It is almost reason to cry to grasp the enormity of the average American's ignorance.
We could set off a thousand nukes on Saudi Arabia alone and leave the oil fields unscratched.
There would be no reason whatsoever for the Soviets to freak about anything. And since we are the masters at air bursts (minimum radiation, maximum damage) even the fallout is survivable.
Of course it would be horrific, but the actual globe is a lot lot bigger than the ignorant can imagine, and the actual use of nukes a lot more puny than they have nightmares about.
Whatever......