SUPERPOWERS ESTABLISH DIRECT TELEPHONE COMMUNICATION
Washington & Moscow (JFK+50) On June 20, 1963, the governments of the United States and the Soviet Union announced an agreement had been reached to establish direct telephone communication between the two superpowers.
The idea for the so-called "Hot Line"* came as a result of the October 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis during which the world came close to nuclear war. President John F. Kennedy believed the new technology would benefit the two nations in times of crisis.
JFK said..."This age of fast moving events requires quick, dependable communication, in times of emergency".
The President, according to the New York Times, would relay his message to the Pentagon by telephone where it would be typed on a teletype machine**, encrypted and transmitted to Moscow. The message would be received by the Soviets within minutes.
According to www.history.com, the hot line was installed on August 30, 1963. President Lyndon B. Johnson was the first POTUS to use it .
*Hot Line is defined as a communication link in which a call is automatically directed to the pre-selected destination without any additional action by the user when the instrument is off the hook.
**Teletype machine or teleprinter is an electronic typewriter that can send and receive typed messages.
SOURCE
"Hotline established between Washington and Moscow". August 30: This Day In History, www.history.com/
Hot Line**
Washington & Moscow (JFK+50) On June 20, 1963, the governments of the United States and the Soviet Union announced an agreement had been reached to establish direct telephone communication between the two superpowers.
The idea for the so-called "Hot Line"* came as a result of the October 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis during which the world came close to nuclear war. President John F. Kennedy believed the new technology would benefit the two nations in times of crisis.
JFK said..."This age of fast moving events requires quick, dependable communication, in times of emergency".
The President, according to the New York Times, would relay his message to the Pentagon by telephone where it would be typed on a teletype machine**, encrypted and transmitted to Moscow. The message would be received by the Soviets within minutes.
According to www.history.com, the hot line was installed on August 30, 1963. President Lyndon B. Johnson was the first POTUS to use it .
*Hot Line is defined as a communication link in which a call is automatically directed to the pre-selected destination without any additional action by the user when the instrument is off the hook.
**Teletype machine or teleprinter is an electronic typewriter that can send and receive typed messages.
SOURCE
"Hotline established between Washington and Moscow". August 30: This Day In History, www.history.com/
Hot Line**
Jimmy Carter Library and Museum
Photo by User:Piotrus (2010)
**This is a prop used to represent the actual hot line which was not a traditional telephone set.
