13 Days Movie Study Guide Answers

Running time145 minutesCountryUnited StatesLanguageEnglishBudget$80 millionBox office$66.6 millionThirteen Days is a 2000 American directed. It dramatizes the of 1962, seen from the perspective of the political leadership. Stars as top White House assistant, with featured as President, as, and as.While the film carries the same title as the book by former Attorney General, it is in fact based on a different book, The Kennedy Tapes: Inside the White House During the Cuban Missile Crisis,. It is the second docudrama made about the crisis, the first being 1974's, which was based on Kennedy's book. The 2000 film contains some newly declassified information not available to the earlier production, but takes greater dramatic license, particularly in its choice of O'Donnell as protagonist. It received generally positive reviews from critics who praised the screenplay and performances of the cast but was a grossing $66.6 million against its $80 million budget.

Contents.Plot In October 1962, aerial surveillance photos reveal that the Soviet Union is in the process of placing intermediate-range ballistic missiles carrying nuclear weapons in. President and his advisers must come up with a plan of action to prevent their activation. Kennedy is determined to show that the United States will not allow a missile threat. The advise immediate U.S. Military strikes against the missile sites followed by an invasion of Cuba. Kennedy is reluctant to attack and invade because it would very likely cause the Soviets to invade Berlin, which could lead to an all-out war. Citing, Kennedy sees an analogy to the events that started, where the tactics of both sides' commanders had not evolved since the and were obsolete, only this time nuclear weapons are involved.

For thirteen days in October 1962 the world waited—seemingly on the brink of nuclear war—and hoped for a peaceful resolution to the Cuban Missile Crisis. Thirteen Days is a 2000 American historical drama-thriller film directed by Roger Donaldson dramatising the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962, seen from the perspective of the US political leadership. Kevin Costner stars, with Bruce Greenwood featured as President John F. Kennedy, Steven Culp as Attorney.

War appears to be almost inevitable.The Kennedy administration tries to find a solution that will remove the missiles but avoid an act of war. They settle on a step less than a blockade, which is formally regarded as an act of war. They settle on what they publicly describe as a. They announce that the U.S. Naval forces will stop all ships entering Cuban waters and inspect them to verify they are not carrying weapons destined for Cuba.

The Soviet Union sends mixed messages in response. Off the shores of Cuba, the Soviet ships turn back from the quarantine lines. (Henry Strozier) says, 'We're eyeball to eyeball and I think the other fellow just blinked.' The administration continues to order spy plane pictures, but one of Kennedy's top advisers, , calls the pilots to ensure the pilots do not report that they were shot at or fired upon, because if they were, the country would be forced to retaliate under the., a reporter with, is contacted by Soviet 'emissary' (Boris Lee Krutonog), and through this back-channel communication method the Soviets offer to remove the missiles in exchange for public assurances from the U.S. That it will never invade Cuba. A long message in the same tone as the informal communication from Fomin, apparently written personally by Soviet Premier, is received. This is followed by a second, more hard line cable in which the Soviets offer a deal involving U.S removal of its missiles from Turkey.

The Kennedy administration interprets the second as a response from the, and in a risky act, decides to ignore it and respond to the first message, assumed to be from Khrushchev. There are several mis-steps during the crisis: the defense readiness level of (SAC) is raised to (one step shy of maximum readiness for imminent war), without informing the President; a nuclear weapon test proceeds and a routine test launch of a U.S. Offensive missile is also carried out without the President's knowledge.In a bid for time while under intense pressure from the military for an immediate strike, President Kennedy authorizes attacks on the missile sites and an invasion of Cuba, to commence the following Monday. An Air Force U-2 reconnaissance plane is sent over Cuba to gather intelligence for the attack, but is shot down,. After much deliberation with the, Kennedy makes a final attempt to avoid a war by sending his brother, , to meet with Soviet ambassador on Friday night.

Bobby reiterates the demand that the Soviets remove their missiles from Cuba, and in return promises not to invade or assist in the invasion of Cuba. Dobrynin insists that the U.S. Must also remove all missiles from Turkey, on the border of the Soviet Union. Bobby says that a is not possible, but in exchange for Khrushchev removing all the missiles from Cuba, there will be a secret understanding that the U.S. Will remove all of its 'obsolete' missiles from Turkey within six months as part of a pre-scheduled plan. The Soviets announce on Sunday that they will remove their missiles from Cuba, averting a war that could have escalated to the use of.

The film ends with President Kennedy dictating a letter of condolence to the family of the reconnaissance pilot, who was shot down over Cuba as part of the preparations for the invasion, and the Kennedy brothers and O'Donnell outside of the Oval Office as actual audio of President Kennedy's played in the background.Cast. as.

as. as. as. as. as. as.

as,. as correspondent. as.

as,. as. as,. as. as. as Former. as pilot,.

as. as Helen O'Donnell, wife to. as,.

as President Kennedy's Secretary. as Special assistant to President Kennedy. as,. as publisher of. as. as. as Radio Room Operator #3.

as. as. as pilot,.

Lawford, son of, is nephew to President and Robert Kennedy. as. as Director of the. as (a.k.a. Alexander Fomin), spy. as. as.

as Commander of the. as Soviet WomanProduction The film was co-produced by several studios, including, Costner's Tig Productions and.The Department of Defense cooperated to some extent, allowing the producers to film on several bases. In order to keep the film 'in period' filming took place on ships from the time of the crisis that still existed in the active fleet , and ships preserved as museums. Aircraft (both a preserved and spyplane were featured) that still exist from the period were refurbished to appear operational as well. The RF-8 Crusader (and an F-5) plus the scenes of Cuba were shot in the Philippines. The air base scene was taken at, Philippines a former American facility, which substituted for, Florida, where the actual RF-8As of Light Photographic Squadron SIX TWO launched from on their Cuban overflight missions. At the time of the shooting, the F-8 was still in the inventory of the, but no longer operational.

The F-5s were retired in 2005.Reception Box office The film was given a limited theatrical release on 2000, and a wide release on January 12, 2001, with a staggered release to various countries throughout most of the year. The film grossed $66,579,890 worldwide against a production budget of $80 million. Critical response reports that 83% of 121 critics have given the film positive reviews, with an average rating of 7.2/10. The website's consensus states: ' Thirteen Days offers a compelling look at the Cuban Missile Crisis, and its talented cast deftly portrays the real-life people who were involved.' , which assigns a rating out of 100 to reviews from mainstream film critics, gives Thirteen Days a score of 67, based on 31 reviews, indicating 'generally favorable reviews'. Audiences surveyed by gave the film a grade A.of the gave Thirteen Days a rating of 3 stars out of 4, and said 'The movie's taut, flat style is appropriate for a story that is more about facts and speculation than about action.

Kennedy and his advisers study high-altitude photos and intelligence reports, and wonder if Khrushchev's word can be trusted. Everything depends on what they decide.

The movie shows men in unknotted ties and shirt-sleeves, grasping coffee cups or whiskey glasses and trying to sound rational while they are at some level terrified.Things might not have happened exactly like this, but it sure did feel like they did.' Political response Some former Kennedy administration officials and contemporary historians, including, Special Counsel, and Secretary of Defense, criticized the film for the depiction of Special Assistant as chief motivator of Kennedy and others during the crisis. Prior to seeing the movie, McNamara reacted to the premise in a interview:For God's sakes, Kenny O'Donnell didn't have any role whatsoever in the missile crisis; he was a political appointment secretary to the President; that's absurd.According to McNamara, the duties performed by O'Donnell in the film were closer to the role Sorensen played during the actual crisis: 'It was not Kenny O'Donnell who pulled us all together—it was Ted Sorensen.' December 13, 2001. Retrieved October 12, 2016. ^. Box Office Mojo.

Retrieved December 5, 2011. (January 12, 2001). Nelson, Michael (February 2, 2001). Chronicle of Higher Education. Retrieved December 1, 2013. ^ (March 2001).

'Online NewsHour Forum: Thirteen Days'. Retrieved December 1, 2013.

Waxman, Sharon (November 26, 2016). Retrieved June 12, 2018. Fitzpatrick, Eileen (May 26, 2001).

Nielsen Business Media, Inc.: 57.External links Wikiquote has quotations related to:. on.

at. at. – commentary by Ernest R. May, Harvard professor who wrote the book on which it was based, on the accuracy of the movie. How accurate was the movie recreation of the architecture and floor plan of the actual White House (review)External links., 'The 34 best political movies ever made' The Washington Post Jan.

23, 2020), ranked #18.

Read an excerpt from the Killing Kennedy script.Assign students to play the different roles in the Cuban Missile Crisis Scene selection from the Killing Kennedy script. Have students act out the scene. Before reading, ask the remaining students to listen to identify what problem President Kennedy faces in this scene.

After, ask: What problem did President Kennedy face in this clip? Explain to students that this problem has come to be known as the Cuban Missile Crisis. It occurred in 1962. For thirteen days, the world teetered on the brink of nuclear war. Ask: Why did missiles in Cuba pose a threat to the United States?2.

Review Kennedy’s policy options in the face of the Cuban Missile Crisis.Explain to students that they will be acting as Kennedy’s advisers during this thirteen-day period. They will need to research and analyze the documents that Kennedy’s real advisers had available to them, and then present their findings to the president (you).Tell students that President Kennedy had several options in responding to the threat posed by the placement of missiles on Cuban soil.

Ask students what options they think Kennedy had. List student responses on poster paper or on a whiteboard. Use the discussion to prompt students to include all of the options listed below. You may wish to project the list for students to read. Do nothing: American vulnerability to Soviet missiles was not new. Newly placed missiles in Cuba made little strategic difference in the military balance of power. Diplomacy: Use diplomatic pressure to get the Soviet Union to remove the missiles.

Warning: Send a message to Castro to warn him of the grave danger he, and Cuba, were facing. Blockade: Use the U.S. Navy to block any missiles from arriving in Cuba. Air strike: Use the U.S. October 2003 lsat logic games. Air Force to attack all known missile sites. Invasion: Launch a full force invasion of Cuba and overthrow of Castro.3.

Students research Kennedy’s policy options using primary resources and role-playing as EXCOMM.Explain to students that after the failure of Bay of Pigs invasion, Kennedy encouraged dissent among his advisers. If an idea was bad, Kennedy wanted his advisers to tell him; he did not want “yes men” to help him make decisions. Explain to students that during the Bay of Pigs invasion, members of Kennedy’s staff who disagreed with the action refused to voice their negative opinions, not wanting to criticize the larger group. After this failure, Kennedy altered his leadership style, wanting to explore all options before making a decision.Tell students they will now be role-playing as national security advisers to President Kennedy, a group known during the Cuban Missile Crisis as EXCOMM. Each student group will be assigned one policy option brainstormed earlier and will be responsible for:. List of pros and cons for the group’s policy choice. Visual aid—on poster paper—to present pros and cons to the classDivide the class into groups and assign one policy option per group for further exploration.

Distribute the Confidential Files to each group. Tell students they will use these Confidential Files to support their policy choices. Distribute a T-Chart to each group and instruct them to use it to make a pros/cons chart. Distribute poster paper and markers to each group to develop a visual aid that will identify their policy option as well as the pros/cons of that option.4.

Acting as EXCOMM, students present their policy arguments and the class comes to consensus on one response.After groups finish drafting their pros and cons with visual aids on poster paper, have each group present their policy and its accompanying pros and cons. After each group presents, students may ask questions about the group’s policy and thinking. Have the whole class summarize the presentation by determining the most significant pro and con for the policy. Ask students to support all statements with evidence taken from the Confidential Files.After all groups have presented, have students discuss all the options that were presented.5. Compare the EXCOMM class consensus to Kennedy’s actual response to the Cuban Missile Crisis.Play the Red Threat video clip to the class.

After watching, ask:. What policy choice did Kennedy make in response to the Cuban Missile Crisis?. Compared to the pros and cons lists developed earlier, do you believe Kennedy made the best possible decision? Why or why not?6. Examine the outcomes of the Cuban Missile Crisis.Explain to students the following outcomes of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Project these points in a PowerPoint presentation or write them on a piece of poster paper. After the blockade, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev sent a letter to Kennedy.

Khrushchev agreed to remove missiles from Cuba if the United States promised not to invade Cuba and to eventually remove missiles from Turkey. Kennedy agreed. The United States secretly removed missiles from Turkey. Khrushchev openly removed missiles from Cuba, ending the Cuban Missile Crisis.Close the activity with a discussion of the questions below. Ask:. To what extent was Kennedy a successful leader in this crisis?. Why was Kennedy more successful in the Cuban Missile Crisis than he was during the Bay of Pigs invasion?

In what ways? Required Technology. Internet Access: Required. Tech Setup: 1 computer per classroom, Projector, Speakers.

Plug-Ins: FlashPhysical Space. ClassroomSetupFor this activity, it would be useful to have desks or tables arranged to facilitate students working in small groups.

Grouping. Large-group instructionOther NotesThis activity is extremely student-centered, involving small group work and student-led discussion. For more information on implementing effective group work, please see the following site:. For more information on facilitating excellent discussions, please see.

Following the Bay of Pigs invasion in 1961, Fidel Castro, the communist leader of Cuba, became convinced that at some point the United States would attempt to remove him from power. As a result, he grew increasingly defiant of American policymakers and courted the leaders of the Soviet Union to bolster the strength of his small island country.

In 1962, Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev offered to place Soviet nuclear missiles on Cuba just 145 kilometers (90 miles) off the coast of Florida. Castro eagerly accepted Khrushchev’s offer, believing nuclear missiles in Cuba would deter American aggression and secure Cuba’s safety.An American spy plane eventually discovered the existence of missile sites off the coast of Cuba, sparking what would come to be known as the Cuban Missile Crisis. President John F. Kennedy demanded that all nuclear missiles be removed from Cuba and blockaded the island to prevent further deliveries of nuclear warheads.

During the thirteen-day standoff between the United States and the Soviet Union, the world teetered on the brink of nuclear war. Eventually, Soviet Premier Khrushchev acquiesced to Kennedy’s demands, agreeing to remove the missiles from Cuba publically if the United States military would promise not to invade Cuba and secretly remove missiles from Turkey, averting potential disaster and ending the Cuban Missile Crisis. ModificationInstead of discussing summary questions, formally assess students by asking them to respond in writing to the final discussion questions. TipIn Step 2, if students brainstorm other feasible options, you may choose to incorporate them into the activity at your discretion. TipThis activity is extremely student-centered, involving small group work and student-led discussion.

For more information on establishing procedures for these types of activities in your classroom, please refer to the Other Notes in the Preparation section. For information on user permissions, please read our.

If you have questions about licensing content on this page, please contact for more information and to obtain a license. If you have questions about how to cite anything on our website in your project or classroom presentation, please visit our.MediaIf a media asset is downloadable, a download button appears in the corner of the media viewer. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media.

TextText on this page is printable and can be used according to our.InteractivesAny interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. You cannot download interactives.Partner.