During the Cuban Missle Crisis, both leaders of the U.S. and the Soviet Union were in 13-day political standoff in October of 1962 over the installation of Soviet nuclear missiles on Cuba. This was just 90 miles from U.S. shores. On October 22, 1962, President Kennedy told Americans about the presence of the missiles and explained his decision to enact a naval blockade around Cuba in order to protect Cuba from the Soviet's missiles. Kennedy made it clear to the Soviet Union that the U.S. was prepared to use military force if needed to stop this threat to national security. Many people feared the world was on the brink of nuclear war. However, tragedy and disaster was avoided when the U.S. agreed to the Soviet’s offer to remove the Cuban missiles in exchange for the U.S. promising not to invade Cuba.