The Cold War The irrational fear of Soviet invasion gripped our country for over 35 years. That fear led to the upper echelons of authority making decisions, which would create a feeling of near hysteria throughout the public. Americans feared that the Soviets were planning some nuclear attacks on the States, and were frightened by the thought that the Soviets might have a lead in the arms race. The words “race” and “gap” came to be …showed first 75 words of 1515 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1515 total…fear they felt, all the confusion, and the rush for being number one. And once they re-think it, newer historians crop up who almost ridicule the fear that the previous generation felt. In fact, the generations themselves look back and feel somewhat ridiculous in their choices. This is when they begin to tell their stories to today’s historians, and it changes from “justified fear of the reds” to “irrational fear leading to irrational decisions.”