 
on that monday afternoon, before his speech and after lunch with jackie, 
the president held several meetings. 
at the first, he formally constituted our committee, which up until that 
time had been called "the group" or "war council," under national security 
council action memorandum number 196 as the executive committee of the national 
security council, "for the purpose of effective conduct of the operations of 
the executive branch in the current crisis." 
the president became the official chairman, and until further notice we 
were to meet with him every morning at 10:00 a.m. 
shortly thereafter, the president met with the members of the cabinet and 
informed them for the first time of the crisis. 
then, not long before the broadcast, he met with the leaders of congress. 
this was the most difficult meeting. 
i did not attend, but i know from seeing him afterward that it was a 
tremendous strain. 
many congressional leaders were sharp in their criticism. 
they felt that the president should take more forceful action, a military 
attack or invasion, and that the blockade was far too weak a response. 
senator richard b.[russell of georgia said he could not live with himself 
if he did not say in the strongest possible terms how important it was that we 
act with greater strength than the president was contemplating. 
senator j.[william fulbright of arkansas also strongly advised military 
action rather than such a weak step as the blockade. 
others said they were skeptical but would remain publicly silent, only 
because it was such a dangerous hour for the country. 
the president, after listening to the frequently emotional criticism, 
explained that he would take whatever steps were necessary to protect the 
security of the united states, but that he did not feel greater military 
action was warranted initially. 
