"UNTIL HELL FREEZES OVER"

STEVENSON GRILLS ZORIN ON SOVIET MISSILES IN CUBA

New York City (JFK+50) On October 25, 1962, Ambassador Adlai Stevenson questioned Ambassador Valerian Zorin about his denials that the Soviets had placed nuclear missile sites in Cuba.  The questioning came during a meeting of the United Nations Security Council here in New York.

Mr. Stevenson asked...

"Do you deny that the USSR has placed...medium and intermediate range missiles and sites in Cuba?  Yes or no -- don't wait for the translation--yes or no?

Mr. Zorin answered...

"Continue with your statement.  You will receive your answer in due course."

Mr. Stevenson responded...

"I am prepared to wait for my answer until hell freezes over..."

SOURCE

"One Minute to Midnight:  Kennedy, Khrushchev and Castro on the Brink of Nuclear War," by Michael Dobbs, Alfred Knopf, New York, 2008.

 

 

UN Security Council

New York City

October 25, 1962

US Government Photo

 
 

"I'M PREPARED TO WAIT FOR MY ANSWER UNTIL HELL FREEZES OVER"

ADLAI WON'T LET SOVIET AMBASSADOR OFF THE HOOK


Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On October 25, 1962,  Ambassador Adlai E. Stevenson questioned Soviet ambassador Valerian Zorin on his denial that the USSR had put nuclear missile sites in Cuba.

Stevenson began his remarks by asking...

"Do you, Ambassador Zorin, deny that the USSR has placed and is placing, medium and intermediate range missiles and sites in Cuba?"

Zorin was waiting to hear the translation of Stevenson's question in his earpiece, when Stevenson added...

"Yes or no---don't wait for the translation--yes or no?"

Zorin, taken aback by Stevenson's tactic, replied...

"I am not in an American courtroom, sir, and I do not wish to answer a question put to me in the manner in which a prosecutor does."

Stevenson responded...

"You are in the courtroom of world opinion right now, and you can answer yes or no. You have denied that they exist, and I want to know if I have understood you correctly."

Zorin countered...

"Continue with your statement. You will receive your answer in due course. Do not worry."

To which Stevenson responded...

"I am prepared to wait for my answer until hell freezes over if that's your decision." 

SOURCES

"'Let Us Begin Anew':  An Oral History of the Kennedy Presidency, by Gerald S. and Deborah H. Strober, Harper Collins Publishers, New York, 1993.

"One Minute To Midnight: Kennedy, Khrushchev and Castro On The Brink of Nuclear War" by Michael Dobbs, Alfred Knopf, New York, 2008.

Adlai E. Stevenson

June 23, 1961

Library of Congress Photo

"YES OR NO? DON'T WAIT FOR THE TRANSLATION!"

STEVENSON GRILLS SOVIET AMBASSADOR AT UN ON MISSILES

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On October 25, 1962, Soviet ambassador to the United Nations Valerian Zorin refused to answer United States UN ambassador Adlai E. Stevenson's question....

"Do you, Ambassador Zorin, deny that the USSR has placed and is placing, medium and intermediate range missiles and sites in Cuba?"

Zorin was waiting to hear the translation of Stevenson's question from English to Russian in his earpiece, when Stevenson said...

"Yes or no---don't wait for the translation--yes or no?"

Zorin, seemingly taken aback by Stevenson's tactic, replied in Russian...

"I am not in an American courtroom, sir, and I do not wish to answer a question put to me in the manner in which a prosecutor does."

Stevenson countered...

"You are in the courtroom of world opinion right now, and you can answer yes or no. You have denied that they exist, and I want to know if I have understood you correctly."

Zorin replied...

"Continue with your statement. You will receive your answer in due course. Do not worry."

Ambassador Stevenson, obviously frustrated by Zorin's lack of candor, said...

"I am prepared to wait for my answer until hell freezes over, if that's your decision."

The United States then presented the photographic evidence to prove to the world the Soviet Union had indeed installed nuclear weapons in Cuba.

President John F. Kennedy, concerned about Stevenson's ability to stand-up to Zorin, was watching on television as he sat in his rocking chair in the Oval Office.

When it was over, JFK turned to his aides and said...

"Terrific. I never knew Adlai had it in him."

In an oral history, Joseph Sisco** says that JFK placed a phone call to Adlai as the meeting was about to begin.  Joe relates that he personally had to go to Zorin, the president of the Security Council, to get the meeting delayed.

He added...

"The president was really calling the shots in the Security Council right from the White House as he watched on the television and talked on an open line."

As to Stevenson's performance, Mr. Sisco says that while Adlai had a  prepared speech, his phrase 'until hell freezes over' was "totally ad libbed...there was nothing like that in the text."

*Valerian Zorin (1902-1986) joined the Communist party in 1922 and graduated from the Communist Institute of Education in 1935.  He was ambassador to Czechoslovakia from 1947-1955. VZ, who won 3 'Orders of Lenin', was Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and UN ambassador from 1956-1965.  He was ambassador to France from 1965-1971.  

**Joseph J. Sisco (1919-2004) was raised in Chicago and graduated from Knox College in Galesburg, IL in 1941.  He was in the army in WWII and earned a Masters and Doctoral degree at the University of Chicago in 1947 and 1950.

In 1950, Sisco became a CIA officer and in 1951 joined the State Dept.  He was Henry Kissinger's chief deputy during the period of shuttle diplomacy in the 1970s.

SOURCES

"'Let Us Begin Anew':  An Oral History of the Kennedy Presidency, by Gerald S. and Deborah H. Strober, Harper Collins Publishers, New York, 1993.

"One Minute To Midnight: Kennedy, Khrushchev and Castro On The Brink of Nuclear War" by Michael Dobbs, Alfred Knopf, New York, 2008.

UN Security Council

October 25, 1962

PD-USGOV photo

TERRIFIC, I NEVER KNEW ADLAI HAD IT IN HIM

STEVENSON GRILLS ZORIN AT UN

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On the tenth day of the Cuban Missile Crisis, fifty-five years ago, October 25, 1962, Soviet ambassador to the United Nations Valerian Zorin refused to answer United States UN ambassador Adlai E. Stevenson's question....

"Do you...deny that the USSR has placed and is placing, medium and intermediate range missiles and sites in Cuba?"

Zorin was waiting to hear the translation of Stevenson's question from English to Russian in his earpiece when Stevenson added...

"Yes or no---don't wait for the translation--yes or no?"

Zorin, taken aback by Stevenson's tactic, replied in Russian...

"I am not in an American courtroom, sir, and I do not wish to answer a question put to me in the manner in which a prosecutor does."

Stevenson countered...

"You are in the courtroom of world opinion right now, and you can answer yes or no. You have denied that they exist, and I want to know if I have understood you correctly."

Zorin replied...

"Continue with your statement. You will receive your answer in due course. Do not worry."

Ambassador Stevenson, obviously frustrated by Zorin's lack of candor, said...

"I am prepared to wait for my answer until hell freezes over, if that's your decision."

The United States then presented the photographic evidence to prove to the world the Soviet Union had indeed installed nuclear weapons in Cuba.

President John F. Kennedy, concerned about Stevenson's ability to stand-up to Zorin, was watching on television as he sat in his rocking chair in the Oval Office.

When it was over, JFK turned to his aides and said...

"Terrific. I never knew Adlai had it in him."


*Valerian Zorin (1902-1986) joined the Communist party in 1922 and graduated from the Communist Institute of Education in 1935.  He was ambassador to Czechoslovakia from 1947-1955. VZ, who won 3 'Orders of Lenin', was Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and UN ambassador from 1956-1965.  He was ambassador to France from 1965-1971.  

SOURCES

"'Let Us Begin Anew':  An Oral History of the Kennedy Presidency, by Gerald S. and Deborah H. Strober, Harper Collins Publishers, New York, 1993.

"One Minute To Midnight: Kennedy, Khrushchev and Castro On The Brink of Nuclear War" by Michael Dobbs, Alfred Knopf, New York, 2008.

UN Security Council

October 25, 1962

PD-USGOV photo

YES OR NO?--DON'T WAIT FOR THE TRANSLATION

JFK+50:  Volume 6, No. 2109

STEVENSON GRILLS ZORIN AT UN

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On the tenth day of the Cuban Missile Crisis, fifty-four years ago, October 25, 1962, Soviet ambassador to the United Nations Valerian Zorin refused to answer United States UN ambassador Adlai E. Stevenson's question....

"Do you, Ambassador Zorin, deny that the USSR has placed and is placing, medium and intermediate range missiles and sites in Cuba?"

Zorin was waiting to hear the translation of Stevenson's question from English to Russian in his earpiece, when Stevenson said...

"Yes or no---don't wait for the translation--yes or no?"

Zorin, seemingly taken aback by Stevenson's tactic, replied in Russian...

"I am not in an American courtroom, sir, and I do not wish to answer a question put to me in the manner in which a prosecutor does."

Stevenson countered...

"You are in the courtroom of world opinion right now, and you can answer yes or no. You have denied that they exist, and I want to know if I have understood you correctly."

Zorin replied...

"Continue with your statement. You will receive your answer in due course. Do not worry."

Stevenson, obviously frustrated by Zorin's lack of candor, said...

"I am prepared to wait for my answer until hell freezes over, if that's your decision."

When a speaker at the United Nations uses the word "hell,"  you know the situation is bad.

The United States then presented the photographic evidence to prove to the world the Soviet Union had indeed installed nuclear weapons in Cuba.

President John F. Kennedy, concerned about Stevenson's ability to stand-up to Zorin, was watching on television as he sat in his rocking chair in the Oval Office.

When it was over, JFK turned to his aides and said...

"Terrific. I never knew Adlai had it in him."

In an oral history, Joseph Sisco** says that while Adlai had a  prepared speech, his phrase 'until hell freezes over' was "totally ad libbed...there was nothing like that in the text."


*Valerian Zorin (1902-1986) joined the Communist party in 1922 and graduated from the Communist Institute of Education in 1935.  He was ambassador to Czechoslovakia from 1947-1955. VZ, who won 3 'Orders of Lenin', was Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and UN ambassador from 1956-1965.  He was ambassador to France from 1965-1971.  

**Joseph J. Sisco (1919-2004) was raised in Chicago and graduated from Knox College in Galesburg, IL in 1941.  He was in the army in WWII and earned a Masters and Doctoral degree at the University of Chicago in 1947 and 1950.
In 1950, Sisco became a CIA officer and in 1951 joined the State Dept.  He was Henry Kissinger's chief deputy during the period of shuttle diplomacy in the 1970s.


SOURCES

"'Let Us Begin Anew':  An Oral History of the Kennedy Presidency, by Gerald S. and Deborah H. Strober, Harper Collins Publishers, New York, 1993.

"One Minute To Midnight: Kennedy, Khrushchev and Castro On The Brink of Nuclear War" by Michael Dobbs, Alfred Knopf, New York, 2008.

Adlai E. Stevenson

June 23, 1961

Library of Congress Photo

UN Security Council

October 25, 1962

PD-USGOV photo

MISSILE CRISIS DAY 10

JFK+50:  Volume 5, No. 1754

SOVIET UN AMBASSADOR MUM ON MISSILES 

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On the tenth day of the Cuban Missile Crisis, fifty-three years ago, October 25, 1962, Soviet ambassador to the United Nations Valerian Zorin refused to answer United States UN ambassador Adlai E. Stevenson's question....

"Do you, Ambassador Zorin, deny that the USSR has placed and is placing, medium and intermediate range missiles and sites in Cuba?"

Zorin was waiting to hear the translation of Stevenson's question from English to Russian in his earpiece, when Stevenson said...

"Yes or no---don't wait for the translation--yes or no?"

Zorin, seemingly taken aback by Stevenson's tactic, replied in Russian...

"I am not in an American courtroom, sir, and I do not wish to answer a question put to me in the manner in which a prosecutor does."

Stevenson countered...

"You are in the courtroom of world opinion right now, and you can answer yes or no. You have denied that they exist, and I want to know if I have understood you correctly."

Zorin replied...

"Continue with your statement. You will receive your answer in due course. Do not worry."

Ambassador Stevenson, obviously frustrated by Zorin's lack of candor, said...

"I am prepared to wait for my answer until hell freezes over, if that's your decision."

The United States then presented the photographic evidence to prove to the world the Soviet Union had indeed installed nuclear weapons in Cuba.

President John F. Kennedy, concerned about Stevenson's ability to stand-up to Zorin, was watching on television as he sat in his rocking chair in the Oval Office.

When it was over, JFK turned to his aides and said...

"Terrific. I never knew Adlai had it in him."

In an oral history, Joseph Sisco** says that JFK placed a phone call to Adlai as the meeting was about to begin.  Joe relates that he personally had to go to Zorin, the president of the Security Council, to get the meeting delayed.

He added...

"The president was really calling the shots in the Security Council right from the White House as he watched on the television and talked on an open line."

As to Stevenson's performance, Mr. Sisco says that while Adlai had a  prepared speech, his phrase 'until hell freezes over' was "totally ad libbed...there was nothing like that in the text."


*Valerian Zorin (1902-1986) joined the Communist party in 1922 and graduated from the Communist Institute of Education in 1935.  He was ambassador to Czechoslovakia from 1947-1955. VZ, who won 3 'Orders of Lenin', was Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and UN ambassador from 1956-1965.  He was ambassador to France from 1965-1971.  

**Joseph J. Sisco (1919-2004) was raised in Chicago and graduated from Knox College in Galesburg, IL in 1941.  He was in the army in WWII and earned a Masters and Doctoral degree at the University of Chicago in 1947 and 1950.
In 1950, Sisco became a CIA officer and in 1951 joined the State Dept.  He was Henry Kissinger's chief deputy during the period of shuttle diplomacy in the 1970s.


SOURCES

"'Let Us Begin Anew':  An Oral History of the Kennedy Presidency, by Gerald S. and Deborah H. Strober, Harper Collins Publishers, New York, 1993.

"One Minute To Midnight: Kennedy, Khrushchev and Castro On The Brink of Nuclear War" by Michael Dobbs, Alfred Knopf, New York, 2008.

Adlai E. Stevenson

June 23, 1961

Library of Congress Photo

UN Security Council

October 25, 1962

PD-USGOV photo

UNTIL HELL FREEZES OVER

"I'M PREPARED TO WAIT FOR MY ANSWER UNTIL HELL FREEZES OVER"

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) On October 25, 1962, fifty-two years ago today, United States ambassador to the United Nations Adlai E. Stevenson questioned Soviet ambassador Valerian Zorin* on his denial that the USSR had installed nuclear missiles in Cuba.

Mr. Stevenson, seated 4 chairs from Zorin, began his remarks by asking...

"Do you, Ambassador Zorin, deny that the USSR has placed and is placing, medium and intermediate range missiles and sites in Cuba?"

Zorin was waiting to hear the translation of Stevenson's question in his earpiece, when Stevenson said...

"Yes or no---don't wait for the translation--yes or no?"

Adlai E. Stevenson

June 23, 1961

Library of Congress Photo

Zorin, seemingly taken aback by Stevenson's tactic, replied in Russian...

"I am not in an American courtroom, sir, and I do not wish to answer a question put to me in the manner in which a prosecutor does."

Stevenson countered...

"You are in the courtroom of world opinion right now, and you can answer yes or no. You have denied that they exist, and I want to know if I have understood you correctly."

Zorin replied...

"Continue with your statement. You will receive your answer in due course. Do not worry."

Ambassador Stevenson, obviously frustrated by Zorin's lack of candor, said...

"I am prepared to wait for my answer until hell freezes over, if that's your decision."

The United States then presented the photographic evidence to prove to the world the Soviet Union had indeed installed nuclear weapons in Cuba.

UN Security Council

October 25, 1962

PD-USGOV photo

President John F. Kennedy, concerned about Stevenson's ability to stand-up to Zorin, was watching on television as he sat in his rocking chair in the Oval Office.

When it was over, JFK turned to his aides and said...

"Terrific. I never knew Adlai had it in him."

In an oral history, Joseph Sisco** says that JFK placed a phone call to Adlai as the meeting was about to begin.  Joe relates that he personally had to go to Zorin, the president of the Security Council, to get the meeting delayed.

He added...

"The president was really calling the shots in the Security Council right from the White House as he watched on the television and talked on an open line."

As to Stevenson's performance, Mr. Sisco says that while Adlai had a  prepared speech, his phrase 'until hell freezes over' was "totally ad libbed...there was nothing like that in the text."

*Valerian Zorin (1902-1986) joined the Communist party in 1922 and graduated from the Communist Institute of Education in 1935.  He was ambassador to Czechoslovakia from 1947-1955. VZ, who won 3 'Orders of Lenin', was Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and UN ambassador from 1956-1965.  He was ambassador to France from 1965-1971.  

**Joseph J. Sisco (1919-2004) was raised in Chicago and graduated from Knox College in Galesburg, IL in 1941.  He was in the army in WWII and earned a Masters and Doctoral degree at the University of Chicago in 1947 and 1950.
In 1950, Sisco became a CIA officer and in 1951 joined the State Dept.  He was Henry Kissinger's chief deputy during the period of shuttle diplomacy in the 1970s.


SOURCES

"'Let Us Begin Anew':  An Oral History of the Kennedy Presidency, by Gerald S. and Deborah H. Strober, Harper Collins Publishers, New York, 1993.

"One Minute To Midnight: Kennedy, Khrushchev and Castro On The Brink of Nuclear War" by Michael Dobbs, Alfred Knopf, New York, 2008.

CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS: DAY 10

DAY 10 OF 13 DAY CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS 51 YEARS AGO TODAY!

Washington, D.C. (JFK+50) 51 years ago today, October 25, 1962, was the 10th day of what would be the 13 day Cuban Missile Crisis, the closest the world has come to nuclear war.

At the United Nations, US Ambassador Adlai E. Stevenson questioned Soviet ambassador Valerian Zorin* on his denial that the USSR had put nuclear missile sites in Cuba.

Adlai E. Stevenson

June 23, 1961

Library of Congress Photo

Mr. Stevenson, seated 4 chairs from Zorin, began his remarks by asking...

"Do you, Ambassador Zorin, deny that the USSR has placed and is placing, medium and intermediate range missiles and sites in Cuba?"

Zorin was waiting to hear the translation of Stevenson's question in his earpiece, when Stevenson added...

"Yes or no---don't wait for the translation--yes or no?"

Zorin, taken aback by Stevenson's tactic, replied:

"I am not in an American courtroom, sir, and I do not wish to answer a question put to me in the manner in which a prosecutor does."

Stevenson responded...

"You are in the courtroom of world opinion right now, and you can answer yes or no. You have denied that they exist, and I want to know if I have understood you correctly."

Zorin countered...

"Continue with your statement. You will receive your answer in due course. Do not worry."

To which Stevenson replied:

"I am prepared to wait for my answer until hell freezes over, if that's your decision."

Stevenson then produced the U2 photographs of Soviet missile sites in Cuba.

UN Security Council

October 25, 1962

PD-USGOV photo

President John F. Kennedy, concerned about Stevenson's ability to stand-up to Zorin, was watching on TV as he sat in his rocking chair in the Oval Office.

When it was over, JFK turned to his aides and said...

"Terrific. I never knew Adlai had it in him."

In an oral history, Joseph Sisco** says that JFK placed a phone call to Adlai as the meeting was about to begin.  Joe relates that he personally had to go to Zorin, the president of the Security Council, to get the meeting delayed.

He added...

"The president was really calling the shots in the Security Council right from the White House as he watched on the television and talked on an open line."

As to Stevenson's performance, Mr. Sisco says that while Adlai had a  prepared speech, his phrase 'until hell freezes over' was "totally ad libbed...there was nothing like that in the text."

*Valerian Zorin (1902-1986) joined the Communist party in 1922 and graduated from the Communist Institute of Education in 1935.  He was ambassador to Czechoslovakia from 1947-1955. 

Zorin, who won 3 'Orders of Lenin', was Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and UN ambassador from 1956-1965.  He was ambassador to France from 1965-1971.  

**Joseph J. Sisco (1919-2004) was raised in Chicago and graduated from Knox College in Galesburg, IL in 1941.  He was in the army in WWII and earned a Masters and Doctoral degree at the University of Chicago in 1947 and 1950.

In 1950, Sisco became a CIA officer and in 1951 joined the State Dept.  He was Henry Kissinger's chief deputy during the period of shuttle diplomacy in the 1970s.


SOURCES

"'Let Us Begin Anew':  An Oral History of the Kennedy Presidency, by Gerald S. and Deborah H. Strober, Harper Collins Publishers, New York, 1993.

"One Minute To Midnight: Kennedy, Khrushchev and Castro On The Brink of Nuclear War" by Michael Dobbs, Alfred Knopf, New York, 2008.

STEVENSON WAITS FOR ANSWER "UNTIL HELL FREEZES OVER"

Thursday, October 25, 1962

STEVENSON WAITS FOR ANSWER "UNTIL HELL FREEZES OVER"

New York City (JFK+50) With the missile crisis into its 10th day, the temperature shot up from hot to a boil at the United Nations today when US ambassador Adlai Stevenson posed this question to Soviet ambassador Valerian Zorin:

"Do you...deny that the USSR has placed...medium & intermediate range missiles in Cuba?

Yes or no....

Don't wait for the translation (into Russian)....yes or no?"

Zorin*, obviously taken aback by the tone of Stevenson's question, responded:

"I am not in an American courtroom, sir, continue your statement.  You will receive your answer in due course."

Without batting an eye, Adlai Stevenson shot back:

"I am prepared to wait for your answer until hell freezes over, if that's your decision."**

But Stevenson had the evidence to present to Zorin & the UN Security Council.  Enlarged U2 photographs showing the nuclear missile sites in Cuba were shown.

                    UN Security Council 
                       October 25, 1962
                        PD-USGOV photo

*Michael Dobbs writes that Zorin was "tired...ill" & uninformed by Moscow.  Zorin took the standard Soviet diplomatic stance of denial.

**JFK, watching on television, said following Stevenson's statement, "Terrific. I never knew Adlai had it in him."

                       Adlai Stevenson
                          June 23, 1961
             Library of Congress Photo


Sources:  Michael Dobbs, One Minute to Midnight, 2008.

James M. Lindsay, TWE Remembers, 10/25/2012.