I remember those days well Tara I was in high school and like my friends thought the worst would happen , Nuclear War ! Thank you for sharing this bit of history and reminding us of those 13 days ! We all loved JFK and “ Camelot “ of that era . He was our “ Merlin “ wonderful man + POTUS !
Imagine in my lifetime I have had 3 great American Presidents 2 of which I was old enough to vote for REAGAN + TRUMP ! JFK I got to cry for when our own government assassinated him !
This was a good look back in history. I’m concerned what may transpire in the near future as Iran (and others ?) acquire nuclear weapons and the delivery systems necessary to become a regional or worldwide threat. There is a lot of hate and craziness in this world and that’s a scary combination.
Kennedy was a hard core anti-communist, what would happen today under Harris administration? Let's pray we'll never find out! JFK was the last of the pro constitution democratic Presidents. Wow how things have changed, just my personal thoughts..
That was a scary period for a then 16 year old (me). The bay of pigs debacle and then the blockade. I remember the uncertainty was palpable.
Some who had fought in WW2 not many years before were ready to go finish the Soviet Union following our decision not to do so at the end of WW2. Pretty tense tightwire that we had to walk.
I can remember that there was a feeling that JFK was too weak and that he didn't handle the Cuban missile crisis correctly. However, I believe that President Kennedy most likely avoided a nuclear war and following his assassination, I think that most believed that he handled the Cuban missile crisis in the best way possible. Thank you Tara.
I really do not remember this, but two things struck me about it. The first was that there was a sociological study which compared Kennedy’s cabinet planning the Bay of Pigs versus that of the Cuban Missile crisis which showed how the cabinet was caught up in tunnel vision in the former. The response to the missiles was much different. The second is how that a Russian submarine did not follow its operational orders which would have began a nuclear holocaust. I think Tara Ross told that story several years ago. The action of the submarine commander and the political officer on board that Russian sub was not revealed until after the USSR came apart at the seems. Thanks again, Tara, for the spot on history lesson.
I know you keep your posts to a limited length, but this one was too short to convey to younger people the urgency of that time. I loved close to Chicago and we were terrified. Dad even cemented all of the windows in the basement and stored a week's worth of dried/canned food. This was common in our area. Chicago was considered the third most important city at that time. As civilians, we were preparing for a nuclear war. The news coverage was not near what it is today (good or bad,?), but was scary enough. Just how close we got to that war, most of us will never know. But I feel if was just a hair's width away. We all have to be thankful that Kennedy was able to talk Nikita down. I think he aged 20 years in those 13 days.
Yes I remember “Duck and Cover” drills. When the alarm sounded we were required to crawl under our desks!😳🙄 Not sure how much good that would have done...
I remember this time in history. I actually watched the news because of this time period. We also had practices in school taking cover under our desk or going to the tornado shelter under the school. Scary times, but we had confidence in or President to stand strong against the commies and that our military could protect us. Oh how I wish we had leadership like JFK in the White House again.
We only found out later that Cuba already HAD nuclear weapons. Out intel was wrong and if JFK had followed the recommendations of his jt chiefs of staff and attacked, we would have been nuked. JFK saved America. The brash, young, inexperienced President was right and the military brass were just flat out wrong…
It’s interesting that the right men have been in office when a major crisis throughout our history occurred. Some may cause them, but thankful for those who can resolve them in the best way possible. A lot depends on whose leading and who he has surrounding him. I vaguely remember the Cuban Missile Crisis , but didn’t know much about it until much later. I do remember when President Kennedy was assassinated. Men leave their mark on the world for good or bad. Kennedy averted what could have been a disaster for America. Thanks for filling in the blanks, Tara.
I remember those days! I was a very impressionable 12, soon to be 13 year old. I was totally impressed with JFK's calmness when speaking to the American people. I also admired his backbone while dealing with the Russians. I would have voted for him had I been old enough
The missiles in Turkey were obsolescent if not already obsolete and might not have been there all that much longer, though the deal probably eliminated any thought of replacing them with more modern weapons. You should do a follow on post about the Soviet army brigade that was left in Cuba after the missiles were withdrawn only to be “discovered” during the Carter administration.
I remember my Dad coming home from a Square Dance early and then packing and leaving for work at his military base. My Mom was very concerned but I was young and didn't understand what ws going on. First memory of major stress and conflict. Only later did I learn it was a worldwide stress and conflict. I am glad President Kennedy was leading and resolved this conflict. Any other option wouldn't have been good for the world. Thanks Tara.
I think there was a time in 1983 where we were actually closest to dying in nuclear fire except for a pair of soldiers thinking, “That can’t be right.”
The days that Presidents were smart and articulate and knew what they were doing. I hate to say the last 6 are/were absolute boneheads rank as low as Harding or Buchanan.
I remember those days well Tara I was in high school and like my friends thought the worst would happen , Nuclear War ! Thank you for sharing this bit of history and reminding us of those 13 days ! We all loved JFK and “ Camelot “ of that era . He was our “ Merlin “ wonderful man + POTUS !
I wish our candidates would learn from Presidents Kennedy and Reagan. The only two I feel cared about America First.
So does President. Trump care about the forgotten American !
Imagine in my lifetime I have had 3 great American Presidents 2 of which I was old enough to vote for REAGAN + TRUMP ! JFK I got to cry for when our own government assassinated him !
This was a good look back in history. I’m concerned what may transpire in the near future as Iran (and others ?) acquire nuclear weapons and the delivery systems necessary to become a regional or worldwide threat. There is a lot of hate and craziness in this world and that’s a scary combination.
Kennedy was a hard core anti-communist, what would happen today under Harris administration? Let's pray we'll never find out! JFK was the last of the pro constitution democratic Presidents. Wow how things have changed, just my personal thoughts..
That was a scary period for a then 16 year old (me). The bay of pigs debacle and then the blockade. I remember the uncertainty was palpable.
Some who had fought in WW2 not many years before were ready to go finish the Soviet Union following our decision not to do so at the end of WW2. Pretty tense tightwire that we had to walk.
I can remember that there was a feeling that JFK was too weak and that he didn't handle the Cuban missile crisis correctly. However, I believe that President Kennedy most likely avoided a nuclear war and following his assassination, I think that most believed that he handled the Cuban missile crisis in the best way possible. Thank you Tara.
I really do not remember this, but two things struck me about it. The first was that there was a sociological study which compared Kennedy’s cabinet planning the Bay of Pigs versus that of the Cuban Missile crisis which showed how the cabinet was caught up in tunnel vision in the former. The response to the missiles was much different. The second is how that a Russian submarine did not follow its operational orders which would have began a nuclear holocaust. I think Tara Ross told that story several years ago. The action of the submarine commander and the political officer on board that Russian sub was not revealed until after the USSR came apart at the seems. Thanks again, Tara, for the spot on history lesson.
I know you keep your posts to a limited length, but this one was too short to convey to younger people the urgency of that time. I loved close to Chicago and we were terrified. Dad even cemented all of the windows in the basement and stored a week's worth of dried/canned food. This was common in our area. Chicago was considered the third most important city at that time. As civilians, we were preparing for a nuclear war. The news coverage was not near what it is today (good or bad,?), but was scary enough. Just how close we got to that war, most of us will never know. But I feel if was just a hair's width away. We all have to be thankful that Kennedy was able to talk Nikita down. I think he aged 20 years in those 13 days.
Yes I remember “Duck and Cover” drills. When the alarm sounded we were required to crawl under our desks!😳🙄 Not sure how much good that would have done...
I remember this time in history. I actually watched the news because of this time period. We also had practices in school taking cover under our desk or going to the tornado shelter under the school. Scary times, but we had confidence in or President to stand strong against the commies and that our military could protect us. Oh how I wish we had leadership like JFK in the White House again.
❤️🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
We only found out later that Cuba already HAD nuclear weapons. Out intel was wrong and if JFK had followed the recommendations of his jt chiefs of staff and attacked, we would have been nuked. JFK saved America. The brash, young, inexperienced President was right and the military brass were just flat out wrong…
It’s interesting that the right men have been in office when a major crisis throughout our history occurred. Some may cause them, but thankful for those who can resolve them in the best way possible. A lot depends on whose leading and who he has surrounding him. I vaguely remember the Cuban Missile Crisis , but didn’t know much about it until much later. I do remember when President Kennedy was assassinated. Men leave their mark on the world for good or bad. Kennedy averted what could have been a disaster for America. Thanks for filling in the blanks, Tara.
I remember those days! I was a very impressionable 12, soon to be 13 year old. I was totally impressed with JFK's calmness when speaking to the American people. I also admired his backbone while dealing with the Russians. I would have voted for him had I been old enough
The missiles in Turkey were obsolescent if not already obsolete and might not have been there all that much longer, though the deal probably eliminated any thought of replacing them with more modern weapons. You should do a follow on post about the Soviet army brigade that was left in Cuba after the missiles were withdrawn only to be “discovered” during the Carter administration.
I remember my Dad coming home from a Square Dance early and then packing and leaving for work at his military base. My Mom was very concerned but I was young and didn't understand what ws going on. First memory of major stress and conflict. Only later did I learn it was a worldwide stress and conflict. I am glad President Kennedy was leading and resolved this conflict. Any other option wouldn't have been good for the world. Thanks Tara.
So glad it was resolved as well as it was. Thank you for your overview!
We wouldn’t be reading your comment if it hadn’t!💥🍄🟫
I think there was a time in 1983 where we were actually closest to dying in nuclear fire except for a pair of soldiers thinking, “That can’t be right.”
The days that Presidents were smart and articulate and knew what they were doing. I hate to say the last 6 are/were absolute boneheads rank as low as Harding or Buchanan.