General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Why this lionization of JFK? [View all]hifiguy
(33,688 posts)about the Missile Crisis in his later years. He realized that both he and Kennedy had to outmaneuver the hard-liners in their respective capitals. Khrushchev used Ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin as his back-channel voice of sanity to Robert Kennedy, who served an identical role for JFK to Dobrynin.
Khrushchev and Kennedy both desperately wanted (1) an out that would save face on both sides and (2) to prevent WW III. The Soviet political leadership, and the citizenry, post-Stalin never had any more desire for nuclear holocaust than the US did. The military on both sides, well, that was another issue, at least until the 1970s.
Four men found a way to stand down from the dreams of armageddon the militaries on both sides wanted: Khrushchev, Dobrynin, and the Kennedy brothers. The world owes them more than ever could be repaid.