Category Archives: Cold War

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) →

Chicago Seven cleared of plot, 5 guilty on second count 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 18 1970)

1970s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'SYND 19-2-70 CHICAGO SEVEN TRIAL VERDICT COMMENT'

(Tuesday, February 18, 1970, 12:20 p.m. CST, during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — All seven defendants in the Chicago conspiracy trial were acquitted today of plotting to incite a riot during the 1968 Democratic National Convention, but five of them were convicted of seeking to promote a riot through individual acts. Continue reading Chicago Seven cleared of plot, 5 guilty on second count 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 18 1970) →

Senator Joe McCarthy charges U.S. State Department infested with communists 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 9 1950)

1950s, Cold War

(Lincoln Day, Thursday, February 9, 1950, evening EST; during the Second Red Scare and the Cold War) — U.S. Sen. Joseph McCarthy brandished a piece of paper tonight during a Lincoln Day dinner speech to the Ohio County Republican Women’s Club at the McClure Hotel in Wheeling, West Virginia, which he claimed contained a list of known communists working for the State Department. Continue reading Senator Joe McCarthy charges U.S. State Department infested with communists 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 9 1950) →

Accused spy Alger Hiss convicted of perjury 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 21 1950)

1950s, Cold War


Video: 'Alger Hiss case 1948-1950' (Jan. 21, 1950, at 2:39)

(Saturday, January 21, 1950, 2:50 p.m. EST; during the Second Red Scare and the Cold War) — Former U.S. State Department official and accused communist spy Alger Hiss was found guilty today on two counts of perjury by a federal jury in New York, based primarily on the testimony of former communist and Time magazine editor Whittaker Chambers. Continue reading Accused spy Alger Hiss convicted of perjury 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 21 1950) →

Thieu: U.S. combat troops cannot all be withdrawn in 1970 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 9 1970)

1970s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History - Vietnamizing the War [7/11]' (Jan. 9, 1970, at 22:32)

(Friday, January 9, 1970; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu said today that it would be “impossible and impractical” to withdraw all American combat troops from South Vietnam in 1970. Continue reading Thieu: U.S. combat troops cannot all be withdrawn in 1970 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 9 1970) →

Soviet troops overthrow Afghan President Hafizullah Amin, install Babrak Karmal 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 27 1979)

1970s, Cold War


Video: 'Former KGB colonel recounts Soviet assault on Afghan president'

(Thursday, December 27, 1979, 7:15 p.m. Afghanistan Time (AFT); during Operation Storm-333, part of the Soviet–Afghan War and the Cold War) — Soviet forces stormed the Tajbeg Palace located about 10 miles south-west outside the center of Kabul today and assassinated Afghan President Hafizullah Amin. Continue reading Soviet troops overthrow Afghan President Hafizullah Amin, install Babrak Karmal 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 27 1979) →