[We've been utilizing back channel communications forever.]
An expert?  So how many of these back channel communications have been with Russia?  Or with countries as heavily sanctioned as Russia?  And done by those outside (or not yet part of) the federal government?
[Those communications certainly benefitted the USA back in October '62.]
I don't recall any back channel or "Track 2" communications between the US and Russia or Cuba or any other country back in '62.  Source?  I'd like to learn more.  There's a bit of a gap in my knowledge after the end of WWII and the falling out between US and Soviet Russia.