The Joint Chiefs of Staff Pushed Kennedy to Nuclear First Strike

[Greg Burnham]

I recall seeing at least a portion, on video in later years, of a press conference discussing the BOP invasion and failure where JFK as Chief Executive accepted the blame as it was directed at the U S. He commented something along the line that as President he was responsible for the BOP failure. My take, is that since he placed McGB in the position to make the decision, then he took responsibility for the McGB decision. But, I too wonder why McGB stayed in the position, all things considered. I believe JFK accepted much more blame than he should have. But, after all, he was JFK.
:captain:

[emphasis added]

JFK knew the office of the POTUS was fairly accurately described in Harry Truman's declaration that: "The buck stops here." -- in the final analysis. So, he took the Bay of Pigs on the chin, but not in the nuts. He fired the bastards. But, Bundy (along with Dean Rusk) was his link to Averell Harriman.

Therein may lie the answer to McGeorge's success.