Category Archives: Cold War

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

1970s, Cold War, Vietnam War


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)

1960s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


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)

1970s, Cold War, Vietnam War


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)

1970s, Cold War, Vietnam War


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)

1970s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents, Vietnam War


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)

1960s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


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)

1970s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents, Vietnam War


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) →

U.S. troops drive into Cambodia to crush enemy sanctuaries 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 1 1970)

1970s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam: The Ten Thousand Day War - The Village War [10/13]' (Cambodia Campaign at 33:17)

(Friday, May 1, 1970, 7:30 a.m. Saigon Standard Time; during the Cambodian Campaign, part of the Vietnam War, Cambodian Civil War, Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Several thousand U.S. soldiers moved across the border from South Vietnam to Cambodia’s Kampong Cham Province this morning, expanding the American involvement in the Vietnam War to attack North Vietnamese Army (NVA) enclaves in an area known as the Fishhook. Continue reading U.S. troops drive into Cambodia to crush enemy sanctuaries 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 1 1970) →

Prince Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia ousted by his prime minister 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 18 1970)

1970s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History - Cambodia and Laos [8/11]' (Cambodian coup of 1970 at 18:11)

(Wednesday, March 18, 1970, 1:00 p.m. Indochina Time; during the Cambodian coup of 1970, part of the Cambodian Civil War) — Prince Norodom Sihanouk, Head of State of Cambodia since June 20, 1960, was overthrown today in his absence, Phnom Penh radio announced. Continue reading Prince Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia ousted by his prime minister 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 18 1970) →

‘Miracle on Ice’: U.S. Olympic hockey team beats Soviet Union 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 22 1980)

1980s, Cold War


Video: 'USA vs Russia (USSR - Soviet Union) 1980 Olympics Hockey - Full Game Miracle on Ice'

(Friday, February 22, 1980, game started at 5:06 p.m. EST; during the Cold War) — In one of the most dramatic upsets in Olympics history, the underdog U.S. hockey team, made up of collegians and second-tier professional players, defeated the defending champion Soviet team, regarded as the world’s finest, 4-3, today at the Olympic Center in Lake Placid, N.Y. Continue reading ‘Miracle on Ice’: U.S. Olympic hockey team beats Soviet Union 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 22 1980) →