The Russians and Americans may not have been fighting with guns, tanks, or bombs, but something far more sinister was lurking just around the corner.

During a “hot war,” an armed fight between nations, it’s mostly the soldiers on the frontlines and civilians living in range of the action who are at risk. But during a “cold war,” (which now is mainly used to refer to the war between the Americans and Russians), the conflict does not involve direct fighting but occurs through hurting the other country’s economy or government, threats, spying, or wars by neighboring countries representing the main countries that are against each other. In the case of the American-Russian Cold War, practically half the world was in danger. At one point, America took the threat of nuclear attack so seriously, the government began building “nuclear fallout shelters” — a room built underground to protect people from the effects of a nuclear bomb.

Today, these “doomsday bunkers,” meaning underground structures to be used in the case of a catastrophe, sound like a piece of fiction. But back then, they stood ready for use at any moment.

Duck and cover

John F. Kennedy (JFK) became the President of the United States in May 1961 — right in the middle of the Cold War. While the US had been developing nuclear weapons since 1939, Russia only caught up in the 1950s. That’s when it began looking more and more likely that the Cold War might turn into a real war at any moment. If it did, it would be a war like no other in history. It would probably be the deadliest war, too.

In October 1961, just five months after becoming president, President Kennedy launched the “national fallout shelter program.” This program, which cost a whopping $207 million, was intended to educate and prepare Americans so they would know what to do if Russia ever sent a nuke their way.

The first thing the government did was check out all the public buildings in the country, to identify the buildings that would be suitable for use as a shelter. These buildings, which included schools, libraries, banks, and malls, were stocked with supplies.

Then, the government worked on educating Americans on what to do in case of a nuclear attack. You know those fire drills you have in school? In the 1960s, schools had “duck and cover” drills. The government made a film about Bert the Turtle who knew just what to do when he saw a big white flash (which is what an atomic bomb makes when it explodes). Bert ducked and then covered himself with his shell. Children watched this film in school, and then practiced ducking under their desks and covering their heads and necks with their arms. Kids were taught what to do if they heard a bomb siren or saw a big white flash when they were in the playground, street, on the school bus, or anywhere in public.

Nowadays, we know how devastating nuclear weapons can be. We know that “duck and cover” won’t cut it as a defense. But back then, Americans knew very little about the effects of an atomic explosion. Duck and cover were all they could do.