"If you get another call from me, put the kids in the car and start out for Missouri"
<Nuclear war threat - circa Oct 1962
Interesting reading.
Then like now - nuclear threat is minimized by many, whether it be Saddam or Castro.
And a side note for Bowser...this was one of the primary events which led to full confrontation in Vietnam. Give an inch anywhere in the world - and it will be used to point nuclear tipped missiles down your gullet.
SDAI-Tech1