The department is headed by the Secretary of State who is the principal official foreign policy advisor to the President; although this role is sometimes assumed by the national security advisor. The secretary is assisted by a deputy secretary and four undersecretaries; with access to ambassadors who have the ability to negotiate around the world. Although the department has many other functions such as educational and cultural affairs and economic and commercial affairs, the main objective of the department is to maintain relations with other countries around the world. The Department's agenda can sometimes conflict with that of the Department of Defense regarding the foreign threat, with the Department of State advocating the power of diplomacy and the Department of Defense encouraging the use of military action . A good example emerged during the Cuban Missile Crisis, during which the Department of Defense encouraged airstrikes against Cuba while the State Department relied on diplomatic channels through the United Nations. Such views from both ministries have made decision-making more complicated for the