Cuban Missile Crisis

The President said to the Soviets: We don't submit. The Soviets responded with actions that said: Neither do we.

And the Soviets added another level of anxiety according to a document released by the National Security Agency. Stating they would not allow their ships to be searched, the Kremlin warned:

U.S. action could end in thermonuclear war.

While the United States sent guided missile PT boats to patrol the Cuban coast, the Soviets stepped up construction of the ballistic missile launch sites.

As America readied F101Cs for potential air strikes against Cuba, sophisticated MiGs (including MiG 21s) were being assembled to fly into American air space, if ordered.

Both sides moved closer to the edge of an uncharted, nuclear confrontation. At the time, there wasn't even a "hotline" between Washington and Moscow.