SKIP SOMMER: Remembering another ‘October Crisis’

Until the recent fires took over as the number one topic of local discussion in these parts, there has been much talk about international diplomacy, and the frightening possibility of nuclear activity by one country or another sometime in the near future.|

Until the recent fires took over as the number one topic of local discussion in these parts, there has been much talk about international diplomacy, and the frightening possibility of nuclear activity by one country or another sometime in the near future. Here is a story about a moment when we actually did draw alarmingly close to that nuclear abyss, until an incredible U.S. President negotiated us out of it, through intelligent diplomacy, along with some well-strategized sanctions.

Fifty-five years ago this month, in 1962, the Cold War was ratcheting-up, as both the U.S and the USSR had built up the nuclear capability of destroying each other, within minutes. The winds of war were swirling, as the first U.S. involvement in Vietnam, “Operation Chopper,” began with the transportation of South Vietnamese troops to fight against the Viet Cong near Saigon. Meanwhile, in preparation for an eminent war in Europe, the Communist East German Government completed building the Berlin Wall and instituted a military draft.

Soviet leader Nikita Khruschev told his congress in early ’62, that there was a “necessity of a thorough and good system of atheistic upbringing that must embrace all groups of the population, especially youngsters.” At the same time, Cuban leader Fidel Castro was excommunicated from the Catholic Church for similar views. Tough U.S. sanctions against Cuba had begun, and the Organization of American States suspended Cuba’s membership.

Ominously, the USSR and the U.S conducted many nuclear tests in ’61 and ’62 and also launched many space-probe rockets that year. In early October, our U-2 spy flights brought proof of Soviet missiles being installed in Cuba. President John Kennedy initiated a naval blockade of the Island and began crucial talks directly with Kruschev.

By then, in Petaluma - as in many towns in our nation - the Board of Education had begun installing atomic fall-out shelters in the basements of our schools.

Finally, on Oct. 28, both sides of the conflict came together.

We promised to not invade Cuba, and Soviet missiles were subsequently removed.

After that, a permanent Hot-Line was established between Moscow and Washington.

It had been an extremely scary several days, with the entire world teetering on the edge of nuclear war. By the time it ended, our military forces had been placed on a 15-minute “DEFCON- 2” ALERT.

It was a close one.

But Americans being Americans, none of that potentially crippling tension could stop some of us from engaging in a bit of distraction and entertainment. For example, there was new dance craze going on, introduced by Chubby Checkers. It was called “The Twist.”

Old-time movie dancer Irene Castle dubbed it “very ugly.”

The Catholic Church banned it as being “inappropriate.”

And Argus-Courier columnist Bill Soberanes thoughtfully observed, “Some doctors say the Twist is dangerous to knee, hip and back.” Bill allowed that even though local real estate salesmen, truck drivers and ranchers were doing “The Twist,” he wasn’t going to try it itself.

He did, however, like that new Tony Bennett song, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”

In other show business news of ‘62, the famed circus act “The Flying Wallendas” suffered a devastating tragedy when their high-wire pyramid collapsed during a performance in Detroit. Two members of the family were killed, and another paralyzed after falling 36 feet to the arena floor.

The following day, two surviving family members walked the same high wire, proclaiming, “The show must go on.”

And in television, Groucho Marx, on “Tell It To Groucho,” mused about the large number of TV doctor shows at the time, along with the popular “Flintstones” show, suggesting they could be combined into a new show called, “The Gallstones.”

We’re still waiting for that one.

In Petaluma, one fiercely fought and hotly debated issue was whether to eliminate all parking on East Washington Street. Grocer Lamar Lauritzen stated he would fight the ban.

“They would run me out of business,” he said.

But Ned Davis, manager of the Chamber of Commerce, was all for it, so the ordinance was passed. Henceforth, all new shops and offices on East Washington Street were required to install their own off-street parking.

But back to the Cold War.

In Ed Mannion’s newspaper column, he was pushing hard to get the 150-year-old Russian Fort Ross registered as a National Historic Landmark.

“Wouldn’t it be good for Soviet/American relations?” Ed asked.

Ed was also trying to get approval for a new library to replace the Carnegie Library - now the Petaluma Museum - at 4th and B Streets. That idea was approved by our City Council on January 20, 1962, but it was to take another 14 years for the replacement to happen.

On East Washington Street.

With off-street parking … but, no fall-out shelters needed.

That reminds me, it’s important to remember that when both the USSR and the USA finally backed off from the nuclear threshold, both Countries won.

I believe there may have been a lesson there.

(Historian Skip Sommer is an honorary life member of Heritage Homes and the Petaluma Historical Museum)

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