Category Archives: Cold War

Clark Clifford sworn in as defense chief 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 1 1968)


Video: 'The President: March 1968. MP894.' (Mar. 1, 1968, at 1:25)

(Friday, March 1, 1968, 12 noon EST; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War)Clark Clifford, a Washington lawyer and adviser to Democratic presidents for two decades, was sworn in today succeed Robert McNamara as the U.S. Secretary of Defense in a White House East Room ceremony with President Lyndon Johnson in attendance. Continue reading Clark Clifford sworn in as defense chief 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 1 1968)

LBJ lauds outgoing defense chief McNamara 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 28 1968)


Video: 'The President: February 1968. MP893.' (Feb. 28, 1968, at 22:57)

(Wednesday, February 28, 1968, 1:20 p.m. EST; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — President Lyndon Johnson gave the Medal of Freedom today to his departing Secretary of Defense, Robert McNamara, and praised him as a “brilliant and good man.” Continue reading LBJ lauds outgoing defense chief McNamara 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 28 1968)

U.S. military seeks another 206,000 troops in Vietnam 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 28 1968)


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History - Tet [6/11]' (Wheeler-Westmoreland proposal at 31:33)

(Wednesday, February 28, 1968, 8:35-11:15 a.m. EST; during the Tet Offensive, part of the Vietnam War, Indochina Wars and Cold War) — U.S. General Earle Wheeler, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, just back from Vietnam, told President Lyndon Johnson today at the White House that General William Westmoreland, commanding U.S. forces in Vietnam, will need an additional 206,000 soldiers “for a proposed ceiling of 731,756.” Continue reading U.S. military seeks another 206,000 troops in Vietnam 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 28 1968)

Cronkite: Vietnam ‘mired in stalemate’ 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 27 1968)


Video: 'Report from Vietnam (1968)'

(Tuesday, February 27, 1968, 10:30-11:00 p.m. EST; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War)CBS Evening News anchor Walter Cronkite broadcast a rare editorial on the Vietnam War tonight, declaring “it seems now more certain than ever that the bloody experience of Vietnam is to end in a stalemate.” Continue reading Cronkite: Vietnam ‘mired in stalemate’ 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 27 1968)

South Vietnamese troops recapture palace at Hue 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 24 1968)


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History - Tet [6/11]' (Imperial Palace recaptured at 23:22)

(Saturday, February 24, 1968, at 5:00 a.m. Saigon Standard Time; during the Tet Offensive, the Vietnam War, the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — South Vietnamese troops, throwing hand grenades and shouting an exultant war cry, recaptured the Imperial Palace today in Hue, raising the South Vietnamese flag on the Citadel flag tower 24 days into the Battle of Hue. Continue reading South Vietnamese troops recapture palace at Hue 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 24 1968)

Vietnam-bound troops given send-off by LBJ 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 17 1968)


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History - Tet [6/11]' (LBJ at Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina at 5:08-5:15 p.m. EST on Feb. 17, 1968, at 31:21)

(Saturday, February 17, 1968, 5:08 p.m. EST/8:43 p.m. PST; during the Tet Offensive, part of the Vietnam War, Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — U.S. President Lyndon Johnson flew to Pope Air Force Base in North Carolina and El Toro Marine Air Station in California today to offer prayers and good wishes to paratroopers and marines as they strapped themselves into transports for bound for Vietnam. Continue reading Vietnam-bound troops given send-off by LBJ 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 17 1968)

Robert F. Kennedy says U.S. cannot win Vietnam War 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 8 1968)


Video: '"KENNEDYS DON'T CRY" (1975)' (Feb. 8, 1968, at 1:14:13)

(Thursday, February 8, 1968; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Senator Robert F. Kennedy of New York attacked today every important facet of the Johnson Administration’s policy in Vietnam, calling the President’s claims of progress “illusory” and denied that there was “any prospect” of an American military victory. Continue reading Robert F. Kennedy says U.S. cannot win Vietnam War 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 8 1968)

Noriega says U.S. planned to invade Nicaragua 30 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 7 1988)


Video: '60 Minutes - Manuel Noriega (1988)'

(Sunday, February 7, 1988, 7:00-8:00 p.m. EST) — Panamanian strongman Gen. Manuel Noriega, indicted Feb. 5, 1988, on U.S. charges that he sold his country to drug smugglers, said tonight in a television interview that he met with U.S. officials in 1985 to discuss plans for an invasion of Nicaragua. Continue reading Noriega says U.S. planned to invade Nicaragua 30 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 7 1988)

North Vietnamese launch first daylight attack at Khe Sanh 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 8 1968)


Video: 'Vietnam: The Ten Thousand Day War - Tet! [7/13]' (Feb. 8, 1968, at 27:16)

(Thursday, February 8, 1968, 4:15 a.m. Saigon Standard Time; during Tet Offensive, part of the Vietnam War, Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Communist reinforcements launch the first daylight attack during the Battle of Khe Sanh, storming up hill 64 today just outside the Combat Base. The western half the outpost falls, but U.S. Marines counterattack and retake the hill. Continue reading North Vietnamese launch first daylight attack at Khe Sanh 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 8 1968)

Battle of Lang Vei begins in South Vietnam 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 6 1968)


Video: 'Vietnam: The Ten Thousand Day War - Tet! [7/13]' (Battle of Lang Vei at 25:47)

(Tuesday, February 6, 1968, 11:30 p.m. Saigon Standard Time; during the Tet Offensive, part of the Vietnam War, Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Communist North Vietnamese forces attacked the U.S. Special Forces Camp at Lang Vei late tonight in Quang Tri Province, South Vietnam, just six miles west of the Battle of Khe Sanh. Continue reading Battle of Lang Vei begins in South Vietnam 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 6 1968)