Stalin

This political figure, born Joseph Dzhugashvili, adopted the name Stalin, meaning "Man of Steel," when he was 34 years old. He joined the Social Democratic party, and once the RSDLP split in 1903, Stalin became a member of the Bolshevik party. After several years of of run-ins with government authorities and involvement with Pravda and the October Revolution, he was elected to the post of commissar for nationalities. Following the subsequent civil war, he gained the majority vote and was elected to General Secretary of the Communist party. Afterwards he dedicated a lot of time advocating the achievement of Socialism within a single country.

Georgi Maksimilianovich Malenkov

Georgi Maksimilianovich Malenkov was a political commissar in the Red Army who, in the Second World War, was part of the five-man defense council which managed the Soviet Union's war effort. Malenkov rose to power under Stalin along with another soldier, Beria. The two were both assigned to fill out Stalin’s deadly orders. He succeeded Stalin after his death in March of 1953, and served as secretary to the Communist party for a short while until he was replaced by Nikita Khrushchev. Malenkov was the first of the subsequent three leaders known as the troika to warn that a nuclear war could lead to global destruction. The threesome inspired Sergei Prokofiev’s fourth movement of Suite from Lieutenant Kijé entitled, “Troika.”

Gamal Abdel Nasser

Nasser, a highly revered political figurehead in the Arab/Muslim world, was a prominent leader in freeing the Middle East from European control in the mid-fifties. At the time, Egypt felt colonial overtones from Britain and France, and Nasser dedicated himself to its freedom. In 1952, Nasser aided in the organization of a revolt under General Neguib against the Royal Family of Egypt, who citizens felt were tacitly helping Britain extend its influence into the country. Once the general resigned, Nasser, the shoo-in to replace him, succeeded Neguib in 1954. Nasser subsequently directed his efforts not only toward Egypt, but towards other Arab countries as well. Upon speaking out publicly against the two European powers, Nasser gained huge popularity, and used his new notoriety to effect change in domestic and foreign policies within Egypt. The controversy surrounding Nasser was in his decision to request alliance with America’s Cold War Enemy, the USSR, to help finance and engineer a plan to employ hydro-electric power within the nation. Asking America for help was “politically impossible,” as America openly supported Israel. His latest years were spent trying to modernize Egypt’s militant army.

Sergei Prokofiev

Sergei Prokofiev is considered one of the greatest composers of the 20th century; responsible for masterpieces in several genres of classical music composition: ballets, operas, concertos and symphonies. Prokofiev, who was from the Russian Empire (now Ukraine), was a supporter of the Bolshevik party, but left the Soviet Union in hopes of fulfilling his ambitious music, considered “revolutionary” for the time period. While his health began to decline and his opinions of music were changing, the Soviets were tightening their authority over domestic arts. On March 5, 1953, Sergei Prokofiev died at the age of 61, coincidentally the same day as Stalin. The masses of people that gathered to mourn over Stalin’s death made it impossible for Prokofiev’s body to be carried out for burial until 3 days later.

Nelson Rockefeller

Nelson Rockefeller was a politician who has assumed many titles. Rockefeller is best known for holding the position of the Forty-first Vice President of the Unites States under Gerald Ford in the mid-seventies. However, his political influence began two decades earlier, when he served as Special Assistant to President Eisenhower for Foreign Affairs. In 1953, Rockefeller became undersecretary in the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare. Soon after, he was appointed head of a committee that was responsible for facilitating several supervised CIA operations. Rockefeller concurrently assumed the title of president of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, which financed the Special Studies Project, a seven panel planning group that helped identify national problems and opportunities. The Special Studies Project came into public knowledge when it described military subpanel reports that regarded confrontation with the USSR. Finally, Rockefeller left Eisenhower's government in 1956 before being elected governor of the state of New York.

Roy Campanella

Roy Campanella was an African American baseball player best known for his tenure as a catcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers in Major League Baseball and Negro Leagues in the 1940’s and 1950’s. One of the best catchers in the history of the sport, Campanella played a large part in breaking the color barrier in Baseball, and was one of the first colored players bought into previously segregated Major League Baseball. To further prove his worth, Campanella also won 3 Most Valuable Player awards in the 1950’s, and his stellar performance led the Dodgers to their first championship against their then-rivals, the New York Yankees. Campanella played for nearly 10 years before being permanently paralyzed by in a car accident. Following the accident, Campanella remained active with the Dodgers, assisting them with scouting for new players for years following the accident. He died at 71 from a heart attack.

Communist Bloc

“Communist Bloc” refers to the eastern bloc states of the Warsaw pact, consisting of the countries that chose or were essentially forced to become a “satellite nation” to the Soviet Union. This term however was frequently used to describe any and all allies of the Soviet Union during the Cold war. The original “Communist Bloc” was a union of countries occupied by the Soviet Union following World War II, united for the purpose of raising assets and manpower to rebuild eastern European nations destroyed by the war, with the Soviet Union directing many of these resources to themselves. The German land possessed by the Soviets was transferred to Poland, which was at the time, also controlled by the Soviets. Stalin raised support in these largely non-communist countries by convincing leaders that he was in the process of undermining the British controlled zone, and that the United States would withdraw, leading to a fully communist Germany. This, along with smaller programs to empower the communist minorities in eastern European nations, as well as the forceful will of Stalin upon the people, allowed communism to spread to a seat of prominence in the Eastern Bloc countries.

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.

James Dean

“Dream as if you’ll live forever. Live as if you’ll die today.” this is a quotation that was ringing through the ears of teenagers across the nation when James Dean emerged as a film icon during the year 1955. It was at this time when Nicholas Ray’s Rebel Without a Cause was produced and open for the general public. Although Dean has been cast in starring roles since 1952, in Sailor Beware, it was not until three years later when he truly became famous. Before the 1950’s, the word “teenager” had not even surfaced; however his inclination towards juvenile delinquency in most of his leading roles, set the stage for the future of America’s youth. He became an icon whom thousands of teens were able to identify with, especially in his role as the brooding teenager Jim Stark in Rebel Without a Cause, It became understood that in the mid-twentieth century, the typical teenager felt as if he was caught in a place where no one could relate to him. The suppressive and depressing war atmosphere did nothing to help with these emotions but ignite them, especially given the tragic truth that death was possible around every corner. As James Dean once said, “Death can’t be considered, because if you’re afraid to die there’s no room in your life to make discoveries.” Dean provided a positive environment at a time when hope was such an incredible distance away. Unfortunately, James Dean died in a car accident at the young age of 24 on September 30th of 1955. His premature death was mourned by millions across the United States and he remained an acting sensation in the eyes of the public, as well as a role model for teenagers everywhere. Rebel Without a Cause: Trailer

Brooklyn’s got a winning team

In the year 1955, the Brooklyn Dodgers won their first world series ever, destroying the thirteen year winning streak of the New York Yankees; Brooklyn came out with four wins, trouncing New York’s three wins. Not only is this a major breakthrough for Brooklyn, but it only highlights the breakthrough society has made in time. Since the year 1947, the world of Major League Baseball has been significantly altered, and the Dodgers gave birth to this fundamental change. This was the year that Jack Roosevelt “Jackie” Johnson was drafted into the “big leagues.” Given, a baseball team does consist of nine strong players on the field; it has been assumed that the dodgers would have never made it as far as they did if it was not for Jackie Robinson. Though the year the World Series was won was Robinson’s worst year, the rest of his baseball career consisted of 1,518 hits and 137 home runs. His talent and simply the fact that he was on the team is crucial to the mid-twentieth century. Robinson was the first African-American Major League Baseball player of the modern era, ending a nearly sixty-year era of segregation in professional baseball. Because so many people were involved in sports, Robinson was one of the key components in the Civil Rights Movement, inadvertently helping to launch the efforts of thousands of people across the nation. Though this appears to be completely positive and of huge significance to the twentieth century societal improvements, there were downfalls that are scarcely recognized to this day. Four years before this epic World Series event, on May 20th of 1951, hate mail was sent to Jackie Robinson and this was only one day out of the hundreds that he had to deal with it. The first of which stated “We have already got rid of several like you…One was found in river just recently” and the second was not even close to better, reading “Robinson, we are going to kill you if you attempt to enter a ball game at Crosley Field…[signed] The Travelers.” The wife of Robinson even states that “when Jack started getting hate mail, we worried about the children and their playing outside.” Even though situations may appear to be great on the surface, the constant racism that was still occurring in the United States created a morose undercoating to a seemingly excellent condition. Despite the hate mail sent to him, Jackie Robinson’s talent could not be denied of him and he became a baseball legend. Unfortunately, a combination of heart disease and diabetes weakened Robinson enough that he died of a heart attack on October 24, 1972. Robinson’s jersey number, 42, was retired and no one can wear it to this day. During the year 1919, a legend was born and Jackie Robinson will never be forgotten.

Emmett Till’s Murder

In August of 1955, an event occurred that helped to ignite the Civil Rights Movement of the twentieth century. Emmett Louis Till was born on July 25 of 1941, though his life was short-lived, for he died at the young age of fourteen in the year 1955. He was a young African-American boy from Chicago Illinois who was brutally murdered in Money, Mississippi. Just as thousands of other young teenagers did, Till went to the grocery store with a bunch of his friends on the twenty-fourth of August for candy and soda. This appears to be innocent enough, that is until young Emmet Till was supposedly dared to flirt with co-owner of the Bryant’s Grocery and Meat Market, Carolyn Bryant. She was a young, 21-year-old white woman who was married to Roy Bryant who, shortly after, was told of the occurrence. The young Mrs. Bryant said “the young man used unprintable words,” however others argue that his slight stutter may have been misinterpreted. Either way, for a black man to flirt with a white woman no matter what their ages may be, it was completely uncalled for and not allowed in twentieth-century society. On August 28th, Bryant and his half brother drove to Reverend Wright’s house where Emmet stayed and put him in their pickup truck and left. According to witnesses, “they drove him to a weathered shed on a plantation in neighboring Sunflower County, where they beat, then shot him. A 70-pound cotton gin fan was tied to his neck with barbed wire to weigh down the body, which they dropped into the Tallahatchie River…another small cotton town north of Money. Although Bryant tried to claim that they set the boy loose, word got out that Till was missing; later his bod was found “swollen and disfigured” in the river, three days after his abduction. Till’s mother, Mamie Till Bradley demanded an open casket at his funeral people could take photographs and “the world [could] see what they did to [her] baby.” Eventually, up to 50 thousand people viewed his body. Emmett Till, an unfortunate, young 14-year-old African American, went through a tragic and fatal situation that enraged the nation. This young boy will always be remembered as one of the many crucial beginnings to the greatest Civil Rights Movement America has ever known.

Davy Crockett

Davy Crockett was a three part television series that began in 1954. It was a Walt Disney adventure based on the life of a pioneer hero, Davy Crockett. In the show, Davy Crockett was played by Fess Parker. The Davy Crocket show had a popular theme song titled “King of the Wild Frontier.” The show offered an idealized version of Davy Crocket. Instead of portraying the woodsman realistically, he was clean, shaven, and nicely dressed. Davy became a fad, mostly among young boy. He wore a coonskin cap, with a tail, which quickly became a style worn by most boys, even in hot, summer weather. Coonskin caps became so popular that they were nearly almost impossible to find after the first few months of airing the show. Kids moved on to rabbit and muskrat hats instead. An estimated four million copies of Davy’s theme song were sold and an estimated $100 million dollars was invested in Davy t-shirts, sheets, lunch boxes, towels and buckskins. The Davy Crockett fad lasted about eleven months.
Davy Crockett romanticized the life of a woodsman and simplified the tasks of a hero. The television show created a craze that excited a large number of children. His show offered and escape from the stress created by the adults during the Cold War time period. Davy Crockett did not have to deal with anxiety from nuclear weapons therefore, the kids watching the show did not have deal wit these stresses either. Ther merchandise from his show sold extremely well. Parents were worried that their world would vanish in an instant and would by the merchandise because it made their children happy.

Peter Pan

Also titled “The Boy Who Wouldn’t Grow Up” is a play originally written by James M. Barrie in 1904. The play is about a young boy, Peter Pan, who can fly and his adventures on the island of Neverland with Wendy Darling and her brothers. Also included in the play are a fairy, Tinker Bell, the “Lost Boys”, the Indian princess, Tiger Lily, and the pirate, Captain Hook. In 1953, it was adopted as an animated, full-length Disney movie. When it aired on television for the first time, it is estimated that one out of every two Americans watched.
Peter Pan visits three children and takes them on a trip to Neverland. Here they enconter a world like no other. They become absorbed by outsmarting Captain Hook who is obsessed with defeating Peter Pan.
The Disney version of Peter Pan was based on the idea of escapism. Although the movie was made with cartoons, it was not only aimed towards children. The story creates a world where the characters live away from the normal issues. In the same way, the movie creates an escape for the viewers. The stress surrounding the Cold War made it impossible for adults to forget about the seriousness of the issue. However, television and movies, epecially one about a pretend world allowed both children and adults to escape.

Elvis Presley

Elvis Presley started off as a poor boy born in Tupelo, Mississippi. He graduated from high school and took a job as a truck driver in Memphis, Tennessee. He recorded his first commercial record in 1954. Two years later, Elvis obtained a recording contract with RCA under his manager Colonel Tom Parker. His career took off in 1956 with the release of “Love Me Tender.” This began a string of million-copy singles including “heartbreak Hotel,” “Don’t Be Cruel,” and “Hound Dog.” His hits continued for a decade. He was referred to as “The King” and known as the first American rock ‘n’ roll star. Although his music was popular, he would not have been able to achieve his stardom without selling his image on television. Despite his popularity, journalists, churchmen, and parents despised Elvis Presley. One newspaper critiqued him from acting “like a sex maniac in public before millions of impressionable kids.” There is no doubt he did have an impression on the younger generations, new hair styles were set for boys across the country and guitar sales nearly doubled from 1950 to 1960.

Elvis Presley was responsible for popularizing rock 'n' roll. He created carefree and feel-good music that lifted the spirits of listeners. Unlike news broadcasts that focused on nuclear weapons and atomic bombs, Elvis Presley came over the radio and onto the television with upbeat songs. Also, Elvis Presley is one of the first stars made famous by the newly invented television. When he was interviewed on television, he began to represent a new American dream, one through the music industry. He started off as a poor boy and became rich quickly, this recharged the American dream and became a new inspiration.

Disneyland

The idea of Disney land originally began as an 8-acre area for Walt Disney’s employees to vacation with their families. These seemingly small plans got put on hold during World War II. During the War, Walt Disney had time to scheme greater plans. On July 21, 1954 construction began on a 160-acre piece of land in Anaheim, California. It was divided into five unique lands: Main Street U.S.A., Adventureland, Frontierland, Fantasyland, and Tomorrowland. The park cost Walt Disney $17 million. After 10 years, the park had attracted 50 million visitors. In the late 1950’s gas was only around 25 cents per gallon and it was cheap for a family to make a trip to California. Disneyland was completed at a time where all citizens of the world needed an escape. The fear of nuclear weapons and atomic bombs surrounded everyone's lives. People were living in constant fear of having their world brutally taken away. Disneyland was not expensive and it was an effective escape. It was built with color and excitement, a place different from the world they were living in. The biggest fear in Disneyland was Captain Hook and there were no deathly atomic bombs.

Brigitte Bardot

Brigitte Bardot appeared in a movie titled “And God Created Women” where she showed more skin than was custom at the time. Time Magazine reported that she lay “stretched end to end of the CinemaScope screen, bottoms up and bare as a censors eyeball.” The movie was banned in numerous cities. She was the favorite foreign actress of the 1950’s and was the driving force behind the increased demand for foreign films.
Today she is still remembered for her use of marijuana and her long blonde hair. She is noted for altering the depiction of women on television. Never before had they been shown so blatantly. Brigitte Bardot changed the standards for how women would be depicted and movies began showing more scandalous scenes.

Budapest, Hungary

On October 23, 1956, violence erupted at a college demonstration into what would eventually be referred to as The Hungarian Revolution of 1956. It began as a peaceful petition against the Stalinist Government of Hungary and its Soviet-imposed policies. The demonstration attracted thousands of people to Central Budapest and the Parliament Building. The State Security Police (AVH) began to fire within the radio building after denying the protesters request to broadcast on air. The revolution spread across Hungary and thousands of civilians organized into militias. The government fell. Pro-soviet communists and AVH members were imprisoned and executed. A new government was erected, AVH was disbanded and free elections were re-established nationwide. The revolution ended less than a month later, on November 10, 1956.

Alabama and Rosa Parks

In December of 1955, Rosa Parks, a passenger on a Montgomery Bus, was arrested for not letting a white passenger take her seat. Although there was no law for a black to give up their seat to a white, it was an established rule in the American south. Not only did they have to give up their seats to the whites, but African Americans also had to sit in the back of the bus.
Rosa Parks would not follow these rules of the Jim Crow any longer. The consequence of this refusal sent Mrs. Parks to jail. But a bigger consequence was that the whole community refused to ride the bus four days later on December 5, 1955. This boycott was brought on by a well known pastor, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. it continued for over a year but not without harassment from the other side. The white community fought back with force including a spike in violence, which included lynching and a home of Dr. King being bombed.
This boycott ended when, on November 13, 1956, the Supreme Court decided that Alabama’s laws were unjust and illegal.

Khrushchev

Nikita Sergeyevich Khrushchev was a part of the Communist party serving as the general secretary from 1953 to 1964. Throughout his career he accomplished many different tasks including the launching the first space program, trying to beat the United States to the moon and beyond, and his speech, which denounced the popular Stalin, in 1956. But his involvement with the Cuban Missile crisis made him a force to be reckoned with.
During 1960, Khrushchev gave the communist Cuba a nuclear base. Cuba would use this base to launch nukes to America in order to stop their power from overturning the Soviet Union. This placement of missiles causes the U.S. to get involved with taking out the Soviets from Cuba. If they needed to, the U.S. was also prepared to destroy Cuba in the process.
Back at home in the U.S.S.R., Khrushchev didn’t have the best popularity. He wasn’t as followed and praised as Stalin was. There were many talks to overthrow him and Khrushchev knew he might have been in trouble. The U.S. also knew they may be in trouble so they ask Thompson, a Russian diplomat, to talk to Khrushchev. The diplomat used empathy to persuade Khrushchev to leave Cuba. Thompson told him that he would have prevented a war and that his people would praise him for it.
Khrushchev leaves Cuba and returns to the U.S.S.R. and stays there. In 1964, he is removed from public office. The communist party accused him of mishandling the missile crisis. He spent the rest of his life away from the public eye.

Princess Grace

Princess Grace was born Grace Kelly in Pennsylvania in 1929. After being rejected from Bennington College in 1947, she decided to continue as an actress in theater. From her theater work she then continued into T.V., which lead to a career on the silver screen. Her popularity increased as she starred in such films like Rear Window, Country Girl and her final Alfred Hitchcock film, To Catch a Thief. During a visit to promote a film in the Cannes Film Festival in 1955, she was invited to meet Prince Rainer III during a photo session at the palace of Monaco.
Prince Rainer III was the ruling sovereign of principality of Monaco. He, as the prince, had to follow a treaty that was given to his country Monaco. The treaty of 1918, given by France, stated that if Rainer did not have a son to continue on the sovereignty, Monaco would become a part of France. He needed to marry, and he decided to visit America while on a tour. During his trip, he met the Kelly family and eventually proposed to Grace Kelly. The two married on April 19, 1956 and soon after had children.
Monaco was saved from being under the reign of France.

Peyton Place

Peyton Place, a novel by Grace Metalious, was released in 1956. The main theme of the book was that even a nice New England town has secrets. The book‘s plot followed a group of three women who had secrets. By the end of the book, the women come to terms about their lives in the New England town. The book even talked about women's sexual lives. This caused much disgust in society, as sex wasn’t talked of in entertainment, let alone the public.
When the book came out, many speculated what town it was based upon. It was discovered that setting was a combination of New England towns that included the author’s own town of Gilmanton, New Hampshire.
The main idea of the book is that although it seems that a town can be simple and bare, it could still have secrets as well.

Trouble in the Suez

An argument started between Israel and Egypt when a security council, created by both and other Middle East countries, stated that Egypt open up its canal for Israel to use for shipping. Egypt refused to open it up. In 1954, the Egyptian Foreign Minister, Muhammad Salah al-Din stated, “The Arab people will not be embarrassed to declare: We shall not be satisfied except by the final obliteration of Israel from the map of the Middle East.” This comment would spark controversy and a war between the two countries that would start in 1956.
Over 100,000 soldiers were positioned on the borders of the two countries fighting for the control of the Suez Canal. But this was bigger than it looked. The French and British joined Israel’s side because Egypt had sided with Nasser. The French stated, “They could use Israel’s fear of Egyptian aggression and the continuing blockade as a pretext for their own strike against Nasser.” The French and British demanded that the fighting countries retreat from the canal. They didn’t, but French and British governments knew they wouldn’t so they sent French and British troops to “protect” the canal.
On October 30th of 1956, the U.S. said to the Security Council that they should call for a withdrawal of Israel from the canal. The French and British disagreed, and launched air support to bombing Egypt. The U.S. wasn’t happy about the actions committed by French and British and because of the secret alliance the two countries made with Israel to secure more territory. The two sides won what they wanted; they took Egypt out of the Suez Canal. But Israel also got tensions sparked between it and the U.S.
The U.S. didn’t want any more problems to start in that territory in the future so they sponsored a UN resolution creating the United Nations Emergency Force (UNEF) to supervise the territories vacated by the Israeli forces.