Category Archives: Cold War

Kissinger and Le Duc Tho sign pact ‘consolidating’ Vietnam peace 40 years ago today (1973)

1970s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 11' (June 13, 1973, at 12:19)

(Wednesday, June 13, 1973; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — U.S. National Security Advisor Henry A. Kissinger signed an “amplification and consolidation” of the Vietnam peace agreement today in Paris and said it meets all major points of concern over peace violations.

The new accord, termed “satisfactory” by Kissinger, was also signed by Hanoi Politboro member Le Duc Tho and representiatives of the Saigon government and the Viet Cong’s Provisional Revolutionary Government.

Nixon hosts Vietnam POWs at White House 40 years ago this hour (1973)

1970s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'President Nixon Addresses Vietnam POWs at the White House'

(Thursday, May 24, 1973, 6:30 p.m.-2:00 a.m. EDT; during the Vietnam War) — President Richard Nixon honored some 600 former American prisoners of the Vietnam war and their guests tonight at a gala homecoming party held in a giant tent on the South Lawn of the White House. Continue reading Nixon hosts Vietnam POWs at White House 40 years ago this hour (1973) →

‘Time to quit making heroes’ out of secrets thieves, Nixon says 40 years ago today (1973)

1970s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents, Vietnam War, Watergate


Video: 'Vietnam a Television History Episode 11' (May 24, 1973, at 10:23)

(Thursday, May 24, 1973; during the Watergate Scandal and the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Defending the government’s right to keep secrets in the national interest, U.S. President Richard Nixon told nearly 600 returned Vietnam prisoners of war today that it is time “to quit making national heroes out of those who steal secrets and publish them in the newspapers.” Continue reading ‘Time to quit making heroes’ out of secrets thieves, Nixon says 40 years ago today (1973) →

U.S. bombs Toksan Dam in North Korea 60 years ago today (1953)

1950s, Cold War, Korean War


Video: 'Korean War - PART 28, End of the War, 6.25' (May 13, 1953, at 5:09)

(Wednesday, May 13, 1953; during the Korean War, part of the Cold War) — Thunderjets from the U.S. Air Force’s 58 Fighter-Bomber Wing struck the Toksan Dam, near Pyongyang today causing a massive flood. Floodwaters from the breached dam destroyed ten bridges, ruined several square miles of rice crops, flooded over 1,000 buildings and rendered the Sunan Airfield inoperable.

10-year-old American girl receives reply from Soviet leader Andropov about her concerns of nuclear war 30 years ago today (1983)

1980s, Cold War


Video: 'Samantha Smith, is interviewed on Nightline by Ted Koppel on'

(Monday, April 25, 1983; during the Cold War) — 10-year-old Samantha Smith of Manchester, Maine, received a reply today from Soviet leader Yuri V. Andropov to a letter she’d written expressing concern about possible nuclear war. Andropov reassured Samantha that the Soviet Union did not want war, and he invited her to visit his country, a trip Samantha made the following July.

Prisoner exchange started in Korea, 30 Americans freed 60 years ago today (1953)

1950s, Cold War, Korean War


Video: 'Korean War - PART 28, End of the War, 6.25' (exchange begins at 0:53)

(Monday, April 20, 1953; during the Korean War, part of the Cold War) — 100 United Nations soldiers, including 30 Americans, were freed from communist captivity today as the opponents in the Korean War began the exchange of sick and wounded prisoners under a recently negotiated agreement.

Kennedy says 9,000 Russian personnel have left Cuba 50 years ago this hour (1963)

1960s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'President John F. Kennedy's 53rd Press Conference (April 3, 1963)'

(Wednesday, April 3, 1963, 4:00 p.m. EST; during the Cold War) — U.S. President John F. Kennedy says 9,000 Soviet troops and technical experts have left Cuba since November, about 4,000 of them within the past six weeks.

Expressing hope of further withdrawals, Kennedy told his news conference today that a rough calculation indicates about 12,000 to 13,000 Soviet citizens remain in Cuba. Continue reading Kennedy says 9,000 Russian personnel have left Cuba 50 years ago this hour (1963) →

Chinese, North Koreans accept POW trade offer, propose peace talks be resumed 60 years ago today (1953)

1950s, Cold War, Korean War


Video: 'Korean War - PART 28, End of the War, 6.25' (at 0:42-0:53)

(Saturday, March 28, 1953; during the Korean War, part of the Cold War) — The Chinese and North Korean Communist commanders accepted today a long-standing United Nations proposal for an immediate exchange of sick and wounded prisoners of war by both sides in Korea, and at the same time proposed immediate resumption of suspended armistice talks.

JFK tells Costa Rican students Cuba example of failure of communism 50 years ago today (1963)

1960s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Kennedy Visits Costa Rica - clip 18656'

(Wednesday, March 20, 1963; during the Cold War) — U.S. President John F. Kennedy, winding up his three-day solidarity meeting presidents of six Central American republics, told an enthusiastic crowd of 10,000 at the University of Costa Rica in San Jose, Costa Rica, today that Cuba is an example of communism’s failure to provide for its people.