Category Archives: Cold War

Operation Rolling Thunder postponed due to coup attempt in Saigon 60 years ago today (Feb 19 1965)


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Part 4 LBJ Goes to War 1964 65' (Feb. 19, 1965, at 28:40)

(Friday, February 19, 1965; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — The planned Feb. 20, 1965, launch of Operation Rolling Thunder, an extended bombing campaign to force North Vietnam to stop supporting Vietcong guerrillas in the South, was postponed today due to a coup attempt in Saigon.

U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson authorizes massive bombing campaign against North Vietnam 60 years ago this hour (Feb 13 1965)


Video: Vietnam: A Television History (Ep-4) LBJ Goes to War (1964-1965)' (Feb. 13, 1965, at 28:18)

(Saturday, February 13, 1965, LBJ met with top national security advisors from 1:56 to 4:00 p.m. EST; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson today authorized Operation Rolling Thunder, an extended bombing campaign to force North Vietnam to stop supporting Vietcong guerrillas in the South. Continue reading U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson authorizes massive bombing campaign against North Vietnam 60 years ago this hour (Feb 13 1965)

U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson retaliates for Viet Cong attack on Pleiku airbase 60 years ago this hour (Feb 7 1965)


Video: 'PBS LBJ Part 2' (Feb. 7, 1965, at 5:45)

(Sunday, February 7, 1965, 2:00 p.m. local time; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — U.S. President Lyndon Johnson ordered Operation Flaming Dart today in retaliation for the Feb. 6-7, 1965, Viet Cong attack on Pleiku airbase. Continue reading U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson retaliates for Viet Cong attack on Pleiku airbase 60 years ago this hour (Feb 7 1965)

Johnson adviser McGeorge Bundy arrives in Saigon 50 years ago this morning (Feb 4 1965)


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Part 4 LBJ Goes to War 1964 65' (Feb. 4, 1965, at 26:33)

(Thursday, February 4, 1965, morning local time; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — National Security Adviser McGeorge Bundy, who had recently urged President Lyndon Johnson to bomb North Vietnam, arrived in Saigon this morning for a “fact” search.

Saigon renews appeal for U.S. aid 50 years ago today (Jan 31 1975)


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 11' (Jan. 31, 1975, at 23:17)

(Friday, January 31, 1975; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — 25 days after the fall of Phuoc Binh to North Vietnamese forces, South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu today renewed his appeal for U.S. aid, warning that his government might collapse without it.

Radical group Weather Underground sets off bomb in U.S. State Department building 50 years ago this hour (Jan 29 1975)


Video: 'Weather Underground Bombs the Capitol, Pentagon, and State Department' (Jan. 29, 1975, at 6:08)

(Wednesday, January 29, 1975, 12:56 a.m. EST; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — A bomb exploded in the State Department building in Washington early this morning shortly after callers identifying themselves as “Weather Underground” members warned news organizations they were setting off bombs in protest United States aid to South Vietnam. Continue reading Radical group Weather Underground sets off bomb in U.S. State Department building 50 years ago this hour (Jan 29 1975)

Saigon’s forces lose Phuoc Long 50 years ago this hour (Jan 7 1975)


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History (Ep-12) The End of the Tunnel' (Battle of Phuoc Long at 22:31)

(Tuesday, January 7, 1975, 9:30 a.m. Saigon Standard Time; during the Battle of Phuoc Long, part of Vietnam War, the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — After a week-long siege, North Vietnamese forces today overran and captured Phuoc Binh, the encircled capital of Phuoc Long Province. Continue reading Saigon’s forces lose Phuoc Long 50 years ago this hour (Jan 7 1975)

U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower urges harmony, cites Soviet threat in State of the Union address 70 years ago this hour (Jan 6 1955)


Video: 'Eisenhower's 1955 State of the Union Address'

(Thursday, January 6, 1955, 12:31 p.m. EST; during the Cold War) — In his annual State of the Union address, U.S. President Dwight Eisenhower laid his legislative program before the new Democratic-controlled Congress today with a plea for harmony and a solemn warning that this is a year of trial in the world’s wavering course toward durable peace or atomic holocaust. Continue reading U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower urges harmony, cites Soviet threat in State of the Union address 70 years ago this hour (Jan 6 1955)

U.S. Senate condemns Sen. Joseph McCarthy in 67-22 vote for unethical conduct 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 2 1954)


Video: '2nd December 1954: US Senator Joseph McCarthy censured by the Senate'

(Thursday, December 2, 1954, 5:03 p.m. EST; during the Second Red Scare and the Cold War) — The United States Senate voted 67 to 22 today to censure Sen. Joseph McCarthy of (R-Wisconsin) for “conduct that tends to bring the Senate into dishonor and disrepute.” Continue reading U.S. Senate condemns Sen. Joseph McCarthy in 67-22 vote for unethical conduct 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 2 1954)

China conducts first nuclear test, joins global atomic powers 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 16 1964)


Video: 'China's First Nuclear Bomb Test Declassified Footage HD'

(Friday, October 16, 1964, 3:00 p.m. China Standard Time) — The People’s Republic of China today became the fifth nation in the world to possess nuclear weapons, following a successful detonation of an atomic bomb at the Lop Nor test site in Xinjiang’s remote desert. Continue reading China conducts first nuclear test, joins global atomic powers 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 16 1964)