"...The Situation Room was very tense as we all watched the large screen and the Russian vessel under Lebanese Registry approach the line in the Atlantic drawn by President Kennedy..."
Norman Katz, Military Attache to the U.S. Secret Service
In October of 1962 the general population of The United States of America did not realize how close this Country and the World came to the edge of a thermonuclear war and the end of civilization as we know it. When I left my home that evening to go to my post at one of the White House alternative locations, I said goodbye to my Wife not knowing if I would ever return to see her again. I was aware, based on my position of involvement in the Continuity of Government Program at the White House and working along with the highest echelon of Military and Civilian Officials that the evening TV address given to the Nation by President John F. Kennedy would be of enormous strategical importance. It was my position as a Special Agent-Military Attaché United States Secret Service and a Cryptographic Specialist to start the process of allowing the various Governmental Agencies to continue on should a Nuclear Holocaust come to fruition. It was the longest and most stressful times in my life during that period.
That evening when called to duty during the "emergency alert" for all White House Personnel and Military Advisors I was interacting with the Joint Chiefs of Staff including Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara. The "Situation Room" was very tense as we all watched the large screen and the Russian Vessel under Lebanese Registry approach the "line" in the Atlantic drawn by President Kennedy. After a period of time, I observed the expression on the face of Air Force Chief of Staff Curtis LeMay as it appeared extremely stressed along with others in the room....perspiration on everyone's uniform waiting for the "moment of decision"....It finally came as General LeMay asked Secretary Robert McNamara "is it time"...and McNamara reached for the phone to President Kennedy who said "yes"....General LeMay turned to me and stated "Norman, get NORAD on the line". I immediately followed through and within a short amount of time the Russian Ship stopped....Kruschev blinked....and tensions in the room eased for a short period of time. As the Russian Ship stopped and turned around. The NORAD alert was told to stand down and return to base. An extreme moment in history that would have consequences affecting the whole World.
EXCOMM meeting at the White House Cabinet Room during the Cuban Missile Crisis on October 29, 1962.