Hello and welcome to whistlestop, a podcast of the presidency. I'm John Dickerson, co-host of CBS this morning.

At 1245 on June 3rd, John Kennedy prepared to hobble on stage for his first high-stakes summit with the Soviet leader.

The 44-year-old president was at a disadvantage globally and locally.

Globally, the U.S. still had trouble sitting after the deep pantsing and spanking at the Bay of Pigs.

Closer to home, Kennedy's back ached and would not relent. He wore a corset to keep him aligned like a breadstick and asked his doctor for a

preparation. Before he could start needling the Russian leader, he needed his own needle with the ready

medication that was his constant traveling companion. The doctor gave him a shot.

Khrushchev arrived, squat-legged and proud.

On his breast, the 67-year-old leader wore two medals.

How are you? Glad to see you, said Kennedy, about as stiff as he was standing.

Khrushchev aligned the little sausages at the end of his plump angry fist and the two men shook hands.

Another handshake shouted the photographers who either had not captured the first one

or whose pleas rendered a verdict on the inadequacy of the stubby first pass.

It was fitting that the summit in Vienna would start with a busted play. It was, after all, one long busted play.

When the two days of meetings were over, Kennedy collapsed on a couch, pulled his hat over his eyes, and confided to the journalist Scotty Reston about Khrushchev.

He just beat the hell out of me.

So I've got a terrible problem.

What the hell had happened?

What had put the wind up Kennedy so?

We'll get into that terrible problem and the rest of it in a minute.

But first, are you a fan of the Political Gab Fest?

Of course you are.

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