Category Archives: Cold War

Soviet scientist Andrei Sakharov awarded Nobel Peace Prize 50 years ago today (Oct 9 1975)


Video: 'Andrei Dmitrievich Sakharov Biography - Documentary'

(Thursday, October 9, 1975)Andrei Sakharov, the father of the Soviet hydrogen bomb who incurred governmental wrath by becoming the Soviet Union’s most outspoken proponent of civil liberties, won the Nobel Peace Prize today.

Truman: Atomic bomb secret to be shared with Britain, Canada only 80 years ago this hour (Oct 8 1945)

truman

(Monday, October 8, 1945, 8:15 p.m. CST) — U.S. President Harry S. Truman declared this evening that the secrets of the atomic bomb would be shared only with Britain and Canada during a press conference in Tiptonville, Tennessee.

Air crash kills young citizen diplomat Samantha Smith 40 years ago this hour (Aug 25 1985)


Video: 'Samantha Smith Dies - Archival Footage'

(Monday, August 25, 1985, at about 10:05 p.m. EDT; during the Cold War)Samantha Smith, the 13-year-old schoolgirl whose letter to Soviet leader Yuri V. Andropov resulted in her peace tour of the communist country, was killed tonight with her father, Arthur, and six other people in a commuter plane crash near Auburn-Lewiston Municipal Airport in Auburn, Maine. Continue reading Air crash kills young citizen diplomat Samantha Smith 40 years ago this hour (Aug 25 1985)

U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson rejects all or nothing approach in Vietnam 60 years ago this hour (Aug 3 1965)


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History (Ep-4) LBJ Goes to War (1964-1965)' (Aug. 3, 1965, at 44:34/45:26/46:55/48:03)

(Tuesday, August 3, 1965, 10:35-11:15 a.m. EDT; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson declared today that those who advocate either all-out war in Vietnam or total withdrawal are equally misguided and equally insensitive to the United States’ role in Southeast Asia.

CBS crew films U.S. Marines destroying South Vietnamese village 60 years ago today (Aug 3 1965)


Video: 'Cam ne safer'

(Tuesday, August 3, 1965; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — CBS News reporter Morley Safer documented an American “search and destroy” mission today in the South Vietnamese village of Cam Ne (considered a Viet Cong stronghold), filming U.S. Marines burning homes using flamethrowers and Zippo cigarette lighters. Continue reading CBS crew films U.S. Marines destroying South Vietnamese village 60 years ago today (Aug 3 1965)

U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson orders 50,000 more men to Vietnam and doubles draft 60 years ago this hour (July 28 1965)


Video: 'President Johnson's News Conference, 7/28/65. MP550.'

(Wednesday, July 28, 1965, 12:34 p.m. EDT; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — U.S. President Lyndon Johnson announced today that United States military strength in South Vietnam would be increased from the present 75,000 men to 125,000 “almost immediately.” Continue reading U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson orders 50,000 more men to Vietnam and doubles draft 60 years ago this hour (July 28 1965)

U.S. President Eisenhower presents ‘Open Skies’ proposal 70 years ago this hour (July 21 1955)


Video: 'The 1955 Geneva Conference and Open Skies' (July 21, 1955, at 1:59)

(Thursday, July 21, 1955, 4:00-6:10 pm. CEST; during the Cold War) — During a summit in Geneva, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower presented his Open Skies proposal under which the U.S. and the Soviet Union would trade information on each other’s military facilities and allow aerial reconnaisance (the Soviets rejected the proposal).

Big Four present peace plans at Geneva 70 years ago this hour (July 18 1955)


Video: 'Big 4 at Geneva Summit; Miss Universe Parade 1955/7/18'

(Monday, July 18, 1955, first meeting began at 10:00 a.m. Central European Summer Time; during the Cold War) — U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, Soviet Premier Nikolai Bulganin, British Prime Minister Anthony Eden and French Premier Edgar Faure met for a summit today in Geneva to begin discussions on peace.

Apollo blasts into orbit for a rendezvous with Soyuz 50 years ago this hour (July 15 1975)


Video: 'ASTP TV Coverage - Apollo Launch'

(Thursday, July 15, 1975, 3:50:00 p.m. EDT) — Three American astronauts blasted off aboard an Apollo spaceship today hours after two Soviet cosmonauts were launched aboard a Soyuz spacecraft for a mission that included a linkup of the two ships in orbit.

U.S. Air Force Academy swears in first class of cadets in Colorado 70 years ago today (July 11 1955)


Video: 'First Air Force Academy Class 1955 Lowry Air Force Base Colorado'

(Monday, July 11, 1955; during the Cold War) — 306 young men, awkwardly earnest in their new khaki uniforms with blue caps and blue shoulder boards, swore today to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic,” becoming the first cadets at the new Air Force Academy at Lowry Air Force Base in Colorado.