what were Russia's abilities to hit the US in 1961? They had no bases in Cuba and i think icbms were new at the time. How effective would their bomber fleet in attacking the continental US
only four R7 ICBM with chance of 50% to hit USA
They had handful of R-16 ICBM but not ready for service.
Chance of the Soviet Bomber fleet to get there Targets in US: ZERO
USA was paved with Nike Hercules missile and Air bases with interceptors
a little chance of success would have emerge Soviet subs launching R-12 Missile on US east coast
higher if they attacking with nuclear torpedo submerge
in constrast SAC would drop several dozen ICBM, MRBM, SRBM, follow by hundreds B-58, B-52, B-47 and Navy Bomber into communist Airspace
around 1000 Megaton would be "Deliver" on Target.
while US submarines are stand by in case the Soviet counterattack again to launch salvo of SLBM on them.
so in case of 1961 nuclear War
the USA could lose Washington D.C. or New York or Los Angeles or Chicago by R7 ICBM
or Washington D.C., New York by soviet Submarine attack include some Coast cites
around 10~20 millions deaths
While the East Block and USSR get wiped out and China heavy hit, with several hundert millions dead
and west Europa population is halved by nuclear attacks and radioactive fallout
some survivors will consider
the US President as greatest Mass murder in History since Adolf Hitler