You [President Kennedy] have made some pretty strong statements about their being defensive and that we would take action against offensive weapons. I think that a blockade and political talk would be considered by a lot of our friends and neutrals as being a pretty weak response to this [the Cuban missile crisis]. And I'm sure a lot of our own citizens would feel that way too. In other words, you're in a pretty bad fix at the present time.
Curtis LeMayI don't mind being called tough, since I find in this racket it's the tough guys who lead the survivors.
Curtis LeMayToday, shooting wars are won or lost before they start. If they are fought at all, they would be fought principally to confirm which side had won at the outset.
Curtis LeMay