.
The teacher guides them in a nuclear attack drill. Giggling, smiling, the rambunctious children huddle underneath their desks. Hung up on the wall behind them is a poster detailing what to do in the event of a nuclear strike.
What a strange world America's children are inheriting.
[[Move on.->3]]You attend the screening of a film. Several photographers are lined up, ready to take photos of you interacting with crowds and shaking hands.
As you take your seat in the cinema, the lights dim slowly. A short clip precedes the showing of the film. A young girl, counting up to ten, is picking the petals off of a flower. You can't help but smile, she reminds you of your own daughter, Caroline.
A sinister voice begins to count down from ten, in what you recognize as a missile launch countdown. The camera zooms into her pupil, and once the countdown reaches zero, a mushroom cloud appears on screen.
After a moment, a voice reads:
"These are the stakes, to make a world in which all of God's children can live, or to go into the dark. We must either love each other, or we must die."`*`
[[Move on->3]]
`*`AN: Based on a real political ad that came out in 1964, promoting Lyndon B. Johnson for president.You approve the plans.
The overthrowing of the Cuban government is set in place. Guerilla operations are to begin in August.
The US will stand strong against the forces of evil.
[[Move on->2]]The Army General looks at you in disbelief.
"I won't support a president who won't stand up to evil." He leaves, and with him goes the rest of your cabinet. By pulling what is essentially a complete 180 on your previous stances on halting Soviet operations in the West (especially after the Bay of Pigs incident) - you look pretty weak right now.
In the following months, the Soviets take control of Cuba through their 'maskirovka' program, and you are impeached.
[[Start over.->Exposition]]''May 1962''
It is early in the morning, too dark to even see the hands on your alarm clock. You have been woken up by a frantic White House staffer. He alerts you to the radar detection of several missiles headed for the US, launched by the Soviet Union. (if:(history: where its name contains "Film")'s length is 1)[Your mind conjures an image of that little girl's smiling face, the one from the pre-film clip. Your stomach turns slightly.](if:(history: where its name contains "Book")'s length is 1)[Your sleep-addled brain remembers those giggling schoolkids, curled up in the corner of the room; innocent to the turmoil surrounding them.] You are guided to the Oval Office, then briefed over the phone by Edward Lansdale.
“Good morning, Mr. President. Approximately five minutes ago we received notice that three missile strikes have been launched out of the Soviet Union,” he speaks briefly, pausing for a moment to take a breath. “It may very well be a false alarm. However, time is of the essence. Depending on their intended destinations, we may not be able to strike back. We’re waiting for you to make a decision.” `*`
(text-style:"fidget")[(text-colour:red)[[I have to act quickly.->Decision 1]]]
`*`AN: This never actually happened. However, within this game, it is included for flavor.[[We have to strike back before it's too late.->Send nukes 1]]
[[I cannot alter the face of the Earth on a whim.->Don't send nukes 1]]
(set: $counter to 10)
You have |amount>[$counter] seconds left!
(live: 1s)[
(set: $counter to it - 1)
(if: $counter is 0)[(go-to: "Don't send nukes 2")]
(replace: ?amount)[$counter]
]You make the decision to send retaliatory strikes.
Later, you learn that the US was never under any threat. It was, in fact, a false alarm. However, it is too late. The Soviet Union took this as an official declaration of war, and what is left of the world is soon destroyed.
[[Start over->1]]After making your decision, no retaliatory strikes are launched. Several seconds pass. After some time, when you are almost unsure if the General is even there - he speaks.
"Turns out - false alarm."
A few moments pass.
"A damn good one. It got me out of bed quick."
[[Go back to bed.->4]]''You took too long.''
A heavy sigh breathes out from the other end of the phone.
"Turns out - false alarm."
A few moments pass.
"That's good." You hang up the phone.
You have nothing else to say, embarrassed by your lack of ability to make a decision.
[[Go back to bed.->4]]''October 15, 1962''
A thick, heavy blanket of cigar smoke dissipates softly on the floor of the Situation Room, sinking into the carpet like a leaden ghost. You and your cabinet have just been shown photographic evidence confirming the presence of nuclear-capable Soviet weaponry in Cuba.`*` You put together a special task force to address this threat, facing what could mean the end of society.
Your brother Robert makes a call to the Soviet Ambassador. The ambassador informs him that he “was instructed by Soviet Chairman Nikita S. Khrushchev to assure President Kennedy that there would be no ground-to-ground missiles or offensive weapons placed in Cuba”.`**`
The DEFCON level has risen to 2.
[[May God guide us through these uncertain times.->5]]
`*`AN: As part of a months-long, covert Soviet operation code-named the ‘maskirovka’ program, the Soviet Union was now capable of attacking the contiguous US. This point in history is considered the height of the Cold War, and is possibly the closest we have ever come to WWIII. That being said, check out this list of times it’s nearly kicked off.
`**`(Wikipedia 2022, Cuban Missile Crisis)
October 21, 1962
EXCOMM - the task force you assembled - is currently meeting to consider two operational plans.
The first option involves an air strike onto the Cuban missile bases.
The second option involves a naval blockade of Cuba.
As the members of EXCOMM argue over which decision to make, tensions in the room grow higher. The debate settles for a moment as everyone turns to look at you.
"Well, Mr. President. What do you think?"`*`
(text-style:"fidget")[(text-colour:red)[[They expect me to make a decision.->Decision 2]]]
`*`AN: Again, this did not really happen this way in real life. But in cyberspace, anything is possible. 8)[[Strike the Cuban missile bases.->Strike bases]]
[[Go with the naval blockade.->Naval blockade]]
(set: $counter to 9)
You have |amount>[$counter] seconds left!
(live: 1s)[
(set: $counter to it - 1)
(if: $counter is 0)[(go-to: "Say nothing 2")]
(replace: ?amount)[$counter]
]Your voice sways the debate, and the decision to strike the missile bases is made. However, the rest of the members of EXCONN decide that in order to avoid another Bay of Pigs situation, air strikes will not be enough on their own. A full invasion will need to take place.
This invasion of war has direct consequences.
The Soviet Union attacks West Germany, leading to heavy losses.
In Cuba, logistical issues lead to supply chain blockages. Your invasion does not go well.
The turbulent state of the Cold War has just been irreparably worsened.
[[Start over->1]]Your voice is enough to sway the decision. You and the other EXCONN members decide to move forward with the naval blockade, with the intention of stopping all Soviet weaponry flowing into Cuba.
Your decision is somewhat controversial. Some call into the question the legality of the blockade - is it technically a declaration of war? Within your own congress, some members believe you are not responding strongly enough.
The DEFCON level gets raised to 3.
[[Move on->6]]''October 24, 1962''
You receive a phone call from Nikita Kruschev.
He informs you that he interprets the naval blockade as an act of aggression, and that their ships will be instructed to ignore it.
The words sound strained over the grainy receiver, like you can feel the pressure propelling every syllable. There is a moment of silence, and then his voice reappears over the receiver, angrier and with greater urgency.
You feel the pressure he feels, you have felt it since you took office.
(text-style:"fidget")[(text-colour:red)[[I must speak quickly before this situation escalates.->Decision 3]]][[Mutual destruction will end us all. There are peaceful ways to end this.->Peace telegram]]
[[Your very existence is a threat to the world, one which I cannot abide.->GFY]]
(set: $counter to 8)
You have |amount>[$counter] seconds left!
(live: 1s)[
(set: $counter to it - 1)
(if: $counter is 0)[(go-to: "Say nothing 3")]
(replace: ?amount)[$counter]
]"Your very existence is a threat to the world, one which I cannot abide." You say. You have decided to take a stronger stance against the Soviet scourge threatening democracy and the society you love. Unfortunately, the Soviet on the other end of the line seems less than pleased.
You receive several threats over the phone as he curses you out, condemning the US. "If you weigh the present situation with a cool head without giving way to passion, you will understand that the Soviet Union cannot afford not to decline the despotic demands of the USA," he asserts sternly.
You are woken up early the next morning to reports of a nuclear torpedo being used against one of your warships. War has been declared, and bombs are going to fall any minute.
[[Time to start over again.->1]](if:(history: where its name contains "Don't send nukes 2")'s length is 1)[The shame of being paralyzed by decision once before emboldens you to speak.]
"Mutual destruction will end us all. There are peaceful ways to end this."
(if:(history: where its name contains "Book")'s length is 1)[You remember the children in that kindergarten on that cold February day. "We can come to an understanding, for our future - for the world's future."]
(if:(history: where its name contains "Film")'s length is 1)[You remember the haunting message in that pre-film clip that sent chills down your spine. "We can come to an understanding, for our future - for all our children's futures."]
[[Finish game->Congratulations]]Congratulations, you finished my game. I hope you got something out of it. I would like to reiterate that I am by no means an expert and I wrote most of this in a coffee-fuelled haze subsidized by Wikipedia.
If you would like to start over and see what happens if you go down different paths, go ahead: [[Start over!->Exposition]]You ran out of time to speak. The members of EXCONN look at you disappointedly, having expected better from a Kennedy. An opportunistic member of the group takes this moment to propose a full-scale invasion into the Soviet Union, stating, "if our president won't even stand up to these Godless spectres hell-bent on our destruction, then who will?"
This invasion of war has direct consequences.
The Soviet Union attacks West Germany, leading to heavy losses.
In Cuba, logistical issues lead to supply chain blockages. Your invasion does not go well.
The turbulent state of the Cold War has just been irreparably worsened.
[[Start over->1]]You say nothing, finding no words to speak. The voice on the other end of the line laughs gruffly, and Kruschev calls you a coward.
"If you weigh the present situation with a cool head without giving way to passion, you will understand that the Soviet Union cannot afford not to decline the despotic demands of the USA," he asserts, before sharply hanging up the phone.
You are woken up early the next morning to reports of a nuclear torpedo being used against one of your warships. War has been declared, and bombs are going to start falling any minute.
[[Time to start over again.->1]]