No Evidence of Soviet Desire to Assassinate Kennedy
Secretary of State Dean Rusk testified that he had not seen or heard of any evidence indicating that the Soviet Union had any desire to eliminate President Kennedy or participated in any such event. Standing back and looking at the question objectively despite ideological differences between the two systems, Rusk stated he could not see how such an effort could be to the interest of the Soviet Union.
Soviet Interest in Correct State Relations
The Soviet Union, objectively considered, has an interest in the correctness of state relations, particularly among the great powers with which its major interests are directly engaged. Even from the Soviet point of view, there must be some shape and form to international relations, and it is not in their interest to have the world structure dissolve into complete anarchy. Great states, and especially nuclear powers, must be able to deal with each other, transact business, and meet problems together, which requires the maintenance of correct relations and access to leadership on all sides.
Khrushchev-Kennedy Mutual Respect
Although grave differences existed between the Communist world and the free world, a certain mutual respect had developed between Chairman Khrushchev and President Kennedy through both good and bad experiences. Both leaders were aware that any Chairman of the Soviet Union and any President of the United States bear special responsibility for the general peace of the world—indeed, without exaggeration, the existence of the northern hemisphere in the nuclear age.
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