Roy Cohn

Roy Cohn was an American Lawyer, who is best known for having served in two landmark cases, the Army/McCarthy and Rosenberg cases. Cohn was also heavily involved in the string of prosecutions as a result of the Red Scare and the accusations of Senator Joseph McCarthy. It was Cohn’s direct examination of Ethel Rosenburg’s brother that lead to the conviction of Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, and their subsequent execution. He claims to have personally suggested the death sentence. During the string of prosecutions made in tandem with McCarthy, Cohn and McCarthy also attacked various political figures for alleged homosexuality in an attempt to destroy their credibility. In the years after the Red Scare, Cohn continued to defend and serve for high profile clients, keeping in the public eye. Donald Trump, Mafiosos Tony Salerno, Carmine Galente, and John Gotti, the Roman Catholic Archidose of New York, and the New York Yankees baseball club. Rumors had spread for some time that Cohn himself might have been homosexual, a claim which is given credence by his aggressive attempts to hide his diagnosis of AIDS in 1984. He died of complications related to AIDS in 1986, at the age of 51.

Juan Peron

Juan Peron was an Argentinean president and general, who made enormous, strides in the economic stability of his own country, working to modernize the country into the rest of the world. Peron and his wife were immensely popular figures during his reign, and are considered icons of his party to this day. Economic independence and social justice were his most central ideas in what he viewed as the reconstruction of his country. It is also notable that Peron allowed all manner of refugees into the country following the Second World War. This open arms policy leads to many Nazis escaping prosecution fleeing to the country. Peron attempted to remain Neutral in the Cold war, but ended up falling out of favor with the United States because of an agricultural deal with the USSR. Peron ruled initially for two terms from 1946 to 1955, and then after exile from a military coup, returned to power for a third term in 1973. This third term was cut short by a series of heart attacks, with a fatal attack coming after several days of intensive care.

Arturo Toscanini

Arturo Toscanini was an Italian conductor, and one of the most acclaimed musicians of the century. A photographic memory, drive for perfectionism, and a remarkable sense of hearing allowed him to be an especially talented conductor. His interpretation of many famous composers leads him to great fame, and his works became known as the definitive versions. His eventual position as the head of the NBC Symphony Orchestra leads him to become very famous through records and broadcasts. Toscanini’s international recognition came when he visited the United States, already a well known conductor in Italy, to tour with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra from 1926 to 1936. Audiences flocked to his performances, and critics wrote glowing reviews of his performances, leading to worldwide recognition as a conductor. After returning to Italy, and touring other locations such as the Middle East, Toscanini returned to the United States to play with the NBC Symphony Orchestra, which was created specifically for him. The radio and television broadcasts, as well as recordings of his performances, made him into a household name for the American people. After the disbanding of the Orchestra, Toscanini lived quietly with his family in the Bronx, dying of a heart attack in 1957.

Dacron

Dacron is a trademark name for Poleyester fiber, a synthetic fiber with many useful physical properties such as high tensile strength and resistance to stretching when wet or dry, and a good resistance to abrasion by chemicals. The material is used in dress fabrics, high power fire hoses, men’s shirts, various thread, and endless other uses. Its practicality as a material made it extremely popular, and is easy to mass produce.

Dien Bien Phu

The battle of Dien Bien Phu was an extremely significant battle in the world’s history because it could have possibly become a victory for communism before the U.S. became involved. The original battle was between the French, with strength of 10,800 soldiers, and the Chinese, with strength of 48,000 soldiers in combat, and 15,000 people under logistical support. France was led by commanders Christian de Castries, Pierre Langlais, and René Cogny. China was led by Commander Võ Nguyěn Giáp. The battle occurred between March and May of 1954 and “culminated in a comprehensive French defeat that effectively ended the war.” By the time this war ended, 2,293 French soldiers and 4,020 Chinese soldiers died. One would think that the war ended at this point and it was, however, that was until the United States of America got involved. Even though the French were forced to retreat, if the U.S. had allowed communism to win any form of victory, who knows what would have happened to the remaining developing nations. As yet another branch of the cold war, the battle of Dien Bien Phu became a war of three nations: China, France, and America; both France and America fighting against China.  “According to the Mutual Defense Assistance Act the United States provided the French with material aid during the battle…however, intentionally avoided public direct intervention.”  For a long duration of time, President Eisenhower was strictly against any further intervention, because operations appeared to be going smoothly and successfully. However, in reality this was not the case, and further intervention was crucial for victory. Soon after this was discovered, a proposal for direct intervention was unanimously voted on; they concluded that “intervention was a positive act of war.” This involvement is what allowed the war to come to a successful close with yet another American victory in respects to the Cold War. 

Rock Around the Clock

Bill Haley and His Comets recorded one of the first successful rock and roll anthems in the year 1954. “Rock Around the clock” was number one on the charts eight weeks in a row, with approximately 25 million copies of this hit single sold worldwide. During this time period there were four societal rules that were not to be broken. “Rock Around the Clock” shattered two of these rules to pieces; these rules were to conform to society as well as obey authority figures. According to archives in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, “Haley has been called ‘the Father of Rock and Roll’” and for good reason. He gave birth to one of the greatest music sensations of all time, becoming successful in everything but conformity. He made waves larger than a tsunami and he was proud of it. “Before [‘Rock Around the Clock’] became a hit in summer 1955…rock ‘n’ roll was virtually an underground movement, something kids listened to on the sly;” thus, the second cardinal rule of society was broken. Teenagers were listening to this music whether the authorities approved or not. “Put you glad rags on and join me, hon, we’ll have some fun when the clock strikes one.” Haley made it clear by this line, as well as the remainder of the song, that “the beat generation” had arrived and it was going to be celebrated all day and all night. In one fell swoop the work of Max C. Freedman and James E. Myers, recorded by Bill Haley and His comets, rejected conformity and set the stage for all musicians to come; he ignited a musical revolution.

Einstein

Albert Einstein is possibly one of the most incredible and renowned scientists the world has ever known. Born in 1879, Einstein lived a long and successful life of 76 years until he died of heart failure on April 16th of 1955. Though his death was mourned by millions because of the incredible amount of scientific discoveries he made in his lifetime, what he is remembered for, in respect to the Cold War, was a letter he wrote to Franklin Delano Roosevelt on august 2nd of 1939. He begins this letter by stating that “some recent work…leads [him] to believe that the element uranium may be turned into a new and important source of energy in the immediate future.” He continues to explain how a nuclear chain reaction can be set up in a large mass of uranium, in other words, his discoveries led to the construction of the most powerful and destructive bomb the world has ever known. Within this well written and thought-out letter, Einstein delves into any complications that may occur, and he also continues to explain certain methods to go about in constructing and setting off this bomb. Without Albert Einstein and his seemingly unlimited amount of knowledge, the Atomic Bomb would have never been constructed. This is the bomb that officially ended WWII; it was also the bomb that demonstrated the infinite amount of power that the United States maintained. This set the standard for every country around the world, and allowed America to become nothing short of a superpower. If Einstein had never made these discoveries, it is possible that the cold War would have never begun, or there is potential that we could have lost in WWII. In short, Albert Einstein, with the assistance of other scholars, prevented a seemingly detrimental situation through his discovery of Uranium. Out of all of his accomplishments, this could possibly be the most important in respects to the past, present, and future of America.