History Buffs: Thirteen Days

[@rattiegirl5]

The guy who is told by Kenneth O'Donnell that he cannot be shot at-and who later describes the mission as a "cakewalk" - is played by Christopher Lawford- the son of JFK's sister Patricia. Yes, JFK's nephew is in the movie.

[@MyH3ntaiGirl]

Darn

[@cosmedelustrac5842]

Amazing ! This reminds of how one of Stauffenberg’s relatives plays a character in Walkyrie.

[@kbanghart]

@@cosmedelustrac5842 another excellent movie, imo.

[@bradyolson4690]

I thought he looked a bit like Peter Lawford

[@pierremainstone-mitchell8290]

@@cosmedelustrac5842 Yep. "Philipp von Schulthess, who plays Tresckow's aide in this movie, is the grandson of Claus Schenk Graf von Stauffenberg."

[@PsychoSavager289]

I'm glad you mentioned Vasily Arkhipov even though he's not in the movie. The guy is seriously one of the most underrated people in history.

[@borninjordan7448]

And Stanislav Petrov as well.

[@matthewcory4733]

It's CRIMINAL to ignore this event. It was THE EVENT.

[@DRACONAR1US]

It's quite sad that he is one of the very, VERY few men who could legitimately claim to have saved the world, and barely anyone knows about him.

[@inigobantok1579]

@@matthewcory4733 it was only discovered in 2002, 2 years after this film was released.

[@matthewcory4733]

@@inigobantok1579 You are entirely incorrect. See: Vice-Admiral Vasili Arkhipov. Presentation at the Conference on the Cuban Missile Crisis, October 14, 1997, Moscow from the National Security Archive.

[@callawolf531]

I saw this movie for the first time in a High School American History class. My teacher showed it over three or four days and made it a point to stop it and correct what was wrong and what was true as a bigger lesson on the cold war (and how sometimes, history is changed for "entertainment"). That was one of the few classes I really enjoyed in High School.

[@frankpienkosky5688]

buddy of mine spent the whole time on a troop ship in Georgia getting ready to go...[82nd Airborne]...little did he know what was waiting for him...[tactical nukes]

[@igorschmidlapp6987]

Unfortunately, "entertainment" is how most get their history now. The whole in-space argument in "Apollo 13" NEVER HAPPENED, and does a disservice to both Fred Haise and Jack Swigert. Tom Hanks objected, but Ron Howard added it for "dramatic tension" (as if the true story wasn't tense enough. And I remember when the mission happened).

[@robertbauer3419]

Was the class perhaps called " Nukes N' Commies' "? I am seriously asking.

[@Defender78]

this is one of my fave movies, i'm surprised that it didn't win or at least get nominated for awards. Excellent acting from everyone.

[@scotthensley4726]

As bad as history teachers are how would they know what to change 😅

[@keeperofthecheese]

41:49 The coconut on the desk actually has quite a cool story to it. During WW2, John Kennedy was on a patrol boat which was attacked by a Japanese destroyer. The patrol boat sank and Kennedy, along with 10 other men, swam ashore and hid in the jungle. Kennedy carved his name, location and situation into a coconut and asked a local islander to deliver it to a nearby Australian man. That man was actually a spy who was in contact with the US. The entire party was rescued. Kennedy was saved by the delivery of that coconut. He later received the coconut back from the Australian, had it encased in resin and displayed it on his desk all the way up to his death.

[@rivetgunner]

That's straight out from the JFK Library advert. (Hi to those who grew up in MA.)

[@colinschaeffer3940]

Everybody knows that.

[@keeperofthecheese]

@@colinschaeffer3940 yes, I'm sure it's common knowledge.

[@miketaylorID1]

Not anymore it's not. But once upon a time it was. PT109. Was even a movie

[@nicklappos]

Exactly right! That coconut piece is in the JFK library in Boston, his carved message is still perfectly readable!

[@georgeprchal3924]

"Communicate with the Soviets? We can't even talk to the Pentagon and they're just across the goddamn river!" Underrated line that always makes me laugh.

[@tenofprime]

it really does sum up how indirect the lines of communication get.

[@emjackson2289]

Its like "military intelligence, thats a goddamm contradiction in terms" Hunt for Red Octobert

[@kbanghart]

Hmm that just reminded me of the problems that the crew of Apollo 1 had, sitting on the launch pad during the fire and couldn't get to them in time.

[@paoloparziano6254]

Operation Ortsac 😂😂

[@dmacpher]

@@tenofprime just recently happened again - China refused to pick up the hotline when the balloon was over US

[@abeecee]

“At the end of every barrel lay the potential of nuclear conflict” great writing dude, that was an awesome line

[@KingBoxer119]

Every time Nick drops a video, it's like running to into an old friend you don't see often, but you always smile when you do.

[@xM4XT0Nx]

well said

[@thexalon]

I'm descended from Adlai Stevenson's in-laws, and I have great respect for the man. Among other things: When he said "someone in the room needs to be a coward", that's the least cowardly thing he could do. And then he outlines the exact deal that ends up being made. I'm glad they got that part of the story, not just the "don't wait for the translation" classic line.

[@valerynorth]

I've always admired Adlai Stevenson based on the way he's portrayed in the movie, and other retellings of the Cuban Missile Crisis. I know he had much more of a career either side of that, but wish I knew more.

[@thexalon]

@@valerynorth The brief summary: He was a key part of creating the United Nations. He spent the 1950's fighting corruption as governor of Illinois. And he was the Democratic nominee for president in 1952 and 1956. He had divorced my great-aunt by the time he ran for president, though. He met my grandmother socially at one point, and she had good things to say about him.

[@misterwhipple2870]

He was an egghead, which is the next best thing.

[@Wolfeson28]

My thoughts exactly. I hated it when I saw tons of comments on other videos about the Crisis saying Stevenson was a "cowardly traitor" and that sort of thing. The job of everyone involved in the Crisis was to try and come up with options to resolve the situation, and devising and voicing a very different option from everyone else was courage, not cowardice. A deal of some kind was going to be necessary eventually, whether to avoid an armed clash or stop one if it started. Stevenson's initial idea wasn't feasible at the time he made it, but it did turn out to be the framework for the deal that was eventually struck.

[@Ishkur23]

Adlai Stevenson was a very principled man. In 1956 the KGB contacted his campaign office. They wanted to assist him in the upcoming election, seeing that they had much more in common with liberals than conservatives. They wanted Stevenson to be President. Shades of 2016, essentially. Stevenson not only rejected the KGB's proposal, he went and told Eisenhauer about it. Sure, he wanted to be President, but not that badly. Accepting help from the Russians was a bridge too far.

[@s51curtis]

There's one fine irony in this movie that I find is often missed. The actor playing Commander Ecker, the Naval aviator who flew the low level reconnaissance mission over Cuba, is Christopher Lawford. His father was the well known British actor Peter Lawford and his mother was Patricia Kennedy Lawford, one of John F. Kennedy's sisters. So the movie is all about Christopher Lawford's uncle.

[@amer9208]

Wow now that you said it, he does look like Lawford

[@jackbright7367]

Although Nick only posts every few months, the quality and entertainment is always brilliant

[@livingdeadgirl5691]

Months? It feels like years...

[@leftcoaster67]

Quality > Quantity

[@delarkaBCN]

it always feels like a special ocasion

[@livingdeadgirl5691]

@@leftcoaster67 True

[@nesii9599]

100% top notch stuff.. everytime👌👌

[@dr.virus1295]

I do love channels that value quality over quantity, keep it going, Nick.

[@ericsilver9401]

And I love you Dr. Virus 129

[@emilfrederiksen.1622]

He takes it new extends tho a video every few months but the video is probably content that should behind a pay wall it is that good

[@Chuck_vs._The_Comment_Section]

What's most mind-boggling about this story is that it was far from the only near-disaster of this kind during the Cold War. Only the most famous one. - Basically, it's pure luck that decades later we can sit comfortably and watch videos/movies like this instead of fighting for survival in the irradiated ruins of a post-apocalyptic world.

[@LostButBroken]

Under Stalin the whole politburo were shit faced drunk all the time

[@WilliamRWarrenJr]

Oh, you're not kidding. We have a Soviet missile man who was relegated to a gulag for failing to launch when he correctly suspected the bogey was the reflection of the Sun and not a surprise attack. They vilified and punished this man for saving the world. 🤔🤨🙄😳 💩🧠🧠🧠🧠

[@blackhorse11thACR]

You haven't heard of Operation Able Archer? Please look it up. People are not knowledgeable about many incidents that happened during the Cold War. We were saved by a Soviet officer who decided not to launch on us in West Germany which would have been a nightmare.

[@terranceaddison4599]

This occured in 1983 right?

[@Chuck_vs._The_Comment_Section]

@@terranceaddison4599Yes!

[@Patriot3791]

My grandmother worked on the U2 program. She still has the letter signed by Kennedy, thanking her for her service.

[@haddock434]

She got knocked up by Kennedy 💀

[@Comedy_Gold]

@@haddock434 Real funny dude

[@thegerman662]

Damn, my great grandfather fought in World War 1 for the German Imperial Army

[@MrGrass97]

@@thegerman662 my great grandfather fought for the Imperial German Army too and was later conscripted into the Wehrmacht. I believe he was stationed in Italy.

[@Mr.Ambrose_Dyer_Armitage_Esq.]

What would a broad have to contribute to the U2 program? Did she make sandwiches and tea for the pilots and ground crews?

[@sweetroscoeful]

I really appreciate how you actually found F-102's taking off in formation. Many videos would have portrayed generic US jets, not the short lived 102's. Great work as always!

[@Veldtian1]

It's the little things..

[@jordanthomas4379]

26

[@jayerjavec]

Please, it's well known that idiots will and did - several times - used russian jets promoting american jets and or military.

[@frankpienkosky5688]

remember those 102's flying over my house...little did I know then what it had in its belly!......

[@ZonaAsier]

My grandfather was a US Marine during that time and told me stories about being on alert for an invasion incase it was needed. So it’s really cool to learn much more about the whole thing.

[@noldo3837]

My father was a tank crew member in at that time socialist Czechoslovakia at that time. Our armies were in full combat readyness as well.

[@Serai3]

I've always found it fitting that, by installing that secret taping system, Kennedy managed to defeat Nixon AGAIN, even years after his own death.

[@thejudgmentalcat]

👍

[@cosmedelustrac5842]

Excellent point !

[@_ariosto1519]

Nixon actually loved the taping system and he used it to record everyone! The problem is that he also recorded himself, not smart!

[@eval_is_evil]

I mean,Kennedy started the war in Vietnam... which didnt end well.

[@_ariosto1519]

@@eval_is_evil one could argue it started with Eisenhower…

[@ravenlord4]

If there are "parallel universes" out there, then I have to think that this is one of the very few where the Cuban missile crisis was peacefully averted. It's shocking to realize how many ways and chances that this could have gone wrong.

[@sakkra93]

I bet the odds are that in most other universes we'd be living in something akin to Fallout right now.

[@somejerkbag]

Quite right

[@aceraspire7456]

One of the surest ways comes down to, if it hadn't been Kennedy that won the presidential election. Had the 'Bay of Pigs" actually gone through, that president would have followed Lemay and the other Joint Chiefs and would have led to nuclear war. If we would have made it through that without such escalation, the different president (given the same scenario as depicted in this movie) again would have followed the determination of those Joint Chiefs who were absolutely driven to confront the enemy - some even hungering for it to become a conflict where they would get to use ALL of their toys. They would often suggest that, bombs, missiles, ships, planes, troops that aren't being used are being shamefully wasted. Kennedy was so hated by them because he wouldn't let them do what they had designed their entire lives to do - - - make war in whatever way is needed to win. Even when you have to convince yourself that winning an unwinnable was is in any way possible.

[@Railhog2102]

*The numbers Mason what do they mean*

[@joeharris3878]

Well, of course, there are no other universes. Kruschev and Kennedy are heroes.

[@OmniTron1000]

One of the things I love most about this channel is Nick's delivery of information. The way he talks about the history behind each movie is so impassioned and full of energy that it keeps me glued to my screen.

[@Apollyon-er4ut]

Good stuff. My dad was deeply involved in the Titan ICBM program. Before any of this stuff was known by the public, my dad sent my mom and us children to her parents house, with instructions not to return till he called her and said it was safe. My dad has told people how close we were war for years, but until the books came out, most didn't know this.

[@Apollyon-er4ut]

@Rusty Shackleford Thing is, he sent us all up into the mountains before the really serious stuff became public. We spent almost 3 weeks up in the Sierras, but I was too young to remember it.

[@wyattgeorge5124]

my dad is Albert Einstien

[@Apollyon-er4ut]

@@wyattgeorge5124 apparently, the offspring of sex with his sister.

[@blackhorse11thACR]

​@@wyattgeorge5124and my grandfather is Nikola Tesla.

[@frankpienkosky5688]

at the time we had the Atlas and the Titans....all had to be raised up on the pad to fire them....somewhere in the middle of all this that's exactly what happened...seeing it and the photos of the B-52's being deployed all around the country was a bit chilling....we were close...

[@darkman80723]

I've always loved Bruce Greenwood and Steven Culp's portrayal of the Kennedy brothers.

[@OcarinaSapphr-]

And it's not the only time Culp played Bobby- I believe he also did in a Marilyn biopic...

[@prointernetuser]

@@OcarinaSapphr- him looking exactly like Bobby + he can act pretty much cornered him into that niche lol

[@mariakelly90210]

I thought that Bruce Greenwood did a great job playing Captain Christopher Pike in Star Trek (2009) and Star Trek Into Darkness. I always cry when he dies in Star Trek Into Darkness.

[@GorgeDawes]

He also portrayed McNamara in The Post, I believe.

[@darkman80723]

@@mariakelly90210 Yeah that was also a excellent role for him.

[@timothystanley9737]

KZbin recently recommended this video and I decided to watch it and I absolutely fell in love with your channel. I can’t believe you’ve been around for 7+ years and I’m just now coming across it you do a great job of blending humor in history along with entertainment in these fun to watch videos. Not only do I get to watch a great recap of these movies. I also get to learn something and often laugh a little bit too. I’ve been going through your back catalog and I haven’t seen a single video. I haven’t liked yet. Keep up the great work, and I hope your channel grows even further, and like you usually say, if you enjoy the show, help the channel grow and I did.

[@frankpienkosky5688]

somebody's got to fill the void left by the history channel.....

[@douglasiles2024]

My dad was in the Navy at that time, serving aboard a destroyer and was part of the "quarantine". He said it was some of the most stressful times of his 34 year career in the Navy. As a radioman, he would've been one of the first to hear what was being broadcast to his ships, and others, in the blockade.

[@ostrowulf]

That would also make it more stressful, as you want to make damn sure your messages sent and received are clear and accurate, with no confussion, as a lot was in the ballance.

[@TheDrewThornton]

I'm sorry that he had to endure that stress. It didn't have to be that way but JFK was incompetent

[@BruceK10032]

@@TheDrewThornton I'm quite sure you would have done much better.

[@sergarlantyrell7847]

"in the blockade." lol

[@rdelrosso1973]

@@TheDrewThornton Exactly HOW was JFK "incompetent"? If not for JFK and RFK, the world would have been destroyed. JFK refused the advice of ALL his advisors (except Brother Bobby) to invade Cuba. What no American knew was that the Russians had Tactical Nuclear Weapons in Cuba (under 15 KiloTons) as well as Strategic Nukes (over 300 KT) In the event of an American invasion, the Soviet Commander in Cuba did NOT have to ask Moscow's permission to use a Tactical Nuke on any invading American force on the Cuban Beaches. (But he DID need Moscow's OK to launch Strategic Nukes against American Cities.) JFK said that ANY missile attack launched from Cuba would result in an American Nuclear attack on the USSR. But what if we invaded Cuba and 100,000 Americans died from a Soviet Tactical Nuke on Cuban soil? The USA would have been in a tough position!

[@PresidentAutumn]

My Grandad was a navy crew member on the USS Essex and was there during the crisis. He passed when I was 3 so I never had the honor of truly knowing him, but it’s still cool to learn nonetheless.

[@garrettlaundry357]

It's honestly terrifying just how close we came to an actual nuclear apocalypse.

[@kxkxkxkx]

Even closer when KGB agent Lee Oswald shot JFK 🕊

[@mathewvanostin7118]

Not really. There would have been some dozens of cities and military areas destroyed. But far from a world annilation 😆 Back in the early 1960s there was much less nukes. And most of them had capacity to destroy some neibourhoods or cities. It didnt have country destruction abilities

[@RomanvonUngernSternbergnrmfvus]

Had some family on intel side during this, they still can’t/won’t talk about it but they always said “we came so much closer to the bombs going off than the public will ever truly know”

[@RomanvonUngernSternbergnrmfvus]

@@kxkxkxkx is that why old man Marcelo of the New Orleans mob all but admitted to aiding in jfks assassination and why so much odd stuff like the guy who assassinated Oswald just so happen to work with the mob and be terminally sick also just so happened to be there that day? Gee golly Iam sure it was the kgb and one lone gunmen.

[@RomanvonUngernSternbergnrmfvus]

@@mathewvanostin7118 you sound like the generals in doctor strange love. Come on I’ll give you a cig and you can tell us you can walk. Or I can make you answer to the Coca-Cola company about your pre-vert conspiracies.

[@deph5183]

One of my favorite films covering an incident in the cold war. Thank you for covering a criminally underrated film in my opinion.

[@diegofel99]

Whoever played Bobby Kennedy was really on point with the looks

[@marlonmoncrieffe0728]

Yeah, Steven Culp was good casting as RFK.

[@TottalliGuy]

Fucking insanely good

[@xuxon24]

The actor that played bundy was also spot on.

[@frankpienkosky5688]

all that front page coverage...then about six months later, buried deep in the paper I found a little article saying the Us to remove its missiles from Turkey...did their best to downplay this.....

[@chiefrief221]

Bruce Greenwood is also a phenomenal actor. He always brings a gravitas to every role. I love when he plays the president.

[@airborneofficer2640]

My late Grandfather was in the air force during this time, he recalled sitting on the runway at Tinker Air Force Base quote “Kennedy had us on standby and to wait for the call from him, and he would meet us in Florida. Then we’d fly into Cuba and build air strips, but thankfully we didn’t have to go in”

[@pierremainstone-mitchell8290]

Wow! Quite a film. Well done Nick. I vaguely remember the Cuban Missile Crisis (I was only12 at the time - I'm 72 now). But I do remember nearly 20yrs later when it came up in conversation at home I asked my late Dad what it was like. Quite calmly he replied with the horrifying words - "The world looked into the pit." My Dad was an Anglican (Episcopalian) Priest and he did not use such descriptions lightly. The memory of what he said still chills me!

[@protonjones54]

What did he mean by "the world looked into the pit?" Like, the pit being hell?

[@loungelizard3922]

@@protonjones54 "the pit of despair" is a common phrase he would have been referring to. Nuclear apocalypse being the pit.

[@pierremainstone-mitchell8290]

@@protonjones54 I never asked my Dad what he meant but, given his profession as a priest I strongly suspect that he meant something along the lines of "the pit" of the hell on earth that a nuclear war would've meant.

[@pierremainstone-mitchell8290]

@@loungelizard3922 As per my reply to Doctor Jones above I think that he was referring to the pit of hell on earth that a nuclear war would've resulted in so you're pretty close.

[@goldenraptor7]

My mother is currently 70, and so I should probably ask her what she remembers from that time. Thank you for your contribution and for reminding me to ask them stuff about their lives while they're still around.

[@Metalisalearning77]

37:30 Thank you so much for mentioning the name of Vasily Arkhipov! That name along with Stanislav Petrov are names that almost everyone NEEDS to know

[@KArchine]

Totally agree. It's such a small detail, bit that defyment of the order, (or challenge of the order), is one of the most important in modern history.

[@Metalisalearning77]

@@KArchine Something I sometimes NEED to remind myself; if it wasn't for Vasily; my parents would be gone & I & countless generations would never be! With Stanislav Petrov; that was in 1983 (a year before I was born) & once again I & countless others would be dead or left to rot in an irradiated horror! As tough & as difficult this world can be; these two were in their way the glimmering torches to a better tomorrow...

[@KArchine]

@@Metalisalearning77 100%

[@aritakalo8011]

@@KArchine Well it was important decision, but there is a small detail about it. It wasn't a defying of order. On this video history buff also plays it both ways. First saying he defied, argued and calmed down the captain. Then that he overrode the captain. In both cases it was actually overruling. Since Arkhipov had no need for such drastics as defying orders. While not the captain of the submarine, Arkhipov was the ranking officer on board. Since while in roster of the ship he was second in command, he was the chief of staff of the home unit of the 3 submarines and the commander of the 3 submarine contingent sent to cuba. He was traveling along on one of the submarines to setup the flotilla head quarters in Cuba once they reached there. As such. He was the most senior both by rank and by chain of command. He was the captains boss. However the soviet submarine was so cramped there literally was no room for extra person. So anyone onboard had to be part of the vessels crew. Well as temporarily traveling staff officer, he couldn't exactly replace the submarines permanent captain. That would have been poor form. So he was the next best, the deputy captain by the ships taskings. However as the senior staff officer on-board in fact in command of the contingent. So he didn't argue down the captain. Instead since there was a flag officer on-board 3 people were needed to authorize the special weapons (nuclear warheads). Submarines captain, submarines chief political officer and the commander of the flotilla (Arkhipov). Arkhipov simply said "NO" and that was end of that. If Arkhipov was mere XO deputy captain, he would not have been needed to be consulted. Since normal authorization was 2 officers. Captain and political officer. 3 officers needed to authorize was specialty case under the Soviet Navy, incase "admiral was on-board". Since it would have been really weird the two lower ranked and chain of command people could decide such matter without the ranking officer on-board. To add more to it, Arkhipov was by then a hero of soviet submarine forces. Arkhipov had been executive officer (same subrole he was plain on this cuba submarine) on K19, which suffered reactor cooling accident. As such Arkhipov was both the ranking officer and a famous decorated one at that. There was no way the captain *could* defy Arkhipov. He could have relieved the captain of his duty as the commander of the 3 submarine flotilla. Instead the captain had lost his nerve, suggested using nukes and then get denied by superior officer on board. He calmed down. Not that it would have mattered, did or did he not calm down. He got denied by superior officer. Of course that circumstance rather curious and rare incidence on Submarine, but in this case understandable. They were effectively on their way to setup a new unit, deployment and base. The new units and base commander was travelling aboard. Just like say the flag ship of surface fleet has both the captain of the ship itself, but also is transporting the captains boss, the flotilla admiral. Just rarer on submarines. Even more muddled, by the flotilla admiral doing duties both as flotilla admiral and as XO (providing the second rotation of commanding officer, captain can't be awake 24/7). Since the submarine was so damn cramped there was no room for both the actual XO of the submarine and the flotilla admiral. Oh it should be clear by now it was bad bad idea to send cramped, not suited for tropical heat, arctic ocean diesel electric submarines to the Caribbean.

[@KArchine]

@Ari Takalo thank you for the details. Always interesting to learn more 😊.

[@tonymorodermontana3573]

Thirteen Days is one of my favorite films of all times ,pure pleasure,God help us now,, without such good filmmakers story tellers and creative ppl

[@legomanc4555]

My grandfather and grandmother were born in 1941, and 1944, respectively, and every time I ask them, "What is the scariest moment they could remember," they both respond, "The Cuban Missile Crisis." Haunting.

[@khankrum1]

I was 11 at the time. I can still recall the fear! I thank God that someone like Biden was not in charge!

[@john-paulsilke893]

@@khankrum1 I wonder what Trump would do in the same situation? I also wonder about any secret deals he swung that kept his presidency relatively conflict free. In 50 years we might find out he was as bad as the media claimed, or even more saintly than his fans claim. I suspect it’s somewhere in the middle. Bu I also know his administration went behind his back constantly and definitely got a taste for it and now a much weaker president has replaced him only emboldening those reckless bureaucrats.

[@moesiatestecles1975]

We are closer now, look up the doomsday clock.

[@jki808]

@@moesiatestecles1975that just proves how bs the clock is. Yes, tensions are very high with Russia atm. That does not mean it’s closer than it was back in the 60s. As the video states to the US, a preemptive all out attack was not only an option, but a favored one at a point in time. The Soviets almost used nuclear weapons against us and even gave the order to load up one of the torpedoes. We are nowhere near that level.

[@frankpienkosky5688]

well it started with Kennedy's speech..about 70 guys crowded into our tv lounge....after it was over you could have heard a pin drop as they all left quietly...I remember thinking "well,..there goes my student deferment"....of course it got worse by the day....remember watching Stevenson stick it to the russians at the UN...my Dad liked that...but as you watched it play out you came to the realization that none of us may get out of this alive....you just had to accept that.......

[@nathanielgreer2764]

The coconut on President Kennedy’s desk was the coconut he carved a rescue message on when he and the members of his patrol torpedo boat (PT109) were marooned after their boat was cut in half pay a Japanese destroyer. JFK actually swam several miles across open ocean with a wounded servicemen strapped to him. It is an amazing story.

[@colinschaeffer3940]

Everybody knows that.

[@nathanielgreer2764]

@@colinschaeffer3940 everybody?

[@therealmeik]

@@colinschaeffer3940 I didn’t know that.

[@nerdybacon6244]

@@colinschaeffer3940 I didn't know that

[@therealpianofairy]

Cool fact man didn't know that

[@nosajdabeno]

Really impressed with this video! I appreciated how you presented it as a serious “review” or whatever you want to call it. I know in a good amount of your other videos you tend to make jokes here and there, which I don’t mind, but it was nice to hear a good, serious commentary about a movie based on an intense 13 days in world history! Great job @HistoryBuffs !!!!

[@pocketfox743]

Back in 2002, for my 18th birthday I got a DVD player for my PC. My father bought me this movie on DVD to go with it. Both my first DVD and an 18th birthday present, this movie blew me away with it's suspense and drama. Still have the movie, still watch it on my birthday. Still an incredible piece of cinema and storytelling about an important time in history.

[@K4rt80y]

For a student of aviation, I was absolutely in awe that they found F-8s.

[@Tigershark_3082]

Yep! Funnily enough, they look to be either modified F-8Js or F-8Hs, as I don't recall the RF-8A/G ever having the IRST bulb they're shown to have in the movie Edit: they're defininitely F-8Hs

[@johng4730]

Apparently they were in service at the time of filming with the Philippines Air Force, hence the scenes over Cuba were actually the Philippines, but filmed from aerial cameras on a lear jet(actually visible in a trailer) and the flying F-8s were CGI, though the taxi scenes were real.

[@geeeeeee3]

My cousin was the commander of one of the destroyers on picket duty off Cuba. Years later, he told me that he had orders not to fire on any Russian ship even if his ship was fired upon. I asked him what happened if his ship was hit? He coldly said his orders specifically ordered him not to defend his ship, even if his ship was sunk.

[@mothertrucker341]

Lies

[@frankpienkosky5688]

yeah doubtful...they had orders to bring those subs to the surface by dropping grenades...pretty aggressive behavior that almost ended in disaster....@@mothertrucker341

[@cinematicsunproductions7748]

​@@mothertrucker341Proof?

[@Nuevavida0409]

You must be cuban😂

[@theguy9208]

​@@cinematicsunproductions7748 op is the one making up bullshit claims. no nation would ever order its military not to defend itself, thats the dumbest shit ive read this week.

[@jeffmcarthur5617]

Wow! I've never spotted these videos so close to when they're posted. And already hundreds of views! Love to see that people stick with this channel despite the length of time between videos.

[@ryangibson5462]

I really can't say how much these videos mean to your fans. The passion, the hard work, the love of history. Thank you sir.❤️

[@dameinoferrall2400]

Great film and great work as always. You don't post frequently, but it's the quality that counts. Keep it up!

[@big6ruce]

My college professor was an Air Force pilot during this period. He told me he was given orders on Saturday night to be in his plane ready to take off for Cuba. It was a 6 am that he was finally told to stand down. Once again great video keep up the great work.

[@terrybardy2848]

My Dad was Air Force and I was small when this was going on. This movie nailed it! We were in a fall out shelter for around two weeks. My Mother and us children listened to Kennedy's speech about the crisis on the radio. It was a scary time. Great critique Nick! Welcome back! Don't be a stranger!

[@AnimalisMD]

I was a young kid when this was going on, but I can still remember the fear my parents had while watching Kennedy's speech. They had both survived German occupation during WW2 in Holland and were scared that something worse was going to happen. Only years later did I understand how close we came to annihilation during that time.

[@bigkillerwhale1801]

Are your parents dutch? They teached you any dutch? Greetings from a dutch man!

[@AnimalisMD]

@@bigkillerwhale1801Begroetingen! Yes, my parents were both Dutch. So, all my relatives were too. Yes, I did learn Dutch and was fluent in my younger years. We lived 2 1/2 years in Holland and 7 1/2 in England so we traveled back and forth a lot. Sadly, my Dutch has gotten a bit rusty as time has passed. So, I need to cheat a little and use Google translate at times to chat with relatives online and email. (my spoken was always better than written)

[@bigkillerwhale1801]

@@AnimalisMD Vey nice to hear!, i got some old relatives who also moved away after the WW2 to canada, a lot of dutch people went overseas in search for happines! as we dutch people say!; Houdoe he! ( see ya )

[@AnimalisMD]

@@bigkillerwhale1801 tot ziens! 😄

[@frankpienkosky5688]

yeah,..Berlin was the hole card the russians held over us all during the cold war....it was the trip wire@@AnimalisMD

[@Peter-Oxley-Modelling-Lab]

I have this film on DVD and really enjoyed it, the way it portrays the great tension of this critcal moment in history. Great choice, Nick! 👍🏻 A much underated movie.

[@PrimeSportsNetwork]

Always a big grin when Nick produces these videos and presents us with a taste of his imagination, creativity and smarts. Thanks Nick!

[@theIconstable]

Awesome video. As a teacher of the Cold War, I appreciated you breaking down this bone-chilling moment in history. I came over from the video on Nebula specifically to request both The Right Stuff and From the Earth to the Moon.

[@uosdwiSrdewoH]

I absolutely love this movie. Amazing cast, the story is always interesting. It's always a good sign when you're on the edge of your seat despite knowing how it ends. This does that for me every time.

[@mnxs]

Thank you! This is one my favourite historical movies ever. For anyone out there who haven't seen it, _please_ consider doing so. It's a masterful portrayal of those events of '62 and captures the _incredible_ tension just brilliantly. A true political thriller, and with a great performance of the leading cast. If I had my way, it'd be mandatory viewing in school history lessons.

[@0xlich]

The missile crisis was taught to me when I was 13-14 back in school. Now I'm almost 30 and only recently realizing how close we were to living in a very very different world. Videos and movies like this bring light to the major effort that we, as humans, need to do to stop destroying ourselves for stupid reasons becasue at the end of the day, no country is as valuable as we as a species.

[@Rhoxmaster316]

A HIstory Buffs day is ALWAYS a good day. Thanks Nick! Another fantastic episode!

[@charlessaint7926]

The Soviet submarine, that came close to starting a nuclear war, was B-59. The skipper believed war broke out, as did the on board political commissar. However, the second in command, who also served as commodore the Soviet submarine squadron, wasn't convinced. All three needed to agree in order for the nuclear torpedo to be launched. This also served as the basis for the movie, *Crimson Tide* with Gene Hackman and Denzel Washington.

[@detachmentalist]

I would consistently hear my dad or uncles refer to the Cuban Missile Crisis whenever technically relevant in a conversation when I was a kid this partially inspired my fascination for the Cold War today, and why Thirteen Days is still one of my favorite films of all time

[@bradensullivan3768]

I always thought Costner's character never existed, so him being real but straying from real history doesn't change much for me. One of my favourite movies ever.

[@Arsenic71]

This and Das Boot.

[@MrAlsachti]

Yeah, I half-expected a "The Sixth Sense" ending with his character.

[@nintendiehard]

NO WAY! I suggested this a while back just for fun, not thinking it would happen. It's a fairly unheard-of film (I've met only one other person who'd seen it before). I'm so excited to watch this!

[@jamesjross]

I only just watched this like 10 days ago - because someone was talking about Kevin's accent. I think it honestly was so distracting that it took me out of it.

[@K1ng1995]

@Jamie Ross I'm not a fan or Bruce Greenwoods accent as JFK don't get me wrong he looks great as JFK but the accent could've been worked on

[@lilymarinovic1644]

It was broadcast on tv here in Oz a while back. Seen it twice.

[@petesime]

I have the DVD in a crate somewhere. I shall have to dig it out for a rewatch.

[@onawal931]

@@K1ng1995 He sounded like he was from GA at times!

[@craig3111]

Stevenson’s line at 14:25 (whether this was actually said or not) is so powerful. Someone willing to be seen as the coward by pushing for negotiation and peace.

[@POPE_FRANC1S]

This channel is a prime example of quality over quantity

[@tylerdurden788]

I have another channel like this. It talks about the behind the scene drama of making movies

[@POPE_FRANC1S]

@@tylerdurden788 what's it called?

[@rd28gu2]

Not every Disney film maker now

[@yj4003]

T

[@jonathanhodges8752]

I just finished the Chernobyl mini series on HBO and I would love to see a review of it from you, Nick. Your insight is something I greatly look forward to when it comes to historical media.

[@iamjeramy]

Hard Agree!!!

[@marsazorean62]

As a retired nuclear worker (PNGS),Chernobyl is very well done. And factual. However,flatscreens did not exist in 1986. The only flaw.

[@john-paulsilke893]

@@marsazorean62 really accurate? Are you serious? In what way will U238 used in the reactor explode like a massive nuclear bomb is water hits it? If that was the case we would simply toss big rocks of it in lakes and coastal waters to blow up our enemies. The reactor was so full of dangerous radiation that the three workers sent into the core known as the Three Divers all survived and two are alive today with no lasting issues, (the third died of a heart attack). That show produced so much BS you could drag a plow over it and feed all of Ukraine for a decade with it. The damn place is a tourist attraction!!!

[@john-paulsilke893]

@@marsazorean62 also, what reactor and what type is it you worked on? I’ll give you a hint of my experience and if you were in the business you should be able to name my reactor. Ready, Deuterium Uranium, CANDU 1983 Reactor A shut down due to coolant leaks.

[@marsazorean62]

@@john-paulsilke893 PNGS 96 till 2017. WTFAU?

[@delavalmilker]

Excellent analysis! What I especially liked about this movie was how they got actors who look very much like the original people. I also was impressed by how the producers went out of their way, to reproduce so authentically the look and "feel" of the early 1960's. (A time that I grew-up in, so I know how it looked). Sadly, so many people today have forgotten or have no awareness of this very dangerous "13 days" in history. It hasn't been until decades later that facts came out about how close we REALLY came to thermonuclear war.

[@MuddyWaterss]

I don't leave many comments on KZbin. But I just wanted to express some love. This is an S tier channel. Your videos take priority when I see them pop up every now and then. It's always a treat. Thank you!

[@stinker43]

Chris Lawford, the actor shown as Commander Ecker (pilot taking pix in the fighter over Cuba at 18:30) was in real life the nephew of John and Bobby Kennedy. He does great!

[@amkrause2004]

Awesome video. My father and I watch this movie all the time. He served in Strategic Air Command (SAC) as missile launch officer during the late 70s to late 80s. I remember him going on global shield exercises. He is real quick to point out when nuke forces go to defcon 3 or in the case of crimson tide to defcon 4.

[@robertsandberg2246]

My mom told me that, during the Cuban Missile Crisis, when she was 12 years old, her father had their root cellar on their Minnesota dairy farm inspected by the County Agent for it's viability of being a bomb shelter. Apparently, he said it was the best one he saw. I'm just glad she and my aunts, uncle and grandparents never had to use it. For a bomb shelter at least...

[@jliller]

Q: How do you survive a thermonuclear war? A: Why would you want to?

[@robertsandberg2246]

@@jliller There wouldn't be much to survive for, that's for sure. My grandfather was a WW1 veteran. Maybe he had the "go out with your boots on" mentality, or survive as long as you can just to show 'em. Anything is better than just curling up and dying. I've come up with a saying; "Never give up. Always fight to the last. Whatever that last may be."

[@jliller]

@@robertsandberg2246 "There wouldn't be much to survive for, that's for sure." Exactly. The rational response to a massive nuclear exchange is to kill oneself. Life on the other side of that war would not be worth living.

[@KingOfHarlots86]

Soo... we're making meth in the bomb shelter right? Cuz I mean.. c'mon 🤷🏿‍♂️...like we could make soooo much meth..

[@robertsandberg2246]

@@KingOfHarlots86 That would make the end of the world a little more fun, not gonna lie!😜🤣👍 Not sure my grandparents, mom and aunts and uncle from 1962 would have had that on their minds though....🤔

[@jaaronfletcher]

You’ve outdone yourself. Outstanding work!

[@gallantcavalier3306]

An epic which tells the story of the closest we ever came to the Cold War going hot!! Amazing video History Buffs!!

[@Nostripe361]

Still amazes me that they had no direct communication line between the two leaders before this event occurred

[@arthas640]

@@Nostripe361 it is pretty crazy to think. IIRC during the crisis they had to physically go to the embassy and have them pass messages on to Moscow.

[@___-cp6or]

3:00 I would like to add the tremendous effort by the RAF, RCAF, RAAF, RNZAF and RSAAF crews as well in providing a key component of the Berlin Airlift.

[@onthatrockhewillbuildhisch1510]

Among others, the Australian RAAF provided 2,000 sorties during the airlift.

[@___-cp6or]

@@onthatrockhewillbuildhisch1510 sorry, did not know about the effort of the colonies in the airlift as well, I have adapted the comment accordingly.

[@homerocketscience1874]

Thanks for the mention mate! From Down Under

[@kizunadragon9]

"Do not pray for easy lives my friends, instead pray to become stronger men" - John F. Kennedy The right man in the right moment can change the world.

[@frankpienkosky5688]

he was lucky...as were we all...but it's probably one of the reasons they killed him later...he had few friends by that time....many in the military and other powerful positions felt he almosr got us all killed.....

[@brandencurtin4210]

If JFK couldn’t hype you up then no one could

[@rogerroger9960]

KENNEDY CAUSED THE CRISIS TO BEGIN WITH. 😂😂😂 Jeez I hate how that's never covered. And he's celebrated to this day

[@MunsterBeavis]

I could not live without Kings & Generals, Epic History TV, and Nick’s channel of course:) Great work on your research as always.

[@homelessjesse9453]

Kings and Shills you mean?

[@BrahmaDBA]

This was me and my dad's favourite movie. We watch it again and again. It's crazy to think that the world could have ended as we know it there and then but it was prevented because cooler heads prevail. You're amazing for reviewing this movie Mr. Hodges, all the success to you.

[@KasperCollectables]

The cast of this movie was brilliant. One of my favorites.

[@s1ckboirari]

I've never heard a Brit talk so thoroughly and such existence about an almost purely US related part of history. Hats off every post you make never fails to entertain me!

[@844spyder]

I've waited for this one. I've wondered how much was made up and how much real about this movie. The incredible steely nerves of President Kennedy and his team. The tension in that room. One of my favorite historical movies of all time

[@marlobreding7402]

Those were scary days for the eleven-year-old me, it was pretty scary times around our household as well because Dad didn't mince words about it, he was an employee at McDonald Douglas Aerospace and had top security clearances. Even bought a gun to defend us. I never saw it but I knew he had it. He sold it soon after that I'm assuming cuz it never appeared in any of his things after he passed away. Our country was dancing on the razor's Edge those days.

[@SwiftOnSports]

This is awesome! I think I'd asked/recommended this film a half-dozen times, and here it is! So cool! Great vid as always, Nick!

[@Michaelthekiwi]

On Kenny O'Donnell's role being inflated: Kevin Costner is the biggest name in the cast - despite Waterworld and The Postman being in his recent past - and giving him a bigger role in the movie than the historical reality (especially as the rest of the cast are not yet big names) is probably deliberate writing choice to both tell the story from an outsider point of view and to ensure the star who topped the bill being a big name. I did like how the HBO Miniseries on Chernobyl acknowledged in its coda that it had combined many people into one role to simplify the telling of the story for the audience. Perhaps other writers/directors should do this in historical dramas to highlight the differences between a dramatic presentation and a documentary.

[@colinschaeffer3940]

He was also a producer of the film.

[@mister9012]

This is what i felt could've been the reasoning of having a person with a small role in reality given a bigger one in film. Not only the actor playing the character given a more central role for ego or something, but to give the audience a more digestible way to take in so much information or give them a more upfront seat to the emotions, stress, and decisions being made by so many people. Chernobyl is also what I thought of when Kenny was being discussed in the video.

[@WilliamRWarrenJr]

Bubba, you've done some gorram fine homework here! I was born in 1953, an Army Officer's Brat, Dad was a steely-eyed missile man (Artillery) and I clearly remember every second of the terror from inside a military family. We were stationed at Ft. Bliss (can you define "ironic"?) and Dad disappeared one night. Val-pack, dop kit, vanished. Mom couldn't say, probably didn't know. I only bring this up because I have watched a LOT of "Missiles of October" docudramas (didn't I mention my birthday is October 14, 1953?) and you can't know how many buttons you just pushed! But more importantly, you have brought to my attention a shitload of historical events of which I was previously unaware. And I was a precocious asshole at 10yo, probably worse now that I'm published, but I am always eager to learn. You made my day, bubba! I'm going to look for a $button to send you a few shekels. Good job 👍🖖

[@WilliamRWarrenJr]

Found it! 🎉😊🖖

[@benandrew21]

The way you write makes me smile my guy. Hope you're well

[@wonka2671]

Between you and oversimplified it’s amazing ever 6 months to see great content

[@stevenm2722]

The film I haven't been able to get enough of lately is Cromwell. Not many films covering that time period and I would love to see you do a review. Thanks History Buffs. Love your content.

[@elsakristina2689]

I really like that movie too. The 17th century is so underrated and underrepresented in period movies.

[@OcarinaSapphr-]

Laughing Cavalier did a two-parter on it: highly recommended!

[@nikosmag6649]

This film is a long time favorite. Thank you for covering it and putting so much detail in it. Briliant just brilliant

[@HalfLifeExpert1]

The reason why the submarine close call is not in the film is because that story was not discovered by historians until 2002, two years after this film was released.

[@therevolvingmonk]

Will always appreciate my high school US History since 1877 teacher, Mr. Schmidt, for showing us this movie. I've rewatched it so many times over the years.Bruce Greenwood was great as JFK but the guy who plays RFK really steals the show. He looks so much like Bobby. Hell of a supporting cast too. Bill Simtrovich as Gen. Powers, Kevin Conway as Gen. LeMay, Dylan Baker as Secretary McNamara, and Michael Fairman as Ambassador Stevenson were all great in their supporting roles.

[@Squatch_needs_no_heroes]

One of my most rewatched movies, please don’t destroy it!

[@andyreaver1962]

I can’t believe how skipped over this event in history is. It’s a shame really, public schools only acknowledge that events like the Cuban Missile Crisis happened. You never really learn about them. Great work, 1962 was a chaotic year for America to say the least. Never even heard of the film “Thirteen Days” until now. Excellent work, I love the little nuggets of information on how they recreated the White House during the Kennedy administration. Look forward to seeing what you do next.

[@therevolvingmonk]

We actually watched this movie in my US History since 1877 class in high school. I'm so lucky that I lived in a city with an excellent public school system and am old enough to have been school-aged at a time when kids were still given a proper well-rounded education. I substitute teach in the same school system I attended as a student from K-12 and the overall quality is still there but far too much emphasis is placed on STEM. It was shocking to me how much the non-fiction and classic literature sections in the library have shrunk since I graduated back in the mid-00s.

[@RealBadGaming52]

@@therevolvingmonk u wacthed this movie in 1877 in school LOL?????, was that typo? but yeah your right , school is laser focused on getting u to college these days, not everyone cares about that

[@jliller]

"It’s a shame really, public schools only acknowledge that events like the Cuban Missile Crisis happened. You never really learn about them." Public schools usually run out of time to teach the Cold War.

[@patty4349]

I clearly remember a lesson in high school (79 or 80). My teacher very sarcastically pointed out the removal of the missiles in Turkey, which was completely unrelated to the missile crisis! My dad talked about it with me later and said that he was a bit concerned at the time (he was from Britain, they tend to downplay stuff). It was only when the movie showed people lining up for Confession that the true level of the threat became clear to me, though. I think at 14 I knew that we were still here and didn't really think about the way things felt to the people in the moment

[@andyreaver1962]

@@patty4349 I’m referring mostly to schools since the year 2000. Cold War history, is just barely touched touched on, I mostly learned about it by my own curiosity. I graduated in 2020. I guess it depends on the teacher. Public schools in general nowadays do a very rushed, sloppy job in terms of Cold War history. It appears as time goes on we have to rush even more things when learning about history and unfortunately a lot is skipped over.

[@viktor9461]

Thirteen Days have always been a fav movie of mine, i watched it lots of times. the sheer amount of tension in the movie with little to no action is very well done, so glad to see it cover here.

[@rcmnrl6777]

@42:55 my ears lit up when it was mentioned that some filming was done in the Philippines for the jets. It makes me giddy that those scenes were short in Clark freeport zone, a former US airbase (Clark Airbase) which was just outside my hometown of Angeles City. The mountain in the background was Mt. Arayat. Definitely one of my favourite movies now!

[@David-nx2vm]

Well done. I was in the first grade of elementary school in October 1962. Amid the regular civil defense “dive under the desk” drills, us kids had no idea what was going on, and our parents sheltered us from it at the time.

[@pbales8951]

Thanks so much for comparing Thirteen Days to reality. This is one of my all-time favorite movies, and the deviations from reality do not detract from my enjoyment of it.

[@whateva8964]

My wife's late father was a US Navy RF-8 Crusader pilot with unit VFP-62, which was the reconnaissance unit shown in the film. He flew numerous recon missions over Cuba photographing the sites. We have a nice picture of President Kennedy addressing the pilots and unit on the flightline in person and awarding them the first peacetime Navy Unit Commendation. Also nice is that her dad is easily identifiable in the photo. You can find the picture online.

[@GrumpyLoco6]

Watching your videos is always a joy. I'm not sure how exactly but the way you narrate your videos makes the history you're telling very compelling!

[@KTChamberlain]

Every time I see Kevin Costner in a movie History Buffs covers, I jokingly think back to the Family Guy line where Chris Griffin asks Brian: "How does Kevin Costner keep getting work?"

[@Squatch_needs_no_heroes]

18:58 I’ll give it to Costner, this was a passion project for him and he plays support. Most leading men wouldn’t.

[@wtvideos3205]

Yay! I was among the probably many people who pleaded for History Buffs to do a review of this film a couple of years back! This remains one of my favourite movies, even though I was well aware of the dramatic license in certain parts taken with it.

[@ryans2070]

Was, no joke, watching this movie last night and thinking how great it would be for it to get the History Buffs treatment. Your videos are always informative and entertaining. Please keep up the amazing work that you do and know that it is truly appreciated.

[@landenbrooks9327]

Hey Nick, another very well-done episode. I've seen most if not all of your videos of historical movies, and I have enjoyed them all very much as have most of the people of shared them with

[@luisferreira7654]

Nick hodges just posted another video .... instant thumbs up! Thank you nick, your content its light years away from other so called TV professional history videos!

[@johnjosmith42]

Possibly your best ever video essay. Honestly, this is first class. Bravo to you (and any team members) and thank you 👏 🇬🇧

[@flyback_driver]

I'm watching this thirteen days after it was posted haha. Another winner Nick!

[@satireisnotdead5804]

He doesn't always upload videos, but when he does, they're outstanding, don't ever stop, Nick, you are a wonderful history teacher.

[@reniasva]

As always: perfect research, good editing, good pace, great narration. A+, as we're used to on this channel.

[@Squatch_needs_no_heroes]

Bruce’s best role by far.

[@positivevibez73]

I always enjoy History Buffs videos. Well done Mr. Nick Hodges. My favourite video you have done to date is the one on The Last Samurai. I had a deep fascination with The Samurai when I was young. I finally got to visit Japan back in 2003.

[@eddavitt6359]

Only recently found your channel and flying through your back catalog, whilst hoping you'd do 13 days. They must take immense amounts of work, well done