I just learned about the backchannel talks during that scary time. People always highlight the risk of nuclear war. But a small victory was setting up the direct phone line between Washington and Moscow. This link meant leaders could chat fast to avoid mistakes. It got used in later crises, like in the Middle East, to lower tensions. That step forward in talking things out often gets forgotten. To me, it proves that even in dark moments, we can build something good.
Its harshness is often overstated in popular history.