Category Archives: Cold War

LBJ stuns nation, says he won’t seek re-election 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 31 1968)

1960s, Cold War, Television 1960s, U.S. Presidents, Vietnam War


Video: 'President Johnson's Address to the Nation, 3/31/68. MP600.'

(Sunday, March 31, 1968, 9:01-9:41 p.m. EST; during the Democratic Party presidential primaries, 1968: during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — President Lyndon Johnson stunned the country tonight by announcing during a televised address on the Vietnam War from the White House that he would not seek re-election: “I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President.” Continue reading LBJ stuns nation, says he won’t seek re-election 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 31 1968) →

Operation Pegasus launched to relieve Khe Sanh 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 1 1968)

1960s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam: The Ten Thousand Day War - Tet! [7/13]' (Apr. 1, 1968, at 38:05)

(Monday, April 1, 1968, 7:00 a.m. Saigon Standard Time; during the Battle of Khe Sanh, part of the Vietnam War, the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Operation Pegasus, an advance by U.S. troops along Route 9 to relieve the siege of the Marine base at Khe Sanh, began today. Continue reading Operation Pegasus launched to relieve Khe Sanh 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 1 1968) →

LBJ rehearses Vietnam War TV speech 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 31 1968)

1960s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents, Vietnam War


Video: 'Rare Footage of President Johnson Rehearsing March 31, 1968 Speech'

(Sunday, March 31, 1968, 3:03-3:36 p.m. EST; during the Democratic Party presidential primaries, 1968; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — President Lyndon Johnson practiced tonight’s nationally televised speech about the Vietnam War in front of cameras and teleprompter this afternoon in the Oval Office at the White House. Continue reading LBJ rehearses Vietnam War TV speech 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 31 1968) →

King delivers sermon at National Cathedral 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 31 1968)

1960s, African-American Civil Rights, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Inside Story: Who Killed Martin Luther King?' (Mar. 31, 1968, at 4:31)

(Sunday, March 31, 1968, 11 a.m. EST; during the African-American Civil Rights Movement (1954–1968) and during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Civil Rights icon Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his “Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution” sermon today at the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C., discussing plans for the Poor People’s Campaign and his opposition to the Vietnam War. Continue reading King delivers sermon at National Cathedral 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 31 1968) →

Jimmy Durante hosts ‘The Hollywood Palace’ 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 30 1968)

1960s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents, Vietnam War


Video: 'Our World Winter 1968 Part 4' (Mar. 30, 1968, at 7:06)

(Saturday, March 30, 1968, 9:30-10:30 p.m. EST; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — On the night before President Lyndon Johnon’s national television address on the Vietnam War, host Jimmy Durante, 75, opened tonight’s edition of The Hollywood Palace TV variety show with a rousing rendition of “Old Man Time.” Continue reading Jimmy Durante hosts ‘The Hollywood Palace’ 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 30 1968) →

First human in space dies in routine training flight 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 27 1968)

1960s, Cold War


Video: 'Last flight of Yury Gagarin: What killed the space icon'

(Wednesday, March 27, 1968, 10:31 a.m. MSK; during the Cold War) — Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin, the first human to journey into outer space in 1961, died today when his MiG-15 jet crashed during a routine training flight near the town of Kirzhach.

Gagarin was 34.


Video: 'Life and the tragic death of Yuri Gagarin' (Mar. 27, 1968, at 26:41)

LBJ’s ‘wise men’ turn against Vietnam War 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 26 1968)

1960s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents, Vietnam War


Video: 'Our World Winter 1968 Part 4' (Mar. 26, 1968, at 3:24)

(Tuesday, March 26, 1968, 1:15 p.m. EST; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — After long supporting and encouraging President Lyndon Johnson’s conduct of the Vietnam War, a majority of his foreign policy experts, a group of elder statesmen and retired generals informally known as “the Wise Men,” informed him bluntly today at the White House that “an American military solution in Vietnam was no longer attainable” and that he should take steps to disengage the U.S. from further participation. Continue reading LBJ’s ‘wise men’ turn against Vietnam War 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 26 1968) →

Elvis Presley inducted into U.S. Army 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 24 1958)

1950s, Cold War, Elvis Presley, Popular Music 1950s


Video: 'Elvis Gets Drafted Into the War'

(Monday, March 24, 1958, 6:30 a.m. local time) — Rock music icon Elvis Presley, 23, reported for duty this morning at the draft board office in the M&M Building, 198 South Main in Memphis, Tennessee. Continue reading Elvis Presley inducted into U.S. Army 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 24 1958) →

LBJ recalls Westmoreland to become Army chief 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 22 1968)

1960s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents, Vietnam War

(Friday, March 22, 1968, 5:38-6:06 p.m. EST; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — President Lyndon Johnson announced today at a news conference his intention to appoint Gen. William C. Westmoreland as Army Chief of Staff, replacing him as commander of American forces in Vietnam sometime before July 2, 1968. Continue reading LBJ recalls Westmoreland to become Army chief 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 22 1968) →

LBJ asks for ‘austerity’ to win Vietnam War 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 18 1968)

1960s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents, Vietnam War


Video: 'American Experience LBJ 2' (Mar. 18, 1968, at 1:18:32)

(Monday, March 18, 1968, 10:42 a.m. CST; during the Democratic Party presidential primaries, 1968 and the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — U.S. President Lyndon Johnson, speaking to delegates at the National Farmers Union Convention at the Leamington Hotel in Minneapolis, said today that the time had come for “austerity” and a “total national effort” to win the war and peace in Vietnam and solve domestic problems. Continue reading LBJ asks for ‘austerity’ to win Vietnam War 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 18 1968) →