Category Archives: Cold War

12 nations sign North Atlantic Treaty in Washington 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1949)


Video: 'NATO 60th Anniversary: 1949 Footage of the Original Signing Session of the North Atlantic Treaty'

(Monday, April 4, 1949, 4:30 p.m. EST; during the Cold War) — 12 nations, including the United States, signed the North Atlantic Treaty today at the Departmental Auditorium in Washington, D.C., by a committee chaired by U.S. diplomat Theodore Achilles. Continue reading 12 nations sign North Atlantic Treaty in Washington 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1949)

Operation Menu: Covert bombing of Cambodia by U.S. planes begins 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 18 1969)


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History - Cambodia and Laos [8/11]' (Operation Menu at 16:38)

(Tuesday, March 18, 1969, evening local time; during the Vietnam War, part of the Cambodian Civil War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War)Operation Menu, a covert U.S. bombing campaign conducted in eastern Cambodia on sanctuaries and Base Areas of the North Vietnamese Army and forces of the Viet Cong, began tonight with a raid by 60 B-52 Stratofortress bombers, based at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. Continue reading Operation Menu: Covert bombing of Cambodia by U.S. planes begins 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 18 1969)

Batista flees Cuba, Fidel Castro in control 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 1 1959)


Video: 'Cuba To Castro (1959)'

(Thursday, January 1, 1959; during the Cuban Revolution) — Fulgencio Batista resigned today as president of rebellion-torn Cuba and fled to exile in the Dominican Republic. The rebel forces of Fidel Castro moved swiftly to seize power throughout the island. Continue reading Batista flees Cuba, Fidel Castro in control 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 1 1959)

North Korea frees 82 members U.S. Navy ship USS Pueblo 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 23 1968)


Video: 'USS Pueblo Crew Released by North Koreans'

(Monday, December 23, 1968, 11:30 a.m. Korean Standard Time; during the Cold War) — North Korea today released the 82 members of the U.S. Navy ship USS Pueblo after 11 months of captivity that had started when American ship was seized by North Korean ships on Jan. 23, 1968. Continue reading North Korea frees 82 members U.S. Navy ship USS Pueblo 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 23 1968)

Nixon examines ‘Pumpkin Papers’ 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 6 1948)


Video: '1948 Hiss Case, Richard Nixon, Microfilm | Kinolibrary'

(Monday, December 6, 1948; during the Second Red Scare and the Cold War) — U.S. Rep. Richard Nixon, a member of the House Un-American Activities Committee, and staff investigator Robert Stripling, posed today for photographers with the “Pumpkin Papers.” Continue reading Nixon examines ‘Pumpkin Papers’ 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 6 1948)

Truman defeats Dewey in historic upset 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 2 1948)


Video: 'TRUMAN WINS IN UPSET - 1948'

(Tuesday, November 2, 1948; during the United States presidential election, 1948) — Democratic U.S. President Harry S. Truman of Missouri, who had succeeded to the presidency upon the death of Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1945, won election in his own right today, defeating Republican nominee Governor Thomas E. Dewey of New York in one of the greatest election upsets in American history. Continue reading Truman defeats Dewey in historic upset 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 2 1948)

LBJ orders bombing halt on North Vietnam 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 31 1968)


Video: 'The President: October 1968. MP901.' (Oct. 31 1968, at 41:44)

(Thursday, October 31, 1968, filmed at 1:35 p.m. for 8:00 p.m. broadcast EST; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Citing progress in the Paris peace talks, U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson announced tonight in a nationwide address that he was ordering a complete halt to “all air, naval, and artillery bombardment of North Vietnam” as of 8:00 a.m EST (9:00 p.m. Saigon Standard Time) on Friday, Nov. 1, 1968. Continue reading LBJ orders bombing halt on North Vietnam 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 31 1968)

LBJ indicates Vietnam peace talks still stalled 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 24 1968)


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History (Ep-10) Peace is at Hand (1968-1973)' (Oct. 24 1968, at 4:51)

(Thursday, October 24, 1968, 1:07 p.m. EDT; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — U.S. President Lyndon Johnson, appearing fatigued and occasionally dispalying testiness in replying to questions in a hastily called news conference in the Cabinet Room of the White House, said today that he had not yet received a reply from Hanoi to his latest proposals for a complete halt in the bombing of North Vietnam. Continue reading LBJ indicates Vietnam peace talks still stalled 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 24 1968)

Nixon orders attempt to sabotage Vietnam peace talks 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 22 1968)


Video: '11 Cold War CNN Vietnam 1954 1968' (Nixon order at 43:46)

(Tuesday, October 22, 1968; during the United States presidential election, 1968 campaign, during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Republican presidential nominee Richard Nixon telephoned his closest aide (and future Chief of Staff) H. R Haldeman tonight and ordered him to get intermediaries to persuade South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu to refuse to participate in the Paris Peace Talks to end the Vietnam War. Continue reading Nixon orders attempt to sabotage Vietnam peace talks 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 22 1968)

North Korea established 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 9 1948)


Video: 'Korean War - PART 2, Prelude to war (1946-1947) 6.25' (Sep. 9, 1948, at 9:40)

(Thursday, September 9, 1948) — 25 days after the government of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) was inaugurated, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea) was established today with Kim Il-sung as premier. Continue reading North Korea established 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Sep 9 1948)