Final answer:
During the Cuban Missile Crisis, U.S. President John F. Kennedy and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev almost took the world into a nuclear war. Option d is correct.
Step-by-step explanation:
During the Cuban Missile Crisis, U.S. President John F. Kennedy and Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev almost brought the world to the brink of nuclear war. This pivotal moment in history occurred in October 1962 when the Soviet Union began to install nuclear missiles in Cuba, a mere 100 miles from the United States.
The ensuing standoff lasted for 13 tense days as both leaders engaged in a dangerous game of brinksmanship. Ultimately, it was the pragmatic decisions of Kennedy and Khrushchev to de-escalate the conflict that averted this potential catastrophe. They reached an agreement where the Soviets would dismantle their missile bases in Cuba and return their ships to the Soviet Union. In exchange, the U.S. promised not to invade Cuba and later discreetly removed its missiles from Turkey.
The resolution of the crisis led to the establishment of a direct communication link between Washington and Moscow, known as the 'hotline', and the subsequent signing of the Limited Test Ban Treaty in 1963, which prohibited atmospheric nuclear tests. The resolution of this crisis is often attributed to a combination of diplomatic efforts and fortuitous luck, as it was perilously close to escalating into full-scale nuclear war.
Option d is correct.