Category Archives: Cold War

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.
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‘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.
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‘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.”
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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.
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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.
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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.
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U.S. Army First Lieutenant William Calley found guilty of 22 murders in My Lai massacre 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 29 1971)

1970s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'SYND 30 3 71 VERDICT DELIVERED AT THE TRIAL OF LEIUTENANT WILLIAM CALLEY'

(Monday, March 29, 1971, 4:31 p.m. EST; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — U.S. Army First Lieutenant William Calley was found guilty today of the premeditated murder of at least 22 South Vietnamese civilians on Mar. 16, 1968, in the My Lai massacre.
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Julius and Ethel Rosenberg convicted of passing atomic weapons secrets to Soviets 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 29 1951)

1950s, Cold War


Video: 'Spy Saga of Julius & Ethel Rosenberg - Decades TV Network'

(Thursday, March 29, 1951, 11:00 a.m. EST; during the Cold War) — Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were convicted today in New York of conspiracy to commit espionage for passing atomic weapons information to the Soviet Union.
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Laos situation becoming ‘increasingly serious as the days go by,’ President Kennedy tells nation 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 23 1961)

1960s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'President John F. Kennedy's 8th News Conference - March 23, 1961'

(Thursday, March 23, 1961, 6:00 p.m. EST; during the Laotian Civil War, part of the Vietnam War, the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — President John F. Kennedy told the people of the United States tonight of the dangers in the Laotian situation and warned the Communist world that “no one should doubt our resolution” to preserve an independent, neutral Laos.
Continue reading Laos situation becoming ‘increasingly serious as the days go by,’ President Kennedy tells nation 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 23 1961) →