On September 20th Kerry was at New York University where he delivered this comment:

"In the dark days of the Cuban missile crises, President Kennedy sent former Secretary of State Dean Acheson to Europe to build support. Acheson explained the situation to French President de Gaulle. Then he offered to show him highly classified satellite photos as proof. De Gaulle waved him away saying, "The word of the President of the United States is good enough for me." How many world leaders have that same trust in America's president today?"

Sherman Kent was the CIA official who actually carried the photos into de Gaulle's office. De Gaulle did not wave them off. To the contrary, he examined them closely.

Secondly: The purpose of Acheson's trip was not to "build support." It was to inform. De Gaulle's biographer says that the very first thing de Gaulle said to Acheson was "I understand that you have not come to consult me, but to inform me." Acheson replied "that's correct." So much for Kerry's rendition of the meeting. The meeting simply didn't happen as Kerry said. Hopefully you're not surprised.

Here's the kicker from the Weekly Standard story. De Gaulle expressed concerns that Kennedy might actually be trying too hard to cultivate European and world support for what he had to do with Fidel and the missiles. Let's see what Kerry would say about that one!

--Neal Boortz