What makes the best Cold War carrier interceptor?

Which aircraft was the ultimate Cold War carrier interceptor, and what criteria matter?

The choices include later Phantoms and the F-14D, judged by speed, endurance, loiter time, and weapon capacity. The F-14 variant and its date of service matter to the comparison.

Speed, endurance, loiter time, and a large weapon load define the carrier-interceptor comparison. Variant matters because the F-14A receives a markedly different assessment from the F-14D. Foxo favours mid-to-late Phantoms, with the Rolls-Royce-powered Fleet Air Arm version also receiving support. The F-14D is another choice, although its arrival near the end of the Cold War makes it a borderline candidate for the period. The Crusader joins the list, while Sea Lightning and P.1154 proposals introduce the aircraft that might have been. Their mention leaves an unresolved question about landing performance.