It’s easy to think of history as a slow river — wide, steady, and patient. But sometimes it becomes a waterfall. Seven days. That’s all it takes. The week of October 16–22, 1962 may be the most consequential in modern history. President Kennedy receives aerial photographs confirming Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba. The ExComm begins its secret deliberations. The military readies its plans. Somewhere in Moscow, Khrushchev waits. By Thursday the 18th, Kennedy is meeting with Soviet Foreign Minister Gromyko, who lies directly to the president’s face about the missiles.