Crises & Standoffs

Diplomatic confrontations, hostage situations, and political crises that tested American resolve at home and abroad.

Berlin Airlift

The 11-Month Mission That Defied the Soviet Blockade, 1948–1949

Cuban Missile Crisis

Thirteen days in 1962 when nuclear war became a real possibility

Iran Hostage Crisis

The 444-Day Captivity That Ended the Carter Presidency, 1979–1981

Nullification Crisis

The 1832 standoff between South Carolina and Andrew Jackson that previewed secession

The Rosenberg Case

The Cold War espionage trial that ended in the electric chair

The U-2 Incident

The 1960 spy-plane shootdown that wrecked a superpower summit

The Waco Siege

The 1993 standoff that ended in fire and fueled the militia movement

The Zimmermann Telegram

The intercepted 1917 message that helped push America into World War I

XYZ Affair

The French bribery scandal that nearly dragged the young republic into another war