In April 1958, at the height of the Cold War, the Texan pianist, Van Cliburn won the International Tchaikovsky Competition in Moscow.
Because the contest was intended to demonstrate Soviet cultural superiority, the judges asked permission of Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev to give first prize to an American—“Is he the best?” Khrushchev asked. “Then give him the prize!”
Source: cliburn.org