The Moscow–Washington hotline between the leaders of the U.S. and the Soviet Union goes into operation.

The Moscow–Washington hotline, often nicknamed the “red telephone,” was a direct communication link established in 1963 between the Kremlin and the White House. Contrary to the popular image of a red phone on the president’s desk, the system initially relied on teletypes, later evolving into fax machines and secure email. The hotline was created in the aftermath of the Cuban Missile Crisis, when both superpowers realized how dangerously close misunderstandings and delays in communication had brought the world to nuclear war. Its purpose was not to be used for routine diplomacy, but rather as an emergency tool for rapid and clear exchanges during crises.

Over the years, the hotline played an important role in diffusing tension during several critical moments of the Cold War, such as the Six-Day War in 1967 and the Yom Kippur War in 1973. By enabling leaders to communicate directly and quickly, it reduced the risk of miscalculations that could escalate into conflict. Today, the Moscow–Washington hotline remains a symbol of Cold War–era safeguards against nuclear catastrophe, and it continues to exist in a modernized digital form, reflecting the enduring importance of reliable, secure communication between nuclear powers.