To what extent does the role of President Kennedy during the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962 support the view that "We manufacture heroes simply because they occupy great positions"?

The Cuban Missile Crisis was the closest the world had come to nuclear war to that point in history. The Soviet military commanders were ready to launch nuclear weapons in their quest to defend Cuba and the armed forces of the United States was at its highest state of readiness. The fact that this nuclear tragedy did not eventually occur is a reflection upon the actions of the key individuals involved. Both Kennedy and the …

…een the USSR and the USA would probably have followed. Indeed, his position allowed him to perform actions and decisions which were extraordinary at the time and became the basis for which the public would regard him as a hero in saving the world from nuclear war. However, it is not the position which encourages people to regard Kennedy as a hero, it was his own individual talent and ability, which gave him such credibility.