US Since 1945 (Spring 2009)
Juniata College
Episodes
- Bill Christofferson, a Vietnam Veteran, Experiences Forty Years of Coming Home
February, 1968 to 1968
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
War, Diplomacy/InternationalThe Vietnam War was one of the most traumatic events in postwar American history. At its peak, the United States had 543,400 soldiers stationed in Vietnam and as a whole, the United States sent over three million soldiers to Vietnam. One of these veterans of the Vietnam War was Bill Christofferson, who was a combat correspondent who returned from active duty in 1968. However, like many other Vietnam...
- Restrictions on Immigration grow in popularity. July 1, 1986 to July 4, 1986 New York, New York Immigration, American Immigration, Work
A joint New York Times and CBS News poll showed the United States to have contradictory feelings towards immigrants. Despite the U.S. being founded on immigration, and containing the world’s largest immigration population, those polled show an increasing percentage of natives disapproving further immigration. On a personal level, the American citizen was welcoming to immigrants individually. But...
- Subcommittee formed to better manage aliens. May 24, 1981 District of Columbia, District of Columbia Immigration, aliens, American Immigration
The fourth wave of immigration to the United States, created by the Immigration Act of 1965, was due to the economic situations of émigrés. Seeking a better lifestyle, many immigrants were being admitted legally, though many also entered as illegal aliens. By the time Ronald Reagan entered the Oval Office in 1981, many immigration policies needed authorization by Congress. Moreover, since the 1960s,...
- Interview with Robert M. Bayless and Life in the 1940s After the War 1945 to 1947 Lubbock, Texas War, Government
After the guns of World War II silenced on August 14, 1945, the United States anxiously awaited the return of its sixteen million veterans that served the counrty from 1941-1945. These veterans left a United States still in the midst of the Great Depression and Americans feared that the veterans' return would continue the depression. At this time, Robert M. Bayless, was just out of high school and...
- Apollo Mission Puts Neil Armstrong on the Moon July 20, 1969 Brevard, Florida Cold War, Science/Technology
Neil Armstrong gained world-wide fame as he stepped off of the Apollo 11’s lunar module and became the first human to set foot on the moon. Completing the awe-inspiring moment he said, “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Earlier that day, Armstrong and Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, the Eagle lunar module pilot, had undocked from the command module...
- Wernher Von Braun Advises the Vice-President on the Space Program April 29, 1961 Madison, Alabama Science/Technology, Cold War
Wernher Von Braun stated in his letter to United States Vice President Lyndon Johnson, “we have an excellent chance of beating the Soviets to the first landing of a crew on the moon.” The letter discussed the strategic direction the United States should take to surpass of the Soviet Union in the space race. With the Cold War raging between the U.S. and the Soviet Union, space...
- John Kerry Denounces the War in Vietnam April 23, 1971 Washington, Virginia Diplomacy/International, Politics, War
Speaking to the United States Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, former Army Captain John Kerry explained the atrocities and falsehoods that the soldiers on the ground were forced to carry out while serving in the Vietnam War from 1966-1970. He made it clear that the actions of the United States government and military leaders should not vanish into thin air. According to Kerry, soldiers were...
- Vietnam Veteran Testifies in Winter Soldier Investigations January 31, 1971 Wayne, Michigan Diplomacy/International, Politics, War
On returning home from Vietnam, some veterans were asked to testify before Congressional committees regarding their actions during the war. Rusty Sachs, a member of the Marine Medium Helicopter Squadron 362, testified before Congress and explained his recollection of destroying villages and killing innocent civilians. Approximately twenty other soldiers testified from various branches of the armed...
- U.S. Museums Possess Nazi Art Plunder October 17, 1997 King, Washington Art/Leisure, War, Crime
The model Henriette Darricarrere posed as an odalisque for artist Henri Matisse’s painting, “Oriental Woman Seated on Floor.” As the title suggested, she was seated elegantly on the floor wearing traditional Mediterranean apparel in the foreground while a chair covered in decorative floral-patterned textiles filled the space in the background. Acquired by prominent French Jewish art dealer,...
- Monuments Men Recover Nazi Stolen Art June 23, 1943 to June 8, 1946 Dist Columbia, District of Columbia Crime, War, Art/Leisure
One month before the end of WWII, the American soldiers discovered a salt mine full of gold and paintings that had been looted and abandoned by the Nazis. On April 12, 1945, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, General Omar Bradley, and General George Patton ventured down into the Merkers salt mine to inspect the treasures found that day. Snapped in a photograph owned by the National Archives, the three...