Category Archives: Cold 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.

Massive anti-Vietnam war protests held in New York and San Francisco 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 15 1967)

1960s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Peace March. Thousands Oppose Vietnam War, April 18, 1967 (Universal Newsreel)'

(Saturday, April 15, 1967; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — An estimated 100,000 to 125,000 anti-war demonstrators marched through the streets of Manhattan today and then massed in front of the United Nations building to hear U.S. policy in Vietnam denounced in speeches by Martin Luther King, Jr., Floyd McKissick, Stokely Carmichael and Dr. Benjamin Spock. Continue reading Massive anti-Vietnam war protests held in New York and San Francisco 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 15 1967) →

The Rolling Stones play their first concert behind Iron Curtain 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 13 1967)

1960s, Cold War, Popular Music 1960s


Video: 'Stones '67 in Warschau'

(Thursday, April 13, 1967, 5:00 p.m. CET; during the Cold War) — The Rolling Stones played their first concert behind the Iron Curtain today in Warsaw, Poland, as riot police had to step in to deal with 2,000 people who weren’t able to get tickets. Continue reading The Rolling Stones play their first concert behind Iron Curtain 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 13 1967) →

King denounces Vietnam War at Riverside Church 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1967)

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


Video: 'Eyes On The Prize - (Part 10) The Promised Land 1967–1968' (Apr. 4, 1967, at 5:17)

(Tuesday, April 4, 1967, evening 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. denounced the war in Vietnam tonight, delivering “Beyond Vietnam: A Time to Break Silence,” one of his most dramatic and controversial speeches, before 3,000 people at Riverside Church in New York City. Continue reading King denounces Vietnam War at Riverside Church 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 4 1967) →

President Truman establishes federal employee loyalty program 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 21 1947)

1940s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'The Loyalty Program'

(Friday, March 21, 1947, during the Cold War) — Against his own better judgment, U.S. President Harry S. Truman today signed Executive Order 9835, sometimes known as the “Loyalty Order,” making the political beliefs of every federal employee subject to investigation by the FBI in order to root out communist influence in the U.S. federal government (click here for a clip about this event from “American Experience: Truman” at 2:50:28). Continue reading President Truman establishes federal employee loyalty program 70 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 21 1947) →

Truman Doctrine proclaimed to help stem the spread of Communism 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 12 1947)

1940s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


'Video: 'Truman Doctrine'

(Wednesday, March 12, 1947, 1:00 p.m. EST; during the Cold War) — In a historic message to Congress, President Harry S. Truman announced todaywhat became known as the Truman Doctrine to help Greece and Turkey resist Communism. (click here for a clip of this event from “American Experience: Truman” at 2:43:43). Continue reading Truman Doctrine proclaimed to help stem the spread of Communism 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 12 1947) →

Clergymen ask President Johnson to halt bombing in Vietnam 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 31 1967)

Cold War, U.S. Presidents, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam A Television History 10, Homefront 1' (Jan. 31, 1967, at 4:59)

(Tuesday, January 31, 1967; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Protestant, Catholic and Jewish clergymen from all parts of the nation appealed to President Lyndon Johnson today to halt the bombing of North Vietnam as part of a “fresh initiative”‘ for peace negotiations.

The appeal was contained in an interfaith statement delivered to the President’s office while upwards of 2,000 ministers, priests and rabbis conducted a silent prayer vigil on the sidewalk in front of the White House.