Category Archives: Cold War

U.S. President John F. Kennedy delivers ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’ speech to 120,000 in West Berlin 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 26 1963)

1960s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'June 26, 1963 - John F. Kennedy in Berlin'

(Wednesday, June 26, 1963, 12:50 p.m. Central European Time; during the Cold War) — U.S. President John F. Kennedy delivered his famous Ich bin ein Berliner speech — one of the best-known speeches of the Cold War and among the most famous anti-communist speeches — before 120,000 people today in front of the Berlin Wall on the steps of Rathaus Schöneberg in West Berlin. Continue reading U.S. President John F. Kennedy delivers ‘Ich bin ein Berliner’ speech to 120,000 in West Berlin 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 26 1963) →

American spies Julius Rosenberg and his wife, Ethel, are executed at New York’s Sing Sing prison 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 19 1953)

1950s, Cold War


Video: 'Spy Saga of Julius & Ethel Rosenberg - Decades TV Network'

(Friday, June 19, 1953) — Americans Julius Rosenberg, 35, and his wife, Ethel, 37, convicted of spying for the Soviet Union, were executed tonight at Sing Sing Prison in Ossining, New York; Julius at 8:06 p.m. and Ethel at 8:16 p.m. EDT. Continue reading American spies Julius Rosenberg and his wife, Ethel, are executed at New York’s Sing Sing prison 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 19 1953) →

Soviets crush anti-government riots in East Berlin 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 17 1953)

1950s, Cold War


Video: 'Dramatic Scenes - Berlin Riots (1953)'

(Wednesday, June 17, 1953, during the East German uprising of 1953, part of the Cold War and the anti-communist insurgencies in Central and Eastern Europe) — Soviet tanks, troops, and armored cars moved into East Berlin, and martial law was declared today after 30,000 to 50,000 rioting workers had threatened to swamp the local police and seize the East German government. Continue reading Soviets crush anti-government riots in East Berlin 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 17 1953) →

Buddhist monk Thich Quang Duc burns himself to death at major intersection in Saigon to protest persecution of Buddhists by South Vietnamese government 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 11 1963)

1960s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History (Ep-3) America's Mandarin (1954-1963)' (Buddhist Crisis at 33:53)

(Tuesday, June 11, 1963, 9:22 a.m. Saigon Standard Time; during the Buddhist crisis, part of the Vietnam War, the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — South Vietnamese Buddhist monk  Thich Quang Duc, 65, committed suicide by self-immolation, burning himself to death today at a major intersection in Saigon to protest the oppression of Buddhists by the government of President Ngo Dinh Diem, who belonged to the Catholic minority and was supported by the United States. Continue reading Buddhist monk Thich Quang Duc burns himself to death at major intersection in Saigon to protest persecution of Buddhists by South Vietnamese government 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 11 1963) →

President John F. Kennedy suspends all U.S. atmospheric nuclear testing 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 10 1963)

1960s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'JFK'S "PEACE" SPEECH AT AMERICAN UNIVERSITY IN WASHINGTON, D.C. (JUNE 10, 1963) (VIDEO VERSION)'

(Monday, June 10, 1963, 10:31 a.m. EDT; during Kennedy’s American University speech, part of the Cold War) — U.S. President John F. Kennedy announced today that he was suspending all atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons and work towards a nuclear test-ban treaty with the Soviet Union and other atomic powers during his commencement address — titled “A Strategy of Peace” — at American University in Washington, D.C. Continue reading President John F. Kennedy suspends all U.S. atmospheric nuclear testing 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 10 1963) →

Britain’s Secretary of State for War John Profumo resigns after acknowledging affair with young woman who was also involved with Soviet spy 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 5 1963)

1960s, Cold War


Video: 'Christine Keeler - Profumo Scandal'

(Wednesday, June 5, 1963; during the Profumo affair and the Cold War) — British Secretary of State for War John Profumo resigned today after acknowledging an extramarital affair with now 21-year-old Christine Keeler (who was also involved with a Soviet spy), and lying to Parliament about it. Continue reading Britain’s Secretary of State for War John Profumo resigns after acknowledging affair with young woman who was also involved with Soviet spy 60 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 5 1963) →

Nuclear submarine Thresher sinks off Cape Cod, killing all 129 on board 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 10 1963)

1960s, Cold War


Video: 'USS Thresher (SSN-593) (documentary)'

(Wednesday, April 10, 1963, 9:18 a.m. EST) — The fast-attack nuclear submarine USS Thresher (SSN-593) sank today during deep-diving tests 220 miles east of Cape Cod, Massachusetts, killing the 112 U.S. Navy personnel and 17 civilians on board. Continue reading Nuclear submarine Thresher sinks off Cape Cod, killing all 129 on board 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 10 1963) →

Nixon and Thieu threaten ‘vigorous reactions’ against North Vietnamese cease-fire violations 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 3 1973)

1970s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History (Ep-12) The End of the Tunnel' (Apr. 2-3, 1973, at 7:41-8:52)

(Tuesday, April 3, 1973, 12:53 p.m. PST; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — U.S. President Richard Nixon and South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu threatened “vigorous reactions” against communist cease-fire violations today as Nixon promised substantial postwar economic aid for South Vietnam. Continue reading Nixon and Thieu threaten ‘vigorous reactions’ against North Vietnamese cease-fire violations 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 3 1973) →

President Richard Nixon announces all U.S. combat troops out of South Vietnam 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 29 1973)

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


Video: 'President Richard Nixon Address to the Nation On Vietnam and Domestic Problems, March 29, 1973'

(Thursday, March 29, 1973, 9:01 p.m. EST; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — “For the first time in 12 years, no American military forces are in Vietnam,” President Richard Nixon declared tonight during a national address on television and radio, ending the United States’ direct military involvement in a war that didn’t officially end until 1975. Continue reading President Richard Nixon announces all U.S. combat troops out of South Vietnam 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 29 1973) →

U.S. President Ronald Reagan calls for development of ‘Star Wars’ anti-nuclear missile defense system 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 23 1983)

1980s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'National Security: President Reagans Address on Defense and National Security 3/23/83'

(Wednesday, March 23, 1983, 8:02 p.m. EST; during the Cold War) — U.S. President Ronald Reagan tonight called for the development of an anti-missile defense system to protect the United States from potential nuclear attacks. Continue reading U.S. President Ronald Reagan calls for development of ‘Star Wars’ anti-nuclear missile defense system 40 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 23 1983) →