The Velvet Fist <Tab/>President John Fitzgerald Kennedy woke up Tuesday October 16th with many things on his mind. There was the expansion of communism into Vietnam and the Soviet Union threatening to take over West Berlin among the many issues of the day. But in the shadows of the small tropical island of Cuba, the Soviet Union was writing the story that may have brought an end to civilization as …showed first 75 words of 2184 total…

…showed last 75 words of 2184 total…political leadership were on total opposite ends of the spectrum. A weak man of character would have caved to such pressure. I was not even alive at the time of this crisis, but I have a newfound respect for JFK. He displayed great character and coolness when all around him was a maelstrom of hysteria. He was the right man at the right time. The leader with the velvet fist. <Tab/>