Category Archives: Cold War

Communist PT boats allegedly renew raids at Gulf of Tonkin 50 years ago this hour (Aug 4 1964)

1960s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History - LBJ Goes to War [3/11]' (Gulf of Tonkin incident, Aug. 4, 1964, at 12:35)

(Tuesday, August 4, 1964, 10:30 p.m. North Vietnamese time; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — The Defense Department announced tonight that North Vietnamese PT boats made a “deliberate attack” today on two United States destroyers patrolling international waters in the Gulf of Tonkin off North Vietnam. Continue reading Communist PT boats allegedly renew raids at Gulf of Tonkin 50 years ago this hour (Aug 4 1964) →

Geneva Accords divide Vietnam into northern, southern entities 60 years ago today (July 21 1954)

Cold War, First Indochina War


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 1' (July 21, 1954, at 55:03)

(Wednesday, July 21, 1954; during the First Indochina War, part of the Cold War) — France and the three associated states of Indochina signed armistice agreements with the Communists today that extended the Iron Curtain around North Vietnam, a land of 13 million.

The United States warned it would view “with grave concern” any revival of aggression violating the agreements.

Diem appointed prime minister of South Vietnam 60 years ago today (July 7 1954)

1950s, Cold War, First Indochina War


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 2' (July 7, 1954, at 4:18)

(Wednesday, July 7, 1954; during the First Indochina War, part of the Cold War) — Two months after the French surrendered to the Viet Minh at Dien Bien Phu, Emperor Bao Dai appointed Ngo Dinh Diem today as prime minister of what would become South Vietnam, hoping he would be able to attract American aid.

Nixon, Brezhnev sign treaty limiting size of underground nuclear weapons tests 40 years ago today (July 3 1974)

1970s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Image: U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger (L) joins President Richard Nixon and Russian leaders in a toast after the signing of agreements at the Kremlin on July 3, 1974 following a seven-day summit.

(Wednesday, July 3, 1974; during the Cold War) — U.S. President Richard Nixon and Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev signed a treaty today in Moscow limiting the size of underground nuclear weapons tests. Nixon then flew back to the U.S., landing at a small air force base in Maine and gave the nation a report on his foreign travels (click here for video at 2:35:53).

President Richard Nixon arrives in Moscow 40 years ago today (June 27 1974)

1970s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents

(Thursday, June 27, 1974; during the Watergate scandal) — U.S. President Richard Nixon and Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev vowed to seek lasting world peace as their week of summit talks began today in Moscow in an atmosphere of flag-waving, laughing conviviality.

It was Nixon’s second visit to Moscow as president (the first, in May 1972, was a first for a sitting U.S. president) (click here for video at 2:35:53).

Secretary of State Dulles urges $3.5 billion foreign aid 60 years ago today (June 4 1954)

1950s, Cold War, First Indochina War


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 1' (June 4, 1954, at 51:29)

(Friday, June 4, 1954; during the First Indochina War, part of the Cold War) — U.S. Secretary of State John Foster Dulles urged the Senate Foreign Relations Committee today to invest $3.5 billion in foreign aid during the next 12 months to help prevent “red domination” of the world.

Blast kills 5, cripples U.S. ship in Saigon 50 years ago this hour (May 2 1964)

Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 5' (May 2, 1964, at 13:07)

(Saturday, May 2, 1964, 3:00 a.m. local time; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — The USS Card was mined by sappers of a Viet Cong underwater demolition team this morning while docked in the heavily defended Saigon Harbor, then capitol of South Vietnam. Five civilian crew members were killed by the explosions