Group interaction phenomena in the Cuban missile crisis

Kenny O'Connell is Chief of Staff and Political Advisor for President John F. Kennedy. They have been friends for many years, and O'Connell serves as Kennedy's political advisor. He often displays an authoritarian style as team leader. The events that unfold in this movie take place during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962, when U-2 spy planes discover Soviet missiles that could easily hit the United States being installed in the U.S.S.R.'s ally, Cuba. Kenneth O'Connell, as portrayed in this movie, is shown to be a man with multiple communication styles that he adjusts from setting to setting. Much of the time he speaks in a very authoritarian way and with considerable finality, but when high-level decisions are being made, he listens to everyone with respect and does not issue orders. However, when it is part of his job to follow through and make sure those group decisions are followed, he does so efficiently and aggressively.

The class textbook defines a group as "An assemblage of persons who communicate in order to fulfill a common purpose and achieve a goal" (p, 237). Throughout this movie, O'Connell participates in a number of group discussions including face-to-face, formal meetings organized in meeting rooms using tables, and times when his family is together at home. His body language reflects someone comfortable with being in charge. He walks with vigor, stands straight, and looks people in the eye when he speaks to him. His leadership style tends to be authoritarian. This contrasts with Kennedy's leadership style as shown in the movie, as Kennedy seeks out others' opinions and clearly considers them carefully. It seems possible that O'Connell's more authoritarian style reflects his role, which of course is subsidiary to Kennedy's. O'Connell offers advice and gives his informed opinions, but also is responsible for getting a variety of tasks done. He does this typically by delegation as a superior instructing an employee. In those situations, decisions have already been made. Those are not meetings as defined by the textbooks. They are simply straightforward exchanges of directives from one person to another.

The seating arrangement in the first large meeting to deal with the crisis is interesting. The President chooses to not sit at the head of the table, suggesting that he wants to hear from everyone. By contrast, O'Donnell is in the room, but seated in a chair along the wall and not at the table. This suggests that his relationship as an equal or near-equal with the President is a private one.

This meeting also reveals the first suggestion of a hidden agenda, as a military spokesperson speaks up after a short presentation of the missile problem with a declaration that this means that the Russians have adopted a "first strike" policy, meaning that they are likely to launch nuclear missiles on the United States without warning. This agenda of the military, which is that the United States should strike first to prevent a first strike by Russia from Cuba, is in conflict with the politicians, who want to negotiate a peaceful solution, and causes significant clashes within groups and as group decisions are carried out.

In this meeting, Dean Rusk gives the first inkling of O'Donnell's final conclusion about these events, by establishing these missiles in Cuba, the U.S.S.R. is telling the United States that they can do whatever they want, wherever they want, and that the United States can't stop them from it. Bundy later will forcefully explains later to a Naval commander that what's really going on is a whole new communication language, and that even military moves must send the message the President intends to send, that military decisions are also communication decisions.

In this meeting, the group quickly achieves consensus that the missiles in Cuba cannot be tolerated. The more difficult group work comes as they decide how to prevent the missiles from being armed and becoming a true threat to the United States.

After this meeting, O'Connell and the two Kennedys demonstrate the efficiency of a meeting where the participants stand, as they rapidly decide to organize a team from various kinds of expertise to decide what their options are. This meeting also demonstrates that although O'Connell did not sit at the table, his opinion is highly valued.

At the next meeting with the military, the military has expanded its plan to follow up an initial first strike with an invasion of Cuba and removal of Castro so there is no friendly government for the U.S.S.R. To work with in the future and possibly try to place missiles there again. An attempt by Adlai Stevenson, ambassador to the United Nations, to suggest diplomatic solutions is disparaged by others and no one speaks up to side with him. In this meeting, one possible danger of group decisions is presented: group decisions can be bolder and less conservative than decisions made by one person alone textbook, p. 238).

As O'Donnell maneuvers his way through the various meetings that take place in this movie, he touches on the issue of how other cultures view groups. Holmes (2004) as well as the textbook note that different cultures look at group communication issues in different ways. According to the textbook, in the United States, alliances not always a lifelong commitment. However, that apparently was not the standard in Kennedy's White House. In one scene, he talks on the phone to someone he is clearly dissatisfied with. He calls the person a "piece of *****" and lectures him sternly about political loyalty. This scene also reflects O'Connell's tendency to lead in an authoritarian way, but given the person he works for, the President of the United States, it may be appropriate for him to deal firmly and quickly with people who don't do the things they are expected to do. The textbook addresses the issue of dealing with difficult people within a group and acknowledges that sometimes the best thing for the group leader to do is to "confront the person directly" (textbook, p. 278). O'Connell, even before he is helping mange a crisis that might lead to World War III, is quite willing to do this. One begins to wonder if he ever does listen to those who report to him, although it is clear that he listens to those who are his equal or above him.

He demonstrates the tendency for males to see females as people of lesser power when he argues with Jackie, again, trying to be markedly authoritarian, over a guest list. He doesn't see why some people should be invited to a party she will be giving.

Part of the conflict is that, according to the textbook, women view the process of decision making as important, whereas for men, the final product is more important. So he wants to just tell her who should be invited, and she wants to discuss it. He says to her, "Party to you; politics to me," and "What do you want for real?" She answers, "Everybody on my list. Are you trying to go around me?" He says, "Around you, over you, through you. You're starting to bug me," and he walks away. Again his approach is very authoritarian. it's clear that he is very confident of his position with the President to be that dismissive of the First Lady.

O'Connell's real status is clearly shown when he, President Kennedy and Attorney General Robert Kennedy meet to talk about the just-discovered missiles in Cuba. In this setting his status appears equal to that of Robert Kennedy and possibly that of the President. It is clear that he is respected and an important contributor to conversations. In this discussion, no one acts in an authoritarian way, and what each has to say is listened to by the others.

With his family, he is the clear leader at the family breakfast, dealing with all family issues swiftly and without much discussion. An example of this is when he confronts his son's report card because it contains a C. This is an unacceptable grade to O'Connell, and he lectures his son sternly about studying more. He deals with all issues swiftly and decisively, and attempts to delegate responsibility, directing his wife to answer the phone and deal with other issues, even though she has a toddler in her arms. The family all agrees to this structure, apparently recognizing the importance of his job and accepting that he must get through breakfast swiftly and efficiently.

In the White, House O'Connell berates someone on the phone for being disloyal. He apparently realizes that in Western culture, loyalties can shift over time. However, within the subculture of John F. Kennedy, full, unswerving loyalty is the standard. "Listen to me you worthless piece of *****." There's a word you need to learn - LOYALTY! Is there any part of this you don't understand?"

However, when he needs to be flexible, he can be. When McGeorge Bundy, Kennedy's National Security Advisor, comes in early in the morning and asks to see the President, O'Donnell offers him 2:30-2:45. The man only says, "I need to see him now," and O'Donnell acquiesces. In this role he plays the role of "procedural technician," controlling access to the President rather than materials. O'Donnell gives the impression of knowing the people he works with very well, allowing him to make quick, decisive decisions. He comes to a stalemate with Jackie over the guest list for a party, but trusts that the person seeking to speak with the President has used good judgment in his request and admits him immediately.

He also recognizes his partial role as a functionary, and does not follow the man into the Presidential office, but waits until he's been invited. Once O'Connell is in the President's office, the President acts as gatekeeper. He immediately has O'Connell look at the photographs Bundy has brought in because of O'Connell's military background. This also serves to accelerate group consensus so that everyone agrees that the pictures show Russian missiles in Cuba. The President plays the role of the "Orienter," summarizing the options on the table for the group. However, body language suggests that he is aware of how strongly the military thinks their plan should be the one adopted. At the end of the meeting, Dean Atchison lays out how the war will spread from Cuba to Berlin and involve NATO, and probably, nuclear weapons, and finally says, "Hopefully, cooler heads will prevail." The head of the Joints Chief of Staff's facial and body language, grimacing and leaning forward, suggests that he does not want to give diplomacy chance, but put military plans into play immediately. This meeting reflects the textbook's observation that at a rectangular table, people tend to talk across from each other and not in any kind of circular pattern (textbook, p. 275).

In these meetings, he himself does not initiate ideas, but he encourages ideas from others. He applies reason to each idea, keeps an open mind, seems to be aware of hidden agendas, and encourages participation by others (textbook, pp. 272-274). In meetings with just Robert Kennedy and Kenneth O'Donnell, he states what he thinks more directly, probably because the three are in agreement that they want to avoid war if any way can be found. One management approach never used in this movie is "Laisssez-faire" (textbook, p. 280). Events are never allowed to just unfold; O'Connell and others always provide steerage.

How this meeting breaks up is interesting. The two Kennedys and O'Donnell leave through one door, and the strong proponents of an immediate military action leave through another, gather in the hall, and realize that the President has not yet been persuaded to take a first-strike military approach. The movie has visually and verbally laid the groundwork for a group storm (textbook, p. 245).

As the group storm develops, the Chief of Staff confronts President Kennedy directly in the presence of Robert Kennedy and Kenneth O'Donnell and insists that military action is the only option. Kennedy then insists that the advisors come to consensus. Kennedy continues to remain open to all options, and has two speeches prepared: one if the United States imposes a quarantine around Cuba to block ships, and a second if military action is taken. Adlai Stevenson puts his beliefs on the line and offers to work out a "back-door" diplomatic solution.

Ultimately, the President, Robert Kennedy and Kenneth O'Donnell come to a consensus to try a combination of quarantine, which really is a blockade combined with diplomatic efforts. While Kennedy wants consensus among all his advisors, he really does not completely have it. In a meeting with the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the President realized that the Navy's plan for running the quarantine includes firing on Russian ships if they refuse to stop and be inspected. While the shots would be aimed at the rudder to disable the ship, it is still an unacceptable escalation to Kennedy. In addition, the military has ordered low-level flights to take pictures, and those planes will be fired upon. Under the military's rules of engagement, this means the U.S. planes can fire back.