People take to the streets in Washinton D.C., US to protest against any aggression that could lead to war during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. The Soviets wanted to put nuclear missiles in Cuba for first strike capabilities against the US in the event of war. Cuba, having gone communist with Castro rising to power, would be blockaded, and a 13 day standoff took place. Interesting note, the US saw the missiles well before they could be fired, and chose not to destroy them. This was a decision John F Kennedy made, against the wishes of virtually every military advisor he had. This allowed the missiles to become operational and also the possibility of half the East Coast to be destroyed. War was averted at the last minute through back door channels that had both countries disarm and remove missiles in key locations (Cuba for the USSR and Turkey for the US).