I have just ordered a book I have been planning to read for a long time, Khrushchev on Khrushchev, by Nikita's son, Sergei.
It got good reviews. Sergei has lived in the US for years, and understands what Americans do and do not know about the USSR.
The people making missiles for our military wanted to believe that the USSR was making missiles like sausages, as did the states that had missile factories and component factories. Americans have always been easily scared, and were very gullible in those days. I think the teachers who explained to us that we would all be safe from nuclear attacks if we just hid under our desks. I went home one day and asked my father if he thought the Russians would bomb the Chevrolet Plant in Leeds and Claycomo Ford, and he told me to stop worrying, he thought it was a bunch of nonsense.
After that I stopped worrying as much as the other kids.