Communism seemed to be happening in countries far from the United States and therefore its influence could not reach here. After Cuba fell to communism, it frightened Americans being that Cuba is only 90 miles from the coastline of Florida, and the missiles were being supplied by the Soviet Union. With Cuba being this close, Cuba could fire any missile and could hit most American cities. The Cuban missile crisis was the first ever close-call for declaring a nuclear war and even JFK warned Americans of a possible attack
It is a primary source, because it is coming straight from the person who said it. If it was from a person listening, it would be a secondary source. An artifact is something physical, that you can hold, like a dinosuar bone.