Man’s darkest hour had arrived. For two weeks during October of 1962, the world’s greatest fear – armed conflict between the two superpowers, the United States and the Soviet Union, and the nuclear holocaust which would almost certainly follow – was on the verge of becoming reality. Over the years, both the Soviet and American leaders, particularly Nikita Khrushchev and John and Robert Kennedy, have assumed almost legendary status for their courageous negotiation throughout the conflict.

     However, although the most basic facts of the conflict are widely known, the behind-the-scenes action as well as some of the events and attitudes leading up to the crisis have not been as widely publicized . . .

     One of these educational sites, "The Cuban Missile Crisis: A Chronology of Events – January 1962 to January 1992" (http://www.seas.gwu.edu/nsarchive/nsa/cuba), was created by the National Security Archive. The site chronologically presents background information for the crisis as well as information concerning the events during those terror-filled few days. It also goes on to explain some of the ramifications of this historical event as the Cold War continued to progress onward, while simultaneously offering insights from key individuals such as Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara.

     Another wonderful feature of this site is the extensive documentation that exists for each entry. Entries are posted on a monthly basis for the events leading up to the conflict. Once the document begins to address the crisis itself however, and events quicken as the global tension builds, these short summaries cover smaller amounts of time, from individual days down to an hour-by-hour report in some cases. Each of these singular reports is supported by cited documentation from the national microfiche files. Although no links exist to these files, it would seem as though it is possible to gain access to these individual microfiche files as well.

     However, links have been created to a limited number of unclassified government documents and pictures. These links are scattered throughout the site as their subjects are addressed by the summaries. Unfortunately, these links are sparsely grouped throughout some portions of the site, making them difficult to find at times. And, although the site does make use of these links to documents and pictures, no real-time audio capabilities exist. By the same token, there is also a lack of any interactive or search capabilities, and no links exist to other sites dealing with the same or related topics. Although an index does exist to provide clarification on key individuals and terms, the site is basically presented in a very linear fashion, consisting of short textual summaries of events without subjective interpretation of any kind.

     Although the first site explored was very educational and potentially useful for research purposes, the second site browsed was absolutely amazing. The site, "Fourteen Days in October: The Cuban Missile Crisis" (http://hyperion.advanced.org/11046/), was created by three young men for the purpose of competing in the National History Fair in 1995 and again in 1997. And it has performed very well indeed, becoming a Semi-Finalist in the 1997 Fair and winning many awards across the nation. It is currently being maintained solely for educational purposes.

     One of the most interesting features of this site is its layout. Several different "rooms" exist, each of which provides a different set of features. One room contains a detailed history of the events both leading up to and occurring during the crisis. Another room exists to provide a faster, more concise summary of the previous page for those with limited time or interest.

     Separate rooms also exist for audio capabilities and a section of documents, complete with letters exchanged between Kennedy and Khrushchev and actual federal government memos. Furthermore, a set of pictures have been compiled not only of the standard pictures commonly seen in sites such as the one created by the National Security Archive, but also of maps and satellite and spy plane surveillance. Real-time video capabilities also exist to provide a more personal view on this crisis through video clips of speeches such as President Kennedy’s address to the nation to warn of the presence of Soviet missiles in Cuba. Finally, a room exists to provide a forum for interactive services. These services include stories posted by people who lived through the conflict, a debate room, and a question and answer room. A quiz also exists for all that want to test the knowledge of individuals who visit this particular site.

     The information in the site is presented in a chronological fashion, beginning with some background to the crisis before addressing the conflict itself. Links exist from this site to information on several key players, surveillance missions, and technological capabilities. Although the principal text of the site is primarily presented in a linear manner with only a small amount of analysis, several of the links provide a more in-depth, subjective view on the subject. Many of these links also serve to recount stories from the time that allow browsers to gain an accurate feel of the personalities of the leaders who shaped the events of this conflict.

     The sources utilized for the creation of this site include a wide variety of both primary and secondary sources. The authors gathered information from primary sources as diverse as Robert Kennedy’s memoirs of the event to the letters between Khrushchev and President Kennedy to the autobiography of ABC’s John Scali, who was utilized as in intermediary between the two sides.

     In conclusion, both of these sites are proficient in providing detailed, in-depth information on the Cuban Missile Crisis. Both sites are quite easy to use and provide a great deal of insightful information on the decision-making process of the United States and the Soviet Union. However, although the National Security Archive’s site is very useful for research purposes due to its extensive citation of information, its emphasis on dry, simple summaries of the conflict prevent it from being an interesting, effective learning tool. "Fourteen Days in October" on the other hand, possesses enough commentary, documentation, and interactive links that it could easily function as a research or educational tool. I recommend both of these sites to anyone who is interested in gaining a more in-depth perspective on the Cuban Missile Crisis.