In 1977, the small community of Vulcan in West Virginia drew international attention after its only bridge collapsed and state officials ignored repeated calls for a replacement. Cut off from the outside world, the town’s self-appointed mayor appealed to the Soviet Union and East Germany for help rebuilding it. The request quickly sparked a Cold War controversy when a Soviet journalist arrived to cover the story. Concerned about the optics of communist involvement on American soil, state officials approved $1.3 million in funding within an hour. The bridge was finished in 1980, becoming a lasting example of political pressure forcing action.(Historic Vids)