I've selected Ronald Reagans "Star Wars Defense" which was originally called the Strategic Defence Initiative. The President proposed the Star Wars' initiative in 1983 because I think he wanted Americans to feel safe. The plan was to defend America and the rest of the world against 'the Extraterrestrial Threat' with outerspace interceptors.
The downside to Star Wars defense is it took countless nations by complete surprise. Folks were stunned. Its 'Risky and Unscientific' idealism made several headlines in Time magazine sizing it up alongside George Lucas' fantasy Star Wars. Of course today the whole thing sounds like science fiction but not at the time. The Star Wars thing really was a wakeup call despite being a huge financial flop.
President Reagans Defense Strategy of 'outerspace interceptors' cost America billions and spooked our Russian Friends but we were lucky. Star Wars Defence cracked the ice in the Cold War. President Gorbachev met with Ronald Reagan for several talks which led to peace.
Do you think Science Fiction saved the day? or was Reagans' Star Wars Defence a brilliant prelude for peace?
Glastnost Long and Prosper, trekkers!