TODAY IN HISTORY: A Real October Scare– The Missile Crisis

For Americans alive in 1962, it was much more scary than any Halloween. For nearly two weeks in October, the world came as close to World War III or an all-out nuclear war as it has ever been.

On October 22, 1962, President John F. Kennedy announced an air and naval blockade of Cuba, following the discovery of Soviet missile bases on the island.

Here is the New York Times account written by Anthony Lewis

http://www.nytimes.com/learning/general/onthisday/big/1022.html#article

Following the...