Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, American Republics; Cuba 1961–1962; Cuban Missile Crisis and Aftermath, Volumes X/XI/XII, Microfiche Supplement

616. Memorandum for record, February 14¹

February 14, 1963

SUBJECT

• Daily White House Staff Meeting, 14 February 1963

[Here follows discussion of other subjects.]

4. Of course the question of Cuba came up, with emphasis on the presence of Soviet troops there. Bundy advanced an explanation which he claims to have conceived only yesterday, although it does not strike me as particularly original. He says that his theory is that the Soviets have been keeping their troop units in Cuba in order to “protect” their SAMs and generally to keep an eye on the Cubans—for example, with respect to permitting our aerial surveillance to proceed unhindered. Bob Amory said he thought that there might be a little of the “plate glass window” philosophy behind this troop presence, similar to the effect produced and purpose served by the Allied garrisons in Berlin. Mr. Chester Cooper said that, of course, these Soviet troops also served Khrushchev as a bargaining counter.

[Here follows discussion of other subjects.]

Legere

1. Daily White House staff meeting: Soviet troops in Cuba. Secret. 2 pp. NDU, Taylor Papers, Chairman’s Staff Group, Feb 1963.