Khrushchev Responds to the Address (PJW)

Khrushchev Responds to the Address is an excerpt from former Secretary of State James William Fulbright's novel America First: American Foreign Policy from 1961-1964, published in 1986.

Khrushchev Responds
When Byrd issued his stance on the issue of Berlin, Khrushchev was vacationing at Sochi, a resort town along the Black Sea. A Special Envoy had been sent to Moscow to oversee the conclusion of Berlin, a lawyer named John Jay McCloy. McCloy was a Kennedy man which didn't please Byrd, but he was experienced and knew what he was doing. McCloy was invited by Krushchev to join him at the resort.

Over drinks, the two discussed the television address. McCloy knew Khrushchev, like many others in the Kremlin, considered himself a top mind when it came to foreign policy. While Khrushchev was competent, he wasn't perfect: too often his successes in Portugal and Eastern Europe overshadow his failures, such as Berlin. He made decisions rashly, based on emotion; McCloy noted Khrushchev had a rather wide grin on his face as the broadcast came to an end.

"Your President Byrd, he bluffs too much," the First Secretary said smugly. "I know he wishes to avoid any confrontations when it comes to international affairs. He'll stand with his allies, but will he continue to stand if I apply pressure?" McCloy stated he only shrugged. He himself wasn't sure of Byrd's resolve when it came to foreign affairs. Byrd had overseen the start of withdrawals from Cuba, Iraq, and Vietnam; given that Berlin was much more important to American security than those nations, it made sense for Byrd to break his usual policies and defend the city. McCloy feared that this was only a token defense of Berlin, however, and Byrd would force his British and French allies to take the lead in this operation.

Byrd was indeed bluffing, but in the complete opposite direction Khrushchev and McCloy suspected. Khrushchev believed Byrd would cave when applied with military pressure, but Byrd also believed the same of Khrushchev. And Byrd wanted to settle this Berlin issue once and for all, so it would the isolationist president, in fact, that escalated the crisis.