Thirteen Days (2000)

Michael Fairman: Adlai Stevenson

Quotes 

• Kenny O'Donnell : Adlai! It's Ken; how you doin'?

  Adlai Stevenson : Busy, Ken. What do you need?

  Kenny O'Donnell : The president told me to pass the word to you: Stick it to them!

  Adlai Stevenson : I hear you. I'm glad it's you calling; I thought it would be Bobby.

  Kenny O'Donnell : Adlai, the world has to know we're right. If we're gonna have a chance at a political solution we need international pressure... You gotta be tough, Adlai. You need to find it, buddy.

  Adlai Stevenson : If they're still sticking to their stonewalling stategy, I'll get them. I'm an old political cat, Kenny, but I've got one life left.

  Kenny O'Donnell : I know you do.

• Adlai Stevenson : [asking the Russian ambassador if there are any Soviet missile bases in Cuba]  Sir, I am prepared to wait for your answer till Hell freezes over, if that's your decision.

• Adlai Stevenson : You are in the courtroom of world opinion and you can answer yes or no.

• Adlai Stevenson : [to Ambassador Zorin]  I want to ask you one simple question Mr Ambassador. Do you deny that the Soviet Union has placed and is placing missiles in Cuba? Don't wait for the translation, yes or no?

• President Kennedy : [summarizing their options]  So quarantine, or air strike?

  Adlai Stevenson : [clears throat]  There, uh, there is a third option. With either course we undertake the risk of nuclear war, so it seems to me that maybe one of us in this room should be a coward... so, I guess I'll be. A third course is to strike a deal: We trade Guantanamo and our missiles in Turkey; get them to pull their missiles out. We employ a back channel; we attribute the idea to U Thant. U Thant then raises it at the UN.

  President Kennedy : I don't think that's possible, Adlai.