Cold War was 44 years. Lots of tense times. Nothing like that ever happened.
Admittedly this would be worse. But still.
No one had started throwing nukes around either. Once that happens the paranoia level jumps to a whole new level. On the western side they're thinking if the reds are crazy enough to use them on China (or whoever) then whats to stop them sending some our way?
The Russians are thinking whats to stop the dammed capitalists launching a first strike while we're distracted and are already hurt?
Once the nuclear threshold has been crossed anywhere your survival depends on the judgement of whichever finger on the button is owned by the leader that is least stable. As Russia is already in a nuclear war that means Brezniev(sp?) not a happy thought.