Category Archives: Cold War

President Harry Truman announces the United States had developed a hydrogen bomb 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 7 1953)

1950s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Today in History: Truman Announce H-Bomb'

(Wednesday, January 7, 1953, 9:00 a.m. EST; during the Cold War) — U.S. President Harry S. Truman announced today in his State of the Union message to Congress that the United States had developed a hydrogen bomb and warned Joseph Stalin that a war provoked by Russia now would mean the ruin of the Soviet regime and homeland. Continue reading President Harry Truman announces the United States had developed a hydrogen bomb 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jan 7 1953) →

President Richard Nixon ends U.S. ‘Christmas Bombings’ of North Vietnam after Hanoi agrees to negotiate 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 30 1972)

1970s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Wings over Vietnam - Part VIII of VIII - Linebacker II'

(Saturday, December 30, 1972, 9:45 a.m. EST; during Operation Linebacker II, part of the Vietnam War — part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — The White House announced today that President Richard Nixon had ordered a halt to “The Christmas Bombing” of North Vietnam above the 20th Parallel after the North Vietnamese agreed to resume negotiations for a settlement in Paris on Jan. 8, 1973. Continue reading President Richard Nixon ends U.S. ‘Christmas Bombings’ of North Vietnam after Hanoi agrees to negotiate 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 30 1972) →

Massive U.S. ‘Christmas Bombings’ of North Vietnam begin 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 18 1972)

1970s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Wings over Vietnam - Part VIII of VIII - Linebacker II'

(Monday, December 18, 1972, 7:45 p.m. Indochina Time; during Operation Linebacker II, part of the Vietnam War — part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Operation Linebacker II, described more generally as The Christmas Bombings — an aerial bombing campaign conducted by U.S. forces against targets in the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North Vietnam) during the final period of U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War — began this evening as the first wave of 129 B-52 bombers attacked the Yen Vien railroad yards. Continue reading Massive U.S. ‘Christmas Bombings’ of North Vietnam begin 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 18 1972) →

President-elect Dwight D. Eisenhower arrives in Seoul, seeking an end to Korean War 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 2 1952)

1950s, Cold War, Korean War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Eisenhower Visits Korea (1952)'

(Tuesday, December 2, 1952, 7:57 p.m. Korean Standard Time; during the Korean War, part of the Cold War and the Korean conflict) — Making good on his most dramatic promise of the 1952 presidential campaign, U.S. President-elect Dwight D. Eisenhower arrived in Korea tonight for a firsthand view of the bitter and frustrating Korean War, which Eisenhower vowed to end. Continue reading President-elect Dwight D. Eisenhower arrives in Seoul, seeking an end to Korean War 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Dec 2 1952) →

U.S. President John F. Kennedy lifts blockade of Cuba after Soviets pledge to take out bombers in thirty days 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 20 1962)

1960s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'President John F. Kennedy's 45th News Conference - November 20, 1962'

(Tuesday, November 20, 1962, 6:00 EST; during the Cuban missile crisis, part of the Cold War) — U.S. President John F. Kennedy announced tonight that he had instructed the Defense Department to lift the naval quarantine around the island of Cuba because he had been informed during the day by Premier Nikita Khrushchev that all Soviet Il-28 bombers in Cuba would be withdrawn within 30 days. Continue reading U.S. President John F. Kennedy lifts blockade of Cuba after Soviets pledge to take out bombers in thirty days 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 20 1962) →

Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, 75, dies in Moscow after 18 years in power 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 10 1982)

1980s, Cold War


Video: 'Leonid Breshniv: News Report of His Death - November 10, 1982' (broadcast Nov. 11, 1982)

(Wednesday, November 10, 1982, 8:30 a.m. Moscow Standard Time; during the Cold War) — Leonid Brezhnev, who served as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union since 1964, died today after suffering a heart attack. He was 75. Continue reading Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev, 75, dies in Moscow after 18 years in power 40 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 10 1982) →

U.S. President John F. Kennedy announces that Soviet missile bases in Cuba were being dismantled 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 2 1962)

1960s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'November 2, 1962 - President Kennedy's Remarks on the Dismantling of Soviet Missile Bases in Cuba'

(Friday, November 2, 1962, 5:30 p.m. EST; after the Cuban missile crisis, part of the Cold War) — U.S. President John F. Kennedy reported to the nation tonight that Soviet missile bases in Cuba were being dismantled and “progress is now being made toward the restoration of peace in the Caribbean.” Continue reading U.S. President John F. Kennedy announces that Soviet missile bases in Cuba were being dismantled 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 2 1962) →

United States explodes first hydrogen bomb at Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 1 1952)

1950s, Cold War


Video: 'Operation IVY MIKE 1952'

(Saturday, November 1, 1952, 7:15 a.m. local time/Friday, October 31, 1952, at 7:15 p.m. Greenwich Mean Time; during the Cold War) — The United States exploded the world’s first hydrogen bomb, code-named “Ivy Mike,” the first full-scale test of a thermonuclear device, today on the island of Elugelab in Enewetak Atoll in the now independent island nation of the Marshall Islands in the South Pacific. Continue reading United States explodes first hydrogen bomb at Enewetak Atoll in the Marshall Islands 70 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Nov 1 1952) →

Soviets agree to remove nuclear missiles in Cuba after America pledges not to invade Caribbean island, effectively ending Cuban Missile Crisis 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 28 1962)

1960s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'To Save the World Takes Only One Good Man | The Cuban Missile Crisis | Day 13'

(Sunday, October 28, 1962, 9:00 a.m. EST/5:00 p.m. Moscow Standard Time; the thirteenth and final day of the Cuban missile crisis, part of the Cold War) — Radio Moscow announced today that the Soviet Union had accepted a proposed solution to end the Cuban Missile Crisis, releasing the text of a letter from Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev affirming that the missiles will be removed in exchange for a non-invasion pledge from the United States. Continue reading Soviets agree to remove nuclear missiles in Cuba after America pledges not to invade Caribbean island, effectively ending Cuban Missile Crisis 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 28 1962) →

American U-2 pilot shot down over Cuba by Soviet surface-to-air missile in only combatant fatality of Cuban Missile Crisis 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 27 1962)

1960s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents


Video: 'Black Saturday, Nuclear War on Autopilot | The Cuban Missile Crisis | Day 12'

(Saturday, October 27, 1962, around noon EDT, day twelve of the Cuban missile crisis, part of the Cold War) — U.S. Air Force Maj. Rudolf Anderson Jr. became the first and only combatant fatality of the Cuban Missile Crisis today when his U-2F Dragon Lady (the third CIA U-2A, modified for air-to-air refueling) reconnaissance aircraft was shot down by one of two Soviet-supplied S-75 Dvina (NATO designation SA-2 Guideline) surface-to-air missiles that were fired at his aircraft high over Banes, Cuba. Continue reading American U-2 pilot shot down over Cuba by Soviet surface-to-air missile in only combatant fatality of Cuban Missile Crisis 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Oct 27 1962) →