Times bestselling author Michael Tougias to speak on 'Untold Story of Cuban Missile Crisis'

PLYMOUTH — Michael J. Tougias, co-author of "Above & Beyond: JFK and America’s Most Dangerous Spy Mission," will give a multimedia presentation on the untold story of the Cuban Missile crisis at the Plymouth Library on Wednesday, Sept. 13, at 7 p.m.

The presentation is open to the public.

Tougias is a The New York Times Bestselling author of 30 books and is known for his dramatic, “edge-of-your-seat” programs. The author will first chronicle the 13 harrowing days of the Cuban Missile Crisis and then outline the steps President Kennedy made to reach a decision on a course of action.

Special emphasis is given to the heroes of the crisis: the U-2 pilots who flew unarmed over Cuba to secure the photographic proof that the Soviets were installing nuclear missiles on the island. These pilots helped President Kennedy achieve a difficult objective: have the nuclear missiles removed from Cuba without triggering Armageddon.

One of those pilots, Major Rudy Anderson, was shot down and killed by the Russians when Anderson’s U-2 spy plane was over Cuba. Tougias will also describe the accidental incursion of a U-2 from Alaska into Soviet air space and the chase that ensued, including fighter jets with nuclear tipped missiles.

“I really enjoy giving these programs,” said Tougias. “Most people have no idea one of Air Force pilots was killed and how close we came to nuclear war during the missile crisis."