You fail to mention Kennedy's removal of Jupiter IRBMs from Turkey and Italy in exchange for the Soviets removing their missiles from Cuba. That's a quid pro quo not standing firm.
No, what you fail to mention is we put those "guns" in Turkey pointed point blank, right at the Soviets head.
Lemme ask ya...If I have a gun pointed at your wife's head, and you have one pointed at my kids head, are you going drop your gun, or negotiate that we both drop them?
Take your time.