📖 Overview
Sheldon M. Stern served as historian at the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library for twenty-three years. He specialized in analyzing the Cuban Missile Crisis through previously classified audio recordings of Kennedy administration meetings.
Stern wrote three books examining the thirteen-day crisis in October 1962. His work focused on correcting historical myths and misconceptions that emerged in memoirs and popular accounts of the events.
His books present transcripts and analysis of secret White House recordings made during the crisis. These recordings captured conversations between President Kennedy, his advisors, and military leaders as they debated responses to Soviet missiles in Cuba.
Stern's research challenged romanticized versions of Kennedy's decision-making process. He documented the president's cautious approach and resistance to military pressure for immediate invasion of Cuba.