26/10/1962

During the missile crisis in 1962, Adlai Stevenson (with photographic evidence) told delegates from 13 nations that the US would destroy Soviet missile bases in Cuba unless their construction was stopped. It's unclear as to what extent the Soviet Ambassador Valerian Zorin was briefed by the Kremlin about the missile bases before this UN meeting. Regardless, this became known as the "Adlai Stevenson moment".

Governor and Democratic presidential candidate Adlai Stevenson helped found the United Nations. He was appointed Ambassador to the UN by Kennedy in 1961. Stevenson held this office until his death in 1965.