The "X" Article In July 1947, the quarterly Foreign Affairs published an anonymous article entitled "The Sources of Soviet Conduct," which offered what would soon become the basis for U.S. policy toward the Soviet Union. The policy offered was that of containment, which would remain fundamental for the duration of the Cold War. The author was soon revealed to be George Kennan of the U.S. State Department.
Soviet Response to "X" Article Two months after George Kennan's "X" article was published, Politburo member and Leningrad party boss Andrei Zhdanov issued a report to the first conference of Cominform, the international communist information bureau. In the report, Zhdanov stresses -- much like Kennan did in his article -- the ideological differences between the Soviet Union and the United States.
CIA Reports on Berlin Blockade The following are excerpts of CIA weekly summaries regarding the Soviet blockade of West Berlin and the Soviet occupation of Eastern Europe. It reflects the tensions mounting during the Berlin blockade and the hope of compromise.
NSC 68 Report on Soviet Intentions In the fall of 1949, Western powers were shaken by the communist takeover of China and the Soviet's test of the atomic bomb. As a result, President Truman requested a comprehensive analysis of Soviet and American capabilities.
U.S.-U.S.S.R. Diplomatic Exchange on Korean Conflict In June 1950, the army of North Korea attacked South Korea in an attempt to unify the country under communist rule. Convinced that this attack was directed by the Soviet Union, the U.S. ambassador wrote a note to the Soviet deputy foreign minister requesting that the Soviets use their influence to withdraw North Korean forces from South Korea. In his reply, the Soviet minister denied Soviet participation in the events in Korea.
CIA Reports on Korean Invasion The following documents are excerpts of Central Intelligence Agency memoranda and weekly summaries written at the beginning of the Korean War.
Truman Relieves MacArthur On April 11, 1951, President Truman announced the dismissal of Gen. Douglas MacArthur from his duties as Allied Commander of United Nations forces in the Far East.
Hoover's HUAC Testimony During testimony before the House Un-American Activities Committee on March 26, 1947, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover explained the destructive nature and intent of communists in the United States.
HUAC Hollywood Testimony The House Un-American Activities Committee held public hearings in October 1947 to question 24 "friendly" and 11 "unfriendly" witnesses from the filmmaking industry. Among the 24 "friendly" witnesses who testified at the hearings were actors Gary Cooper and Ronald Reagan, producer Walt Disney and writer Ayn Rand. The following are excerpts from their testimony.
McCarthy's Statement on Communism In February 1950, Republican Sen. Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin accused the U.S. State Department of harboring communists. Those he accused lost their jobs and -- but McCarthy never proved their guilt.