Category Archives: Cold War

U.S. Secretary of State George Marshall outlines plan for American reconstruction, relief aid to Europe 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 5 1947)

1940s, Cold War


Video: 'The Marshall Plan Speech (video presentation by the Marshall Foundation)'

(Thursday, June 5, 1947, 2:50 p.m. EDT; during the Cold War) — U.S. Secretary of State George Marshall gave a speech today at Harvard University in which he outlined the Marshall Plan (officially the European Recovery Program, ERP), an American initiative to aid Western Europe, in which the United States would give over $13 billion in economic support to help rebuild Western European economies after the end of World War II. Continue reading U.S. Secretary of State George Marshall outlines plan for American reconstruction, relief aid to Europe 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 5 1947) →

President Truman signs bill implementing doctrine to fight spread of communism 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 22 1947)

1940s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'American Experience Truman 2' (May 22, 1947, at 22:06)

(Thursday, May 22, 1947, 8:00 a.m. CDT; during the Cold War) — With a pledge that the United States will act, as well as talk, in support of the United Nations, U.S. President Harry S. Truman today signed the Greek-Turkish aid bill, providing $400 million in military and economic aid to Turkey and Greece and implementing the Truman Doctrine to fight the spread of communism. Continue reading President Truman signs bill implementing doctrine to fight spread of communism 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 22 1947) →

70,000 turn out in New York to back U.S. men in Vietnam War 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 13 1967)

1960s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Pro-Vietnam War Parade In New York (1967)'

(Saturday, May 13, 1967, noon EDT; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — In a forest of American flags, more than 70,000 men, women and children, stirred by martial music and their desire to support the nation’s soldiers in Vietnam, stepped briskly down Fifth Avenue in a parade that lasted more than eight and a half hours today. Continue reading 70,000 turn out in New York to back U.S. men in Vietnam War 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 13 1967) →

President Eisenhower welcomes South Vietnamese President Diem for state visit this hour 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 8 1957)

1950s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 2' (May 8, 1957, at 16:55)

(Wednesday, May 8, 1957, noon EDT; during the Vietnam War, part of the Cold War) — U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower personally received South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem today at the National Airport in Washington, D.C., as the South Vietnamese president arrived aboard Eisenhower’s plane, the Columbine III, a silver Constellation, on a state visit to the U.S. Continue reading President Eisenhower welcomes South Vietnamese President Diem for state visit this hour 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (May 8 1957) →

Anti-communist crusader Sen. Joseph McCarthy dies 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 2 1957)

1950s, Cold War


Video: 'Senator Mccarthy Dead At 47 (1957)'

(Thursday, May 2, 1957, 6:02 p.m. EDT; during the Second Red Scare and the Cold War) — Senator Joseph McCarthy (R-Wisconsin), whose reckless anti-communist investigations made him the most controversial public figure of America’s postwar years, died tonight at Bethesda Naval Hospital in Maryland of a liver ailment at the age of 47. Continue reading Anti-communist crusader Sen. Joseph McCarthy dies 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 2 1957) →

Westmoreland tells Congress ‘we will prevail in Vietnam’ 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 28 1967)

1960s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'The President: April 1967. MP883.' (Apr. 28, 1967, at 27:12)

(Friday, April 28, 1967, 12:30 p.m. EST; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — U.S. Army Gen. William Westmoreland told Congress today that “backed at home by resolve, confidence, patience, determination and continued support, we will prevail in Vietnam over communist aggression.”

Never before had a military commander addressed Congress while he was directing an ongoing war.

Muhammad Ali refuses induction into U.S. Army, stripped of boxing crown 50 years ago #OTD #OnThisDay (Apr 28 1967)

1960s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Muhammad Ali Refuses Army Induction in 1967'

(Friday, April 28, 1967; during the African-American Civil Rights Movement (1954–1968) and during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — World heavyweight boxing champion Muhammad Ali refused to take the oath of induction into the United States Army today after reporting as scheduled to an induction center in Houston, Texas. Continue reading Muhammad Ali refuses induction into U.S. Army, stripped of boxing crown 50 years ago #OTD #OnThisDay (Apr 28 1967) →

Soviet cosmonaut killed as his spaceship crashes 50 years ago this hour #OTD #OnThisDay (Apr 24 1967)

1960s, Cold War


Video: 'SOYUS 1 CRASH: The last words of the Cosmonaut Komarov, April 24, 1967'

(Monday, April 24, 1967, 03:22:52 UTC; during the Cold War) — Soviet cosmonaut Vladimir Komarov, 40, became the first person to be killed during a spaceflight today when the parachute of his space capsule Soyuz 1 failed during re-entry. Continue reading Soviet cosmonaut killed as his spaceship crashes 50 years ago this hour #OTD #OnThisDay (Apr 24 1967) →

Stalin’s daughter arrives in U.S. to ‘seek self-expression’ 50 years ago this hour #OTD #OnThisDay (Apr 21 1967)

1960s, Cold War


Video: 'Svetlana Stalina daughter of Josef Josef Stalin Defects to United States 1967 newsreel footage'

(Friday, April 21, 1967, 2:45 p.m. EST; during the Cold War) — Joseph Stalin’s daughter, Svetlana Alliluyeva, 42, arrived today at Kennedy Airport in New York aboard a Swiss airplane from Zurich, apparently set on closing a deal with sell her memoirs of life with her father. Continue reading Stalin’s daughter arrives in U.S. to ‘seek self-expression’ 50 years ago this hour #OTD #OnThisDay (Apr 21 1967) →

Financier Bernard Baruch first applies the term ‘Cold War’ 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 16 1947)

1940s, Cold War

(Wednesday, April 16, 1947, 1:00 p.m. EST; during the Cold War) — Financier and presidential confidant Bernard M. Baruch said in a speech today at the South Carolina statehouse, “Let us not be deceived – we are today in the midst of a cold war,” becoming the first to coin the term “Cold War” to describe the relationship between the United States and the Soviet Union.