The Cuban Missile Crisis

The Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union was at a peak by 1962, and nearly brought the world into nuclear war that October.  The bi-polar debate over economics and military power spilled over into the tiny island nation of Cuba, where the Soviet Union planted nuclear missiles in range of American shores. After a 13-day standoff, the crisis was averted and the two Cold War superpowers opened better lines of communication and diplomacy than ever before, making The Cuban Missile Crisis the most important event of the Cold War.