It's August 30, 1963 and the discovery of Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba the year prior had brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. But thanks to a new invention called the "hotline," conversation between the Pentagon and the Kremlin could take place in near-real-time.
On this day in history, the Moscow hotline was first established – and it's a milestone that is often overlooked in history books.
Traditional Communication Methods "Not Going To Cut It"
The hotline was the brainchild of Kennedy's science advisor, Jerome Wiesner. He realized that the slow and cumbersome process of communicating via telegraph or radio was not going to cut it in a crisis situation. So he proposed a direct phone line between the Kremlin and the Pentagon, which would allow Kennedy and Khrushchev to speak to each other directly – without having to go through intermediaries.
The Moscow hotline was fully established on August 30, 1963. It consisted of two teletype machines that were connected by a dedicated phone line. The hotlines were staffed 24 hours a day by translators who could provide real-time interpretation of conversations.
Sparingly Used, Proved It's Worth
Since then, the Moscow hotline has been used sparingly – but it has proved its worth on several occasions. In 1973, during the Yom Kippur War, the hotline was used to help defuse a potentially disastrous misunderstanding between Moscow and Washington. And in 1991, during the Gulf War, it was used to coordinate U.S. and Soviet military operations in Iraq.
In both cases, the ability for two military superpowers to speak directly helped avoid escalation and a potential nuclear exchange.
Still Operational
Today, the Moscow hotline is still operational – though it has been updated for the 21st century. The original teletype machines have been replaced by computer terminals, and the phone line has been upgraded to a fiber-optic cable.
The hotline is now also known as the "Emergency Communications Link," and it's not just for presidents – it can be used by anyone in the Pentagon or the Kremlin who needs to get in touch with their counterpart in a hurry.
But Is It Enough?
The current state of U.S.-Russian relations is incredibly tense. While it's good to know there's a direct line between Moscow and Washington that's been helping to keep the peace for more than half a century, things could all change at a moments notice.
Unfortunately, Russia has not been inclined to listen to peer level nations after the invasion of Ukraine. The Moscow Hotline is likely not going to help much in the coming years.
What do you think, will this hotline help if tensions continue to escalate? If not, is there anything that could help?
Let us know in the comments below.
