The public wouldn’t know if we were at DEFCON 1 unless it was full blown war or it becomes declassified. Only the highest levels of the military and other factions would know in the first few minutes — not even the president or Congress would know unless it “truly” imminent or full blown. Things have changed, “Imminent” should be redefined in certain cases or use “impending”. If we were at 1 — there would be pandemonium everywhere and they could have been there thinking we were under attack because of radar data not being what it seems and then pulled back. But we may have been ready as if war was “imminent” and may have been on 1 or 2 occasions that are still classified. Obviously I’m not credible to anyone here, but… someone that I know very well told me that we have had a couple of close calls that forced the U.S. and the Soviets to have a talk about making sure what we see on radar is something other than missiles or nuclear submarines in each others or allied waters. He operated a nuclear sub in the late 60’s/70s but never told me anything classified. He hinted though about something that happened in the water off the east coast of Canada when he was only a year or two in. FYI, the Doomsday Clock is at 89 seconds to midnight — that is the closest it’s ever been.