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Mar 11

McNamara Talks Cuban Invasion

Mar. 11, 1963 - Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, declaring the U.S. has not written off Cuba, indicated today this country might invade the island if provoked by overt Communist terror in Latin America. Although he refrained from pinpointing what action the U.S. might take, McNamara cited instances — such as the assassination of a Latin American official by Cuban agents — which this country “will not tolerate.” He also said the U.S. would consider it an “invasion” if the

Dec 25, 2022

Cuban Invasion Leader: “We Shall Return”

Dec. 25, 1962 - Manuel Artime (pictured in May 1961), one of the leaders of the abortive 1961 Cuban invasion, today called on all the governments of the Western Hemisphere to join military forces against the Castro regime. He said such unity could “topple the Cuban Communist rule within a week.” Mr. Artime, 30, emphasized, however, that the ransomed invasion prisoners themselves are determined to return in a new attack to overthrow Castro. “We have given our word to our dead,

Dec 24, 2022

Final Bay of Pigs Prisoners Reach Florida

Dec. 24, 1962 - The last of the 1,113 Bay of Pigs invasion prisoners came back tonight in time to spend Christmas with their relatives. The last of 10 flights by Pan American World Airways planes carried James B. Donovan, who negotiated the liberation, along with the highest-priced ransom prisoners. Also on the last plane were the wounded men and stretcher cases. They got a heroes’ welcome. The prisoners were taken by bus to Miami, where they were reunited with their families

Dec 17, 2022

U.S. Communist Party Found Guilty on Federal Charge

Dec. 17, 1962 - The Communist Party of the United States was found guilty today of refusing to register as an agent of the Soviet Union and was fined $120,000 — the maximum possible penalty. Attorneys for the party immediately announced they would appeal the decision. The party’s conviction by a federal district court jury was the first to be obtained under the 1950 Subversive Activities Control Act (the McCarran Act). It came after 12 years of legal maneuvering that saw part

Dec 12, 2022

JFK Hits Boycotts of Merchants Selling Red Imports

Dec. 12, 1962 - President Kennedy today criticized boycotts against American merchants selling Iron Curtain imports as ineffective as an attack on communism. He suggested the John Birch Society and similar groups backing the nationwide drive devote their energies to supporting positive programs against communism. “If they really want to do something about the spread of communism,” the President said at his news conference, “they will assist the Alliance for Progress, for one

Nov 27, 2022

Movies: “Red Nightmare”

Nov. 27, 1962 - “Red Nightmare” is a short film narrated by Jack Webb (pictured). Mr. Webb introduces us to Jerry Donovan – an average guy who shrugs off his inconvenient civic responsibilities. However, in a Twilight Zone-like twist, Jerry “wakes up” one morning to find that his hometown is controlled by authoritarian Communists. Watch: https://bit.ly/3Kryaas #hollywood #1960s #OTD #movies #communism

Nov 7, 2022

Khrushchev: Soviet Rockets Are Out of Cuba

Nov. 7, 1962 - Premier Khrushchev (pictured today with Marshal Rodion Malinovsky) declared today that the Soviet Union had taken its rockets out of Cuba. In an impromptu toast at a Kremlin reception celebrating the 45th anniversary of the Bolshevik Revolution, Mr. Khrushchev said, “We have taken our rockets out, and they probably are on the way.” The remarks of the Premier seemed to indicate that the missile bases had been dismantled and the equipment was being loaded aboard

Nov 4, 2022

Anniversary of Hungarian Revolution Honored

Nov. 4, 1962 - A special prayer on the anniversary of the Soviet crushing of the 1956 Hungarian Revolution (pictured) was offered today in St. Patrick’s Cathedral by Msgr. Bela Varga, president of the Hungarian National Council. His prayer ended with these words: “O Lord, graciously regard the sacrifice of the Hungarian martyrs who died defending the freedom Thou hast given Thy children, and grant that Thy Hungarian children may serve Thee in a free country where Thy justice

Sep 13, 2022

Nixon Details “Anti-Subversive Program” in California

Sept. 13, 1962 - Richard M. Nixon called today for a “three-pronged anti-subversive program that would make California a shining example to the nation.” The Republican Gubernatorial candidate said the program should include state legislative investigations, “loyalty and security programs” for public employees down to the local level, and mandatory high school courses in “Communist tactics and the alternatives to freedom.” On the need for such a campaign, he cited two items —

Sep 12, 2022

Nixon Hits Communist Threat in California

Sept. 12, 1962 - Richard M. Nixon opened his big drive for the California governorship today by stressing communism, a subject that figured in his past campaigns. The former Vice President said his opponent, Gov. Edmund G. Brown, “is not capable of dealing with the Communist threat within our borders.” The Democratic Governor’s record, he continued, “shows not a single item of anti-subversive legislation in four years.” Mr. Nixon said his program “will make California a model

Sep 6, 2022

Moscow Looks at New York City

Sept. 6, 1962 - Moscow television tonight took the unusual step of presenting a documentary film that showed New York City and its tall buildings. Its title: “City Without a Soul.” Normally, Soviet cameramen go to great lengths to avoid photographing buildings in the West. For example, documentaries about Premier Khrushchev’s trips to the U.S. concentrated on smaller buildings in slum districts. But tonight, the majestic buildings of Rockefeller Center and the financial distr

Sep 2, 2022

Soviets Confirm Military Support for Cuba

Sept. 2, 1962 - The Soviet Union announced today that it had agreed to supply arms to Cuba and to provide technical specialists to train Cuban forces. Moscow said the agreement was made in response to Havana’s request for aid to meet the “threats of aggressive imperialist quarters.” This policy will be continued as long as the threat stands, the announcement said. The Soviet statement was contained in a communiqué issued in Moscow concerning the talks between Maj. Ernesto “Ch

Jul 26, 2022

Castro Says U.S. Preparing to Attack Cuba

July 26, 1962 - Premier Fidel Castro said at a rally in Santiago today that the U.S. is preparing direct armed aggression against Cuba. He charged the U.S. Navy was holding the Guantanamo naval base “against Cuba’s will” and that it had become “a lodging for drunken inhabitants and counterrevolutionaries.” The Premier spoke at a ceremony commemorating the 9th anniversary of the 26th of July Movement. The name of the movement refers to the date in 1953 when a group of rebels,

Jul 8, 2022

(VIDEO) Secretary of State Dean Rusk on Coexistence with the Communist Bloc

July 8, 1962 - Secretary of State Dean Rusk discusses conditions for coexistence with the Soviet Union. #coldwar #communism #sovietunion #russia #1960s

Jul 3, 2022

JFK Remarks to Special Seminar of Foreign Service Institute

July 3, 1962 - Here are President Kennedy’s remarks at the White House today to members of a special anti-insurgency seminar run by the Foreign Service Institute. #jfk #vietnam #communism #coldwar

Jun 29, 2022

Madison Square Garden Hosts Anti-Communist Crusade

June 29, 1962 - Eight thousand supporters of the Christian Anti-Communism Crusade rallied in Madison Square Garden last night as two hundred pickets marched outside in protest. Dr. Fred C. Schwarz, the Australian physician and Baptist lay preacher whose Crusade has won at least 100,000 followers in the U.S. since 1953, told the crowd that the Communists would take over this country from inside in less than 20 years unless their timetable was upset. Dr. Schwarz said that if th

Jun 20, 2022

Walter Winchell Claims Anti-Communist, Anti-Kennedy Columns Censored

June 20, 1962 - Walter Winchell (pictured in 1960) said today that he would resign from the Hearst organization “if I could find some responsible official to accept my resignation.” The columnist had said in Los Angeles Tuesday night that he wanted to leave because King Features, a Hearst syndicate that distributes his New York Daily Mirror column, was deleting his criticisms of the Kennedy Administration. He said today that much of his anti-Communist material was being delet

Jun 14, 2022

(VIDEO) JFK on Red China

June 14, 1962 - President Kennedy responds to a Peace Corpsman's question as to why the U.S. does not send food to Red China. That nation is currently suffering one of the deadliest famines in history. #coldwar #communism #china #jfk

Apr 30, 2022

Under Secretary of State George Ball Speaks Out on Vietnam

Apr. 30, 1962 - George W. Ball (pictured), Under Secretary of State, warned today that the war against the Communist Viet Cong in South Vietnam would be a “long, slow, arduous” struggle of a type that is not “congenial to the American temperament.” But he said it could “definitely” be won with the help the U.S. was providing to the South Vietnamese Government. Discussing the nature of the American assistance, he insisted that no U.S. combat units were in Vietnam, that “we are

Apr 28, 2022

U.S. Special Forces Training Rhade Tribesmen to Fight in Vietnam

Apr. 28, 1962 - The U.S. Special Forces are arming, training, and organizing the Rhade tribesmen of South Vietnam into a surprisingly effective anti-guerrilla army. About 2,000 tribesmen have been trained to defend their villages against the Viet Cong. There had been misgivings about arming the Rhade tribesmen, based on doubt as to which side they would help, but the Army’s gamble is paying off. The Rhade tribesmen appear to be moving enthusiastically into the anti-Communist