Category Archives: Cold War

U.S. announces it will close embassy in Phnom Penh 50 years ago today (Apr 11 1975)


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 11' (Apr. 11, 1975, at 37:48)

(Tuesday, April 11, 1975; during the Cambodian Civil War, part of the Vietnam War, Indochina Wars and the Cold War) –The United States announced today that because of the “seriously deteriorating military situation” it was closing its embassy in Phnom Penh and evacuating several hundred Americans and Cambodians from the encircled Cambodian capital.

President Ford seeks $972 million in aid for Saigon and right to use troops for evacuation 50 years ago this hour (Apr 10 1975)


Video: 'Gerald Ford-Address on U.S. Foreign Policy (April 10, 1975)'

(Thursday, April 10, 1975, 9:04-10:05 p.m. EDT; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — U.S. President Gerald Ford appealed to Congress tonight to approve “without delay” nearly a billion dollars in military and humanitarian aid for Saigon to give South Vietnam a chance to “save itself” as a country and make possible a large-scale evacuation of Americans and South Vietnamese “should the worst come to pass” (click here to watch the complete speech). Continue reading President Ford seeks $972 million in aid for Saigon and right to use troops for evacuation 50 years ago this hour (Apr 10 1975)

LBJ makes offers to start Vietnam peace talks unconditionally 60 years ago this hour (Apr 7 1965)


Video: 'President Johnson's Remarks on Vietnam at Johns Hopkins University, 4/7/65. MP549.'

(Wednesday, April 7, 1965, 9:00 p.m. EST; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson said tonight that the United States was ready to begin, without prior conditions, diplomatic discussions to end the war in Vietnam. Continue reading LBJ makes offers to start Vietnam peace talks unconditionally 60 years ago this hour (Apr 7 1965)

Wham! performs in Communist China’s first big-name rock concert 40 years ago today (Apr 7 1985)


Video: 'Wham! / In China Foreign Skies Documentary'

(Easter Sunday, April 7, 1985, evening China Standard Time) — British pop sensation Wham! (George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley) performed before 15,000 people at the Workers’ Gymnasium in Beijing today in Communist China’s first big-name rock concert.

Ford, Kissinger, Weyland conclude deadlock is best hope for Vietnam 50 years ago this hour (Apr 5 1975)


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 11' (Apr. 5, 1975, at 34:34)

(Saturday, April 5, 1975, 7:27-8:56 a.m. PDT; during the 1975 Spring Offensive of the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — Just back from South Vietnam, General Frederick Weyand met today with U.S. President Gerald Ford and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger at Palm Springs. Continue reading Ford, Kissinger, Weyland conclude deadlock is best hope for Vietnam 50 years ago this hour (Apr 5 1975)

78 Vietnam orphans killed in Saigon plane crash 50 years ago this hour (Apr 4 1975)


Video: '20th Century with Mike Wallace - Guerra do Vietnã (1994)' (Apr. 4, 1975, at 12:13)

(Friday, April 4, 1975, 4:45 p.m. Saigon Standard Time; during Operation Babylift, part of the Vietnam War, Indochina Wars and Cold War) — More than 130 people, most of them children, were killed today when a U.S. Air Force transport plane evacuating Vietnamese orphans crash-landed shortly after takeoff from Saigon. Continue reading 78 Vietnam orphans killed in Saigon plane crash 50 years ago this hour (Apr 4 1975)

Thieu meets with American officials, pleads for help 50 years ago today (Apr 2 1975)


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 11' (Apr. 2, 1975, at 34:10)

(Wednesday, April 2, 1975; during the The Hue–Da Nang Campaign of the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu, still believing that America would not abandon him, met today with U.S. Ambassador Graham Martin and President Gerald Ford’s special envoy, General Frederick Weyand, who promised to recommend more aid.

Cambodian city falls to Khmer Rouge as President Lon Nol flees 50 years ago today (Apr 1 1975)


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History (Ep-9) Cambodia and Laos' (Apr. 1, 1975, at 48:43)

(Tuesday, April 1, 1975, early afternoon Indochina Time; during the Cambodian Civil War, part of the Vietnam War, Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — With Khmer Rouge guerrillas taking Neak Leung, a key strategic town along the Mekong River, Cambodian President Lon Nol resigned today and departed Pochentong International Airport west of Phnom Penh into exile. Continue reading Cambodian city falls to Khmer Rouge as President Lon Nol flees 50 years ago today (Apr 1 1975)

Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov completes world’s first spacewalk, beating NASA to history 60 years ago this hour (Mar 18 1965)


Video: 'Rare COLOR footage of first spacewalk, Alexei Leonov, March 18, 1965'

(Friday, March 18, 1965, 08:34:51-08:47:00 UTC; during the Space Race) — Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov became the first person to walk in space today, spending 12 minutes and 9 seconds floating outside his spacecraft in a daring feat that marked another milestone in the space race. Continue reading Soviet cosmonaut Alexei Leonov completes world’s first spacewalk, beating NASA to history 60 years ago this hour (Mar 18 1965)

Woman, 82, sets herself afire on Detroit street corner as Vietnam protest 60 years ago tonight (Mar 16 1965)

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(Monday, March 16, 1965, evening EST; during the the Vietnam War, the Indochina Wars and Cold War) — Peace activist Alice Herz, 82, set herself ablaze on a Detroit street corner today to protest the Vietnam War (the first activist in the United States known to have immolated herself in protest of the escalating Vietnam War, Herz died 10 days later).