What approach? Kennedy confronted Khrushchev over the missiles equipped with nuclear weapons the Soviets placed in Cuba. We blockaded Cuba and placed our troops on high alert throughout the world. The Soviets blinked and withdrew the missiles from that country. Firm and forceful action worked against the Communists then, just as our irresolute action in 1961 resulted in the failure of the Bay of Pigs invasion. The Kennedy brothers learned the lesson of weakness and equivocation in 1961, and acted firmly the next year against Khrushchev.