Category Archives: Cold War

Two students killed when police open fire at Jackson State College 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 15 1970)


Video: 'May 15, 1970: Gibbs/Green Tragedy at Jackson State University'

(Friday, May 15, 1970, 12:05 a.m. CDT) — Two students were killed and 12 wounded early today after the police opened fire on a women’s dormitory at the predominantly-black Jackson State College in Jackson, Mississippi. Continue reading Two students killed when police open fire at Jackson State College 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 15 1970)

President Nixon makes surprise pre-dawn visit to Lincoln Memorial, chats with war protesters 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 9 1970)


Video: 'Nixon at the Lincoln Memorial - The Real Story | This is the President'

(Saturday, May 9, 1970, 4:58-5:55 a.m. EDT; during the Cambodian Campaign, part of the Vietnam War, Cambodian Civil War, Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Hours before a large anti-war protest began at Washington, D.C., U.S. President Nixon surprised most of his Secret Service bodyguards and about eight demonstrators by walking in to the Lincoln Memorial this morning. Continue reading President Nixon makes surprise pre-dawn visit to Lincoln Memorial, chats with war protesters 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 9 1970)

President Nixon says he shares goal of Vietnam War dissenters 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 8 1970)


Video: 'President Richard Nixon's Press Conference on Increased American Troops in Cambodia'

(Friday, May 8, 1970, 10:00-10:33 p.m. EDT; during the Cambodian Campaign, part of the Vietnam War, Cambodian Civil War, Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Strongly defending the United States troop movement into Cambodia, which has evoked a storm of protest by students and others throughout the country, President Richard Nixon said tonight that the operation would win six to eight months of time for the further training of South Vietnamese forces and thus shorten the war for the Americans. Continue reading President Nixon says he shares goal of Vietnam War dissenters 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 8 1970)

Construction workers attack anti-war demonstrators in New York City 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 8 1970)


Video: 'Conservative Counterrevolution: Hard Hat Riots and Attica'

(Friday, May 8, 1970, 11:55 a.m. EDT; during the Cambodian Campaign, part of the Vietnam War, Cambodian Civil War, Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — A group of 200 construction workers, mobilized by the New York State AFL-CIO, attacked a group of some 1,000 college and high school students and others protesting the Vietnam War today outside of New York City Hall, near the intersection of Wall Street and Broad Street. Continue reading Construction workers attack anti-war demonstrators in New York City 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 8 1970)

Kennedy, Humphrey hold first-ever televised Democratic presidential debate 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 4 1960)


Video: 'Kennedy Humphrey WV Primary Debate Complete'

(Wednesday, May 4, 1960, 8:30 p.m. EDT; during the 1960 Democratic Party presidential primaries) — In the very first televised Democratic presidential debate, Senators John F. Kennedy and Hubert H. Humphrey convened tonight in Charleston, six days ahead of West Virginia’s May 10, 1960, primary, but generated little controversy except over their individual aspirations for the nomination. Continue reading Kennedy, Humphrey hold first-ever televised Democratic presidential debate 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 4 1960)

4 unarmed Kent State students shot to death during anti-war protest 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 4 1970)


Video: 'National Geographic: Kent State 1'

(Monday, May 4, 1970, 12:24 p.m. EDT; during the Cambodian Campaign, part of the Vietnam War, Cambodian Civil War, Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Four unarmed students at Kent State University in Kent, Ohio, two of them women, were shot to death this afternoon by Ohio National Guardsmen during a mass protest against the bombing of neutral Cambodia by U.S. military forces. Continue reading 4 unarmed Kent State students shot to death during anti-war protest 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 4 1970)

Anti-war demonstrators set Kent State’s ROTC building on fire 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 2 1970)


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History - Homefront USA [10/11]' (Cambodia Campaign at 45:43)

(Saturday, May 2, 1970, firefighters arrived shortly after 8:45 p.m. EDT; during the Cambodian Campaign, part of the Vietnam War, Cambodian Civil War, Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — A group of 600 protesters opposed to President Richard Nixon’s decision to send U.S. troops into Cambodia set fire to the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC) building on the Kent State University (KSU) campus tonight in Kent, Ohio. Continue reading Anti-war demonstrators set Kent State’s ROTC building on fire 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 2 1970)

Nixon puts ‘bums’ label on some college radicals 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 1 1970)


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History - Homefront USA [10/11]' (May 1, 1970, at 46:06)

(Friday, May 1, 1970, 8:41-10:25 a.m. EDT; during the Cambodian Campaign, part of the Vietnam War, Cambodian Civil War, Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — U.S. President Richard Nixon today referred to some campus radicals who violently oppose his Vietnam policies as “bums” and, in contrast, he said American soldiers were “the greatest.” Continue reading Nixon puts ‘bums’ label on some college radicals 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 1 1970)

Soviets shoot down American U-2 reconnaissance plane over Sverdlovsk, captures pilot 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 1, 1960)


Video: 'Yesterday's Air Force: The U-2 and Gary Powers Incident'

(Sunday, May 1, 1960, 8:53 a.m. Moscow Standard Time; during the 1960 U-2 incident, part of the Cold War) — A United States U-2 spy plane was shot down by the Soviet Air Defence Forces today while performing photographic aerial reconnaissance at 70,500 feet deep into Soviet territory. Continue reading Soviets shoot down American U-2 reconnaissance plane over Sverdlovsk, captures pilot 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 1, 1960)

Nixon announces decision to send combat forces to Cambodia 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 30 1970)


Video: 'President Richard Nixon Address to the Nation on the Situation in Southeast Asia, April 30, 1970'

(Thursday, April 30, 1970, 9:00 p.m. EDT; during the Cambodian Campaign, part of the Vietnam War, Cambodian Civil War, Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — In a sharp departure from the previous conduct of war in Southeast Asia, U.S. President Richard Nixon announced tonight that he was sending United States combat troops into Cambodia for the first time. Continue reading Nixon announces decision to send combat forces to Cambodia 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 30 1970)