1968 was a year of social and political strife from within the United States. For the USSR, the social pressures of a changing world came from her satellite nations.

The violence from within the USA stemmed from the civil rights and antiwar movements. The US was entrenched in the Viet Nam war while Russia had to use troops to prevent her sister nations from "being free." In 1968, the worlds view of the Super Powers fell a notch. Serious questions were raised as to the limits of power these two countries had over their smaller allies and enemies.

Also, Russia and even the western world began to question the inherent stability of America. With race riots ravaging the cities, the antiwar movement dividing generations, and a streak of political assassinations the country was experiencing a changing of the guard as the baby boomers came of age and began to seriously question their elder generation.