Category Archives: Cold War

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.
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UN troops recapture Seoul for second time during the Korean War 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 14 1951)

1950s, Cold War


Video: 'Korean War - PART 19, Hard fighting, 6.25' (UN forces recapture Seoul at 5:27)

(Wednesday, March 14, 1951, 2:40 a.m. Korea Standard Time; during Operation Ripper, part of the Korean War and the Cold War) — United Nations troops reoccupied Seoul today after the South Korean capital was abandoned without a fight by the Chinese and North Korean invaders now in full retreat all along the Korean front.
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Anti-Vietnam War radicals set off bomb on Senate side of U.S. Capitol 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 1 1971)

1970s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Weather Underground Bombs the Capitol, Pentagon, and State Department'

(Monday, March 1, 1971, 1:32 a.m. EST; part of the Opposition to U.S. involvement in Vietnam) — A bomb, apparently planted by a group or person protesting against the recent the recent invasion of Laos as part of the Vietnam War, exploded early this morning in the men’s room at the United States Capitol, causing extensive damage but no injuries.
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South Vietnamese units supported by U.S. military drive into Laos to strike enemy supply line 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 8 1971)

1970s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam The Ten Thousand Day War The Village War 10 13' (Operation Lam Son 719 at 32:22)

(Monday, February 8, 1971, 7:00 a.m. Saigon Standard Time; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Operation Lam Son 719, an attack by the First Infantry Division of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) from South Vietnam into the Kingdom of Laos, was launched today in the Vietnam War against North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces operating across the border.
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U.S. breaks diplomatic relations with Fidel Castro’s Cuba 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 3 1961)

1960s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'U.S. breaks Relations with Cuba, 1961'

(Tuesday, January 3, 1961, 8:30 p.m. EST; during the Cold War) — The United States formally terminated diplomatic and consular relations with the government of Cuba tonight.
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