Both Kennedy and Soviet premier Nikita Khrushchev recognized the risk of a devastating nuclear war and acted accordingly: Khrushchev acceded to Kennedy’s demands but responded with a few of his own. Ultimately, Khrushchev agreed to dismantle and remove the missile sites, and Kennedy pledged not to attack Cuba and to remove American missiles from Turkey. Kennedy had successfully quelled what was arguably the Cold War’s edgiest situation.
