For historic context: Kennedy's Cuba Crisis Speech

In context with the lunacy of a prospective Iranian attack, possibly with nukes, people are talking about the Cuban Missile Crisis.

I was a teen-ager then and by virtue of being a paperboy in Detroit (delivered the afternoon edition of the Detroit News) was well informed about events and the reaction of the US populace.

This Iran stuff is very scary. But as of now, it pales in comparison to those 13 days in October, 1962 when the bulk of the US populace was wondering whether there would be a tomorrow, or whether they would get home from work to see their families before everybody was dead. Children in school were doing daily duck and cover drills, especially in the southern US. Families were panic buying groceries, guns, and other stuff to supply their hastily built fallout shelters. These things were not the exception. They literally were happening in every neighborhood in the country.

People were afraid more than at any other time.

Here is what Kennedy said on 22 Oct 1962. It helped a bit to know that he had a prospectively peaceful settlement in mind. However, nobody knew what the Russians would do in response.

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JFK - Cuban Missile Crisis Speech
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Note: The beginning and end of the speech are not present, but the bulk of it is there.

and you are right. I was eight at the time and I sensed some Godawful scary moments in my household. The United States was threatened by Nuclear Weapons just a few miles off our coast. Iran is a popcorn fart in comparison. As is george bush when compared to JFK.