In a speech to the American people John F Kennedy told the audience that American Spy Planes had discovered Soviet Missile bases in Cuba, and that these missile bases when complete would be able to launch missiles capable of striking a number of US cities, he told the people that America could not allow these missile bases to be finished and would pursue any action necessary including military action to protect the nation. He informed the American people that the first stage was to place a naval quarantine on the waters around Cuba. This is known in history as the " Cuban Missile Crisis " and took the world to the brink of nuclear war with US forces going to DEFCON 2 in preparation to full scale war. America realized that the missile launchers construction was continuing and decided that a full scale invasion of Cuba would be needed to stop the missile bases being completed, the Soviets then transmitted a proposal that all missile bases in Cuba would be dismantled in exchange for the United States not invading Cuba and dismantling Americas missile bases in Turkey.

The Australian Capital Territory parliament voted to legalize same-sex marriage. It was the first part of the country to legalize same-sex marriage. In 2004, marriage was defined between a man and woman by the Australian federal government.