Category Archives: Cold War

Kennedy, Khrushchev meet in Vienna for tense two-day Cold War summit 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 3 1961)

1960s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'CBS News: Kennedy/Khrushchev summit (1961)' (aired June 4, 1961, at 6:00 p.m. EDT)

(Saturday, June 3, 1961, 12:45 p.m.-6:45 p.m. Central European Time; during the Cold War) — U.S. President John F. Kennedy and Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev began a two-day summit today in Vienna, Austria, meeting for about four hours in total at the U.S. Embassy to discuss numerous issues in the relationship between their countries. Continue reading Kennedy, Khrushchev meet in Vienna for tense two-day Cold War summit 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 3 1961) →

Vice President Johnson assures Saigon of aid in army build-up 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 12 1961)

1960s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents, Vietnam War


Video: '1961 Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson Visits Saigon'

(Friday, May 12, 1961, 11:30 a.m. Indochina Time; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — U.S. Vice President Lyndon Johnson told South Vietnam’s National Assembly today in Saigon the United States was ready immediately to help South Vietnam increase its 150,000-man regular military forces by a substantial number. Continue reading Vice President Johnson assures Saigon of aid in army build-up 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 12 1961) →

Vietnam veterans discard medals in war protest at U.S. Capitol 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 23 1971)

1970s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History - Homefront USA [10/11]' (Vietnam veterans protest, April 19–23, 1971, at 49:57)

(Friday, April 23, 1971; during the Vietnam War) — About 700 veterans of the Vietnam War marched past the United States Capitol today and bitterly flung away battle decorations which they now regard as symbols of wasted suffering in an unjust war.
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Eisenhower urges nation to back Kennedy on Cuba after Camp David meeting 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 22 1961)

1960s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'April 22, 1961 - President John F. Kennedy meets former President Dwight Eisenhower at Camp David'

(Saturday, April 22, 1961, 12:46-2:30 p.m. EST; during the Cold War) — President John F. Kennedy and former President Dwight D. Eisenhower shaped a policy of national unity today following the failed Bay of Pigs Invasion, conferring for 90 minutes at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland.
Continue reading Eisenhower urges nation to back Kennedy on Cuba after Camp David meeting 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 22 1961) →

‘Chinese spring offensive’ launched against United Nations forces in Korea 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 22 1951)

1950s, Cold War, Korean War


Video: 'Korean War - PART 20, MacArthur is Fired, 6.25' (Chinese Spring Offensive at 4:41)

(Sunday, April 22, 1951, 5:00 p.m. Korea Standard Time; during the Korean War, part of the Cold War and the Korean conflict) — The Chinese spring offensive, a military operation conducted by the Chinese People’s Volunteer Army (PVA) aimed at permanently driving the United Nations Command (UN) forces off the Korean peninsula, began today near the 38th Parallel.
Continue reading ‘Chinese spring offensive’ launched against United Nations forces in Korea 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 22 1951) →

‘Victory has a hundred fathers…’: JFK dodges Cuba questions at news conference 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 21 1961)

1960s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'JFK'S 10th PRESS CONFERENCE (APRIL 21, 1961) (VIDEO VERSION)'

(Friday, April 21, 1961, 10:00 a.m. EST; during the Cold War) — U.S. President John F. Kennedy declined to discuss the recent Bay of Pigs Invasion in Cuba despite repeated questioning by reporters at a news conference today in Washington, except to declare, “There’s an old saying that victory has a hundred fathers and defeat is an orphan… What matters is only one fact, I am the responsible officer of the government.”
Continue reading ‘Victory has a hundred fathers…’: JFK dodges Cuba questions at news conference 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 21 1961) →

Cuban exile forces land at Bay Of Pigs in ill-fated attempt to overthrow Fidel Castro 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 17 1961)

1960s, Cold War


Video: 'Bay Of Pigs Invasion (1961)'

(Monday, April 17, 1961, at about 1:00 a.m. EST; during the Bay of Pigs Invasion, part of the Cold War) — About 1,500 CIA-trained Cuban exiles, covertly financed and directed by the U.S. government, launched the ill-fated Bay of Pigs Invasion of Cuba early today in an attempt to overthrow the increasingly-communist government headed by Fidel Castro.
Continue reading Cuban exile forces land at Bay Of Pigs in ill-fated attempt to overthrow Fidel Castro 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 17 1961) →

Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin becomes first human blasted into outer space 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 12 1961)

1960s, Cold War, space exploration


Video: 'Yuri Gagarin: First Man In Space | Chasing the Moon | American Experience | PBS'

(Wednesday, April 12, 1961, at 12:07 p.m. Alma-Ata Time; during the Space Race and the Cold War) — Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, 27, became the first human to go into outer space today, launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site No.1, a spaceport in an area of southern Kazakhstan leased to Russia, aboard the Vostok 1 spacecraft.
Continue reading Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin becomes first human blasted into outer space 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 12 1961) →

U.S. table tennis team crosses into communist China, ushering in ping-pong diplomacy 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 10 1971)

1970s, Cold War


Video: 'The Ping Pong Diplomacy: A Brief Explanation'

(Saturday, April 10, 1971, 10:18 a.m. Hong Kong Time; during the Cold War) — Sixteen members of the U.S. national table tennis team became the first contingent of Americans in more than 20 years to penetrate the so-called Bamboo Curtain today as they walked across a railway bridge from British Hong Kong at the invitation of the Chinese communist government for an eight-day visit described as ping-pong diplomacy.
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Julius and Ethel Rosenberg sentenced to death for passing atomic weapons information to Soviets 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 5 1951)

1950s, Cold War


Video: 'Julius and Ethel Rosenberg Convicted of Spying Sentenced to Death PublicDomainFootage.com'

(Thursday, April 5, 1951, 12:08 p.m. EST) — Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were sentenced to death today following their conviction in New York on charges of conspiring to commit espionage for Soviet Russia.
Continue reading Julius and Ethel Rosenberg sentenced to death for passing atomic weapons information to Soviets 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 5 1951) →