The Cold War Never Thawed

Primary Sources

 

Baron Public Affairs, The Vote That Changed the World

This source examines a vote that altered the course of policy in the United States. It talks about the background on this legislative process and the key people who were involved, along with the long term impact of this decision.

 

Boston Rare Maps, Barry Goldwater: Anti-Communism and 1964 Election

This source exemplifies Senator Goldwater’s persisting anti communist stance during the 1964 presidential election. It talks about the campaign materials he used and provided visuals on the maps he drew. I found the map about which places in the world have turned communist particularly interesting because I never knew how many places were affected. I think because I’ve been studying history from an American perspective, it’s hard to realize how persistent communism always was.

 

Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, McCarthyism and the Red Scare

This collection of documents from the Eisenhower Presidential Library emphasizes the impact of McCarthyism on American society and the government. It includes materials related to anti communist investigations, specifically Eisenhower’s efforts to minimize McCarthy’s influence.

 

Harry S. Truman Library, Truman’s Loyalty Program

This source examines President Harry Truman’s Loyalty Program which was established in 1947 in order to flesh out communist influences in the US government. It touches on the motivations behind the program, how it's implemented, and its consequences, including the rise of McCarthyism and increased fear of diverging from the crowd/popular opinion. This document is significant in understanding the domestic impact of Cold War anti communist policies

 

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, JFK and the Civil Rights Movement

This article talks about President Kennedy’s evolving stance on civil rights and his eventual support of desegregation. It discusses the role of his administration in bolstering racial equality within the Nation. It includes key events such as Freedom Rides and JFK’s 1963 Civil Rights Address. This helped in understanding that not all presidents were necessarily opposed to the thought of integrating black people into society.

 

 

 

John F. Kennedy Presidential Library, The Cold War

This article provides President Kennedy’s approach to Cold War policies, including how he decided to address the Cuban Missile Crisis and the Space Race. It highlighted his emphasis on military readiness. It highlights JFK’s huge role in shaping US foreign policy amidst rising tensions with the Soviet Union.

 

National Archives, JFK Select Committee Report Findings

This report talks about the key findings of the US House Select Committee on Assassinations regarding the Assassination of President JFK. It presents evidence that Kennedy’s murder is a result of a possible conspiracy. This document connects back to my point about why many would’ve disliked JFK because of how he was soft on geopolitical rivals and how that may have led to his death.

 

National Archives, Truman Statement on Korea

This document shows Truman’s public statement on the Korean conflict and justifies US military intervention in response  to North Korea’s invasion of South Korea in 1950. Truman presents the conflict as a crucial battle in the fight against communism, matching with the broader containment policy. This helped me understand US foreign policy decisions and the reasoning behind American involvement in the Cold War.

 

Prime Minister of Australia, Joint Leaders’ Statement: AUKUS Agreement

This is an official statement from the leaders of Australia, the UK, and the US which talk about their commitment to the AUKUS partnership. It highlights their shared goals of strengthening the defense cooperation and countering regional threats. This source is valuable in understanding how modern alliances can extend beyond the area of immediate conflict.

 

Teaching American History, Barry Goldwater's Acceptance Speech

This historical speech is a firsthand account of a political leader’s acceptance of their election. This outlines Goldwater’s intention for the country including his political priorities and ideologies, which most accurately reflected the political climate at that time. This source helped me get a vision of what America looked like at the time of the Cold War and how that may differ from how it looks right now.

 

The Bill of Rights Institute, Richard Nixon Opens Diplomatic Relations with China

This article talks about President Nixon’s 1972 trip to China in which he formed diplomatic relationships with Chairman Mao and Premier Zhou Enlai. It represents a shift in foreign policy because becoming an ally of China was much different from the previous approaches that Presidents took in regards to Cold War alliances.

 

U.S. Congress, Senate Hearing: China and Russia

This document is the official transcript of a congressional hearing which details the legislative discussions on issues such as national security and economic policy during the Cold War period. It’s a meaningful primary source to see how the federal government handles important issues in times of conflict.

 

U.S. Department of Justice, Title IX of Education Amendments of 1972

This document explains Title IX which was a US law that prohibited sex based discrimination in education. This allowed for more and more women to seek higher education.

 

U.S. House of Representatives, Final Minority Status Report on the Russia Investigation

This report represents the minority perspective on the House Intelligence Committee’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election. It critiques how the majority dealt with the inquiry and argued that many critical points were ignored. This document provides key analysis on Russia’s influence operations. This source is valuable for understanding why many criticized Donald Trump for downplaying issues regarding Russia.

 

U.S. Selective Service System, Vietnam War Draft Lottery History

This source gives historical records on the Vietnam War draft lotteries which gives a very visceral and real description about how young men were torn apart from their worlds to be drafted into a seemingly endless war. This really allowed me to sympathize with the protesters against this draft during the time period.

 

Secondary Sources

 

Alpha History, Quotations: Opposition to the Vietnam War

This is a collection of quotes on people who opposed the Vietnam War. It includes many significant figures such as MLK and Muhammad Ali. This really helped me understand just how many people across various demographics were opposed to the war and showed that even during warring times, a nation can still be united (even if they’re united against something).

 

CNN, Trump Soft on Russia?

This news report dives into how President Trump approached US China relations, highlighting popular concerns that he adopted a lenient stance on foreign policy in regard to Russia’s actions. It talks about specific moments in which his handling of situations with Vladmir Putin has upset the American public. This source talks about how the US’s relations with the USSR/Russia has persisted into American politics today.

Cambridge University, Harnessing Backlash: How Leaders Can Benefit from Antagonizing Foreign Actors

This article explores the use of international conflicts to bolster domestic support. It states that leaders can strengthen their standing by provoking opponents on purpose, triggering nationalism within their own country. This is another source that helps me understand the usage of manipulation in the Cold War.

 

Columbia University, 1968 Columbia University Protests Archive: Student Protest and University Sanctions

This is an archive of documents about student protests at Columbia University which detailed demonstrations against the war and how the school reacted to them. It documented key moments in student activism including topics such as civil rights and feminism. This source helped me understand how the youth played a huge role in increasing liberalism in the US.

 

Council on Foreign Relations, China’s Massive Belt and Road Initiative

This report examines China’s Belt and Road initiative which was a global infrastructure project created in hope that it will expand China’s economic and political influence in the East. It discusses the economic benefits that it gave to China, but also the concerns of opposition from Western countries such as the US.

 

Danish Institute for International Studies, Energy as a Weapon: Decoding Blackmail Tactics in Europe

This research paper talks about how energy resources have been used as a political tool in Europe for a long time, especially by Russia. It digs into the cases where energy supplies were manipulated by countries like the United States to have power over Russia along with how Russia tried to counter these attacks. This source helped me understand the strategies countries used to indirectly fight each other during the Cold War and beyond.

 

Goodreads, The Feminine Mystique: Quotes on Women's Role in Society

This is a collection of quotes from Betty Friedan’s The Feminine Mystique which was a very influential novel written at the time of second wave feminism. All of these quotes intrigued me, but I picked the one that talks about women having more opportunities to have a choice in decision making to incorporate into my text because I thought that was the biggest change that the second wave feminism movement made.

 

MarketWatch, Larry Summers Warns Trump Will Start an Uncontrolled Cold War with China

This article covers economist Larry Summers’ warning about escalating US and China tensions under the Trump administration. Summers states that a rivalry between the two nations could lead to history repeating again and revert us back to the situation we were in during the Cold War. This source helped me understand the different patterns that seem to repeat throughout our history, and why it’s best to avoid them.

 

Military.com, U.S.-Japan-South Korea Drills

This article talks about the joint military exercises which were conducted by the US, Japan, and South Korea especially in maritime technology. This was in response to the growing presence of the Chinese navy in the South China Sea. It highlights the importance of strengthening alliances in the Indo Pacific that Joe Biden talked about.

 

Miller Center, Nixon and China: Cold War Strategy

This source is an in depth look at Nixon’s diplomatic efforts to engage with China in the Cold War period. It provides details on the motivations behind Nixon’s trip and the role of Henry Kissinger in secret negotiations with China. This article is valuable in understanding that not all presidents sought hostile relationships with opponents in the Cold War period.

 

Miller Center, Truman: Domestic Affairs

This article explores President Harry Trumna’s domestic policies including his Fair Deal initiatives. It emphasizes his civil rights efforts and his response to the economic challenges post WW2. It examines his attempts to expand social welfare programs and labor rights to minimize unemployment within the country. This helped me understand the beginning of liberalism in the nation.

 

NPR, Republicans Blast Democrats as Socialists: The Evolution of Socialist Rhetoric in U.S. Politics

This article talks about the political debate about socialism in the modern United States, especially how republicans like to use that term to criticize Democratic policies. It provided me insight on how the accusations of people being “communists” or now, “socialists”, has persisted throughout history.

 

PBS, Jazz Ambassadors: America Combats Soviet Propaganda

This documentary talks about how the US used jazz diplomacy during the Cold War to refute Soviet claims that criticizes American racism. It talks about how African American jazz performers were sent abroad to “prove” that America didn’t practice racism. I think this is a very interesting point because not only is it not very commonly known, but it highlights the hypocrisy of the US in a war where they’re usually considered the ones who were “in the right”.

 

RAND Corporation, Cold War Strategy Papers

The RAND research paper analyzes how military strength was used as a tool during the Cold War. It talks about how politically, military strength could be used to deter strategies and form military alliances. This paper also talks about nuclear weapons in shaping power dynamics throughout the world. This source is useful for understanding the different strategic decision making opportunities during the Cold War era.

 

The American Presidency Project, Written Responses to Questions Submitted by Southeast Asian News Organizations

This document contains responses from a US president to questions asked by various Southeast Asian journalists. The responses address many issues regarding US foreign policy. This source provides insight on how America intended on engaging with parts of Asia in the face of China’s communism.

 

The Christian Science Monitor, U.S. Foreign Policy Under Reagan

This article discusses key political and economic challenges which were faced by the United States in 1984. It sets the stage for many areas of progression and improvement which is why liberalism was such a big thing during this time period. This source is contemporary evidence on how the Cold War affected domestic policies.

 

The Forum on the Arms Trade, U.S.-Taiwan Arms Sales

This article talks about US arms sales and military support for Taiwan in midst of tensions with China. It discusses how important Taiwan is and the impact of arms deals on the US relationship with China. This source helped me understand military alliances in the modern day and how they reflect on alliances during the Cold War period.

 

The Stanford King Institute, FBI and COINTELPRO

This article talks about the FBI’s role in monitoring and sometimes shutting down the Civil Rights Movement. It talks about COINTELPRO’s efforts to disrupt civil rights leaders including Martin Luther King Jr. and even going as far as accusing members of the movement as being communist. This really helped me open my eyes about how ridiculous these accusations sounded because in modern times we understand that the Civil Rights Movement has nothing to do with being a communist.

 

U.S. Department of Defense, Ukraine Security Assistance Fact Sheet

The fact sheet can help me see what the US provided to Ukraine as of late 2024 in aspects of military and financial aid. It includes specificities about measures taken to support Ukraine’s sovereignty from Russia. Again, it is a meaningful source about how countries can fight each other without the use of aggression.

 

 

U.S. Department of State, Ukraine and Russia Sanctions

This document discusses the US sanctions acts on Russia in response to its actions in ukraine. It goes into detail about the various financial restrictions and trade limitations the US put on Russia. This source is useful for seeing how countries can fight each other without using violence. It also is very interesting how closely it mirrored the things the US did during the Cold War.

 

U.S. History, American History: Foreign Policy and the Cold War

This article provides an overview on major key events during the Cold War, focusing specifically on rising tension between the USSR and the United States. It discusses how the ideological battle between communism and democracy leads to conflicts. This article also touches on the arms race and significant proxy wars such as the Korean War which all played a role in the tensions created by the Cold War. This source helped me understand the broader implications of this geopolitical struggle.

 

U.S. Marine Corps University Press, Political Warfare and Propaganda

This article discusses the role of political warfare and how propaganda manipulates public perception of international conflicts. It gives examples from the Cold War and how it connects to modern applications in statecraft which includes disinformation campaigns in the like. This source helps me understand how politics and media work together to create a certain image to the public.

 

U.S. Marine Corps University Press, The Cuban Missile Crisis at 60

This article talks about the Cuban Missile Crisis 60 years later by analyzing its military and political aspects. It explores US military readiness and President Kennedy’s approach at resolving the crisis mostly through diplomacy instead of military deterrence. This source is increasingly important for understanding how politicians dealt with a significant part of the Cold War.

 

U.S. Senate, Have You No Sense of Decency? McCarthy Hearings

This source recounts the moment during the 1954 Army McCarthy hearing when attorney Joseph Welch confronted Senator Joseph McCarthy with the famous quote, “Have you no sense of decency?” This conversation marked the beginning of McCarthy’s downfall and the diminishing of the Red Scare. This document is important to the understanding of the American public’s reaction to McCarthyism.

 

U.S. State Department, Milestones: Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan

This article highlights the Soviet Union’s invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 including the motivations behind it, and the US response. It covers the geopolitical significance of the invasion and the role of the US in supporting the mujahideen. It also discusses the long lasting consequences for both the USSR and Afghanistan because of this.

 

United Nations, UN Yearbook 1955

This chapter from the 1955 UN Yearbook gives an official record of Cold War tensions. It discusses international diplomacy and global security at the United Nations. It recounts key debates about decolonization and rivalries between the United States and Soviet Union. This document presents how international organizations such as the UN managed Cold War conflicts.

 

Valdai Club, John Mearsheimer: We Are Moving to a Multipolar World with Three Great Powers

In this video, John Measheimer discusses the shift from a unipolar to a multipolar world where the United States, China, and Russia emerge as the dominant powers. He analyzes how global power dynamics are changing and emphasizes the increasing competition between these nations. This source was very insightful to me for understanding how modern international relations work and gave me a realist perspective on global politics.

 

YouTube, “Kennedy’s Cold War Foreign Policy”

This video is a short clip of Donald Trump responding to the poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter. While Trump claimed that the US would take strong counter measures, he doesn’t ever follow up with this issue. This video highlights the stark contrast between Trump’s promises and his administration’s lack of response.

 

YouTube, “Trump and Russia: A Timeline of Interactions”

In this news report, Rachel maddow discussed the UK’s response to the poisoning of their former Russian spy. She also highlights the silence of President Trump despite such a big incident, contrasting it with other Western leaders who have already begun to take action. This source is important in understanding how the US may be considered “weak” for directly responding to its political opponents.

 

YouTube, “U.S. Policy Toward Russia and China”

In this news clip, critics express discontent with former President Biden’s approach to China because many found it too lenient. Many argue that his policies may only increase China’s assertive actions on a global stage which will compromise the success of US strategic interests.