Category Archives: Cold War

Army says McCarthy ‘pulled rank’ for aide 60 years ago today (Mar 11 1954)

(Thursday, March 11, 1954; during the Second Red Scare) — The U.S. Army charged today that Sen. Joseph R. McCarthy, a Republican from Wisconsin, and his subcommittee’s chief counsel, Roy Cohn, had exerted pressure to obtain favored treatment for Pvt. G. David Schine, a former consultant to the subcommittee. The confrontation culminated in the famous Senate Army-McCarthy hearings.

Dulles asks for action against communism 60 years ago today (Mar 4 1954)


Video: '45 85 Part 6' (Mar. 4, 1954, at 4:12)

(Thursday, March 4, 1954; during the Cold War) — Speaking before the 10th Inter-American Conference, Secretary of State John Foster Dulles warned today that “international communism” is making inroads in the Western Hemisphere and asked the nations of Latin America to condemn this danger.

Nuclear test causes most significant accidental radiological contamination ever by U.S. 60 years ago this hour (Mar 1 1954)


Video: 'Castle Bravo Nuclear Test'

(Monday, March 1, 1954, 6:45 a.m. local time; Sunday, February 28, 1954, 1:45 p.m. EST) — The United States detonated a dry-fuel hydrogen bomb, codenamed Castle Bravo, at Bikini Atoll in the Marshall Islands today. The explosive yield of 15 megatons, much greater than expected, dropped radioactive fallout on occupied islands hundreds of miles away.

Vietnam military junta overthrown 50 years ago this hour (Jan 30 1964)


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 3' (Jan. 30, 1964 at 5:53)

(Thursday, January 30, 1964, before dawn ICT; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Maj. Gen. Nguyen Khanh, a 37-year-old army corps commander, became a virtual dictator of South Vietnam today in a swift, bloodless coup, replacing the military junta led by General Duong Van Minh. Continue reading Vietnam military junta overthrown 50 years ago this hour (Jan 30 1964)

Mamie Eisenhower christens first atomic submarine 60 years ago today (Jan 21 1954)


Video: 'USS Nautilus & Submarine History: "Take 'Er Down" 1954 US Navy 14min' (Jan. 21, 1954, at 11:33)

(Thursday, January 21, 1954; during the Cold War) — The world’s first operational nuclear-powered submarine, the USS Nautilus, was launched today at Groton, Connecticut, as First Lady Mamie Eisenhower christened the vessel with the traditional bottle of champagne broken against the bow.

Nuclear war film ‘The Day After’ premieres on ABC 30 years ago this hour (1983)


Video: 'The Day After (1983) - Full, Original 1.75:1 Aspect Ratio'

(Sunday, November 20, 1983, 8:00 p.m. EST)The Day After a graphic, disturbing made-for-television film about the effects of a devastating nuclear holocaust on small-town residents of eastern Kansas, premiered tonight on ABC. Continue reading Nuclear war film ‘The Day After’ premieres on ABC 30 years ago this hour (1983)

President Kennedy dictates thoughts regarding Vietnam coup 50 years ago today (1963)


Video: 'PRESIDENT KENNEDY DICTATES NOTES REGARDING VIETNAM (NOVEMBER 4, 1963)'

(Monday, November 4, 1963, evening; during the 1963 South Vietnamese coup, part of the Vietnam War, the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — U.S. President John F. Kennedy reflected upon the tumultuous events that had transpired in Saigon over the previous weekend, the overthrow and murder of South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem and his brother Ngo Ding Nhu.