Category: Cold War

The 80th Anniversary of the Signing of the United Nations Charter (Properties in the National Register of Historic Places related to the UN)

by John LeGloahec, posted in Cold War, Presidents, State and Foreign Affairs

UNITED NATIONS - THE UNITED NATIONS FIGHTS FOR FREEDOM (National Archives Identifier 515902) On June 26, 1945, the Charter of the United Nations was signed in San Francisco, California. There are approximately 100 properties in the National Register files that contain the term “United Nations,” including the San Francisco Civic Center (National Archives Identifier 123858074), … Continue reading The 80th Anniversary of the Signing of the United Nations Charter (Properties in the National Register of Historic Places related to the UN)

Recognition for a job well done, 1952

by NationalArchivesBlog, posted in Cold War, State and Foreign Affairs

Employees in a bureaucracy do not always receive recognition for their contributions to the success of their institutions.  This is especially true in large agencies facing a constant barrage of activities such as the Department of State.  There are occasional exceptions to that rule.  One of those came about in early 1952 after the mid-January … Continue reading Recognition for a job well done, 1952

Recognition for a job well done, 1962

by NationalArchivesBlog, posted in Cold War, State and Foreign Affairs

During the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962, communications personnel in the Department of State and at U.S. diplomatic posts overseas handling telegraphic communications went into overdrive.  In addition to the standard day-to-day telegrams flowing back and forth between the Department and its diplomatic and consular posts overseas, the communicators had to take care of … Continue reading Recognition for a job well done, 1962

“Nuts” Redux

by NationalArchivesBlog, posted in Cold War, State and Foreign Affairs, World War II

By late December 1960 and early January 1961, the last 30 days of the Eisenhower presidency, the U.S. relationship with Fidel Castro-led Cuba had deteriorated to the point where formal relations were about to be severed.  On December 31, 1960, the U.S. embassy in Havana reported that the Cuban “revolutionary press” was carrying stories that … Continue reading “Nuts” Redux

headshot of Price looking back over his shoulder

Vincent Price and The “Secret Letter” to the FBI

by NationalArchivesBlog, posted in Cold War, FBI Records, Hollywood and Film

In honor of the spookiest time of year, this blog post spotlights the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) case files on the late American actor Vincent Leonard Price, Jr.  (100-HQ-410935, 100-LA-34677, and 100-WFO-38897).   Price is best known for being one of Hollywood’s original four Kings of Horror. From 1938 to 1993, he terrified audiences and … Continue reading Vincent Price and The “Secret Letter” to the FBI

Foreign Policy Fallout From CIA Funding Disclosures, 1967

by NationalArchivesBlog, posted in CIA & NSA, Cold War, State and Foreign Affairs

In mid-February 1967, the New York Times, the Washington Post, and the Chicago Tribune published articles revealing that the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) had been supporting various international youth groups and student organizations with financial assistance.  As a Cold War measure, the U.S. Government, through the CIA, had been funding those private organizations to help … Continue reading Foreign Policy Fallout From CIA Funding Disclosures, 1967

Let’s Talk About Détente, 1977

by NationalArchivesBlog, posted in Cold War, State and Foreign Affairs

In mid-July 1977, Nathaniel Davis, the U.S. ambassador to Switzerland, was contacted by representatives of the Central Studio of Documentary Films in Moscow about sitting for an interview about “détente.” Ambassador Davis reported the contact in a telegram to the Department of State, copied to the U.S. embassy in Moscow for information.  In discussing the … Continue reading Let’s Talk About Détente, 1977

b/w photo of submarine partially emerged from water

A Modern Submarine on Eternal Patrol – A Tribute to the USS Thresher (SSN 593)

by NationalArchivesBlog, posted in Cold War, Navy, Marines, & Coast Guard

This April 10th marks the 60th Anniversary of the loss of the USS Thresher (SSN 593). The Thresher was the first of two nuclear submarines lost during the Cold War,  the other being the USS Scorpion (SSN 589) in 1968. Bow View of the Nuclear-Powered Attack Submarine USS Thresher (SSN-593), July 24, 1961 (Local ID: … Continue reading A Modern Submarine on Eternal Patrol – A Tribute to the USS Thresher (SSN 593)

Toth in white shirt and black tie

Interrogated!  Robert Toth in Moscow, June 1977

by NationalArchivesBlog, posted in Cold War, Journalism, State and Foreign Affairs

Robert C. Toth during the "William Reilly at the LA Times Roundtable" discussion on C-SPAN, Oct 17, 1989 Noted journalist Robert C. Toth died on December 12, 2022.  He was 93 years old.  Toth was a reporter and foreign correspondent for the Los Angeles Times.  He covered many important stories and won many awards for … Continue reading Interrogated!  Robert Toth in Moscow, June 1977

Gorbachev standing in front of podium

Mikhail Gorbachev, 1931-2022

by NationalArchivesBlog, posted in Cold War, State and Foreign Affairs

To many, Mikhail Gorbachev seemed to come out of nowhere in 1985 to become the leader of the USSR.  In some ways, his example supports the “great person” view of history, which is deeply ironic since he came out of the Marxist-Leninist milieu with its emphasis on the impersonal forces of history.  Mikhail Gorbachev, 1987 … Continue reading Mikhail Gorbachev, 1931-2022