Cold War Visual #1

Question #1: The reason for the limited availability of information pertaining to the Cold War is deliberate. The Archives administration has by their own admission digitized only a small percentage of the materials held within their cavernous fireproof stacks. They must want people to visit the Archives Administrations many sites around the nation.

ARC Identifier: 278753
Cross-section Sketch of Atomic Bomb , 03/12/1951
NARA's Northeast Region (New York City) (NRANA), 201 Varick Street, New York, NY 10014-4811

Context: This image plays a pivotal role in the escalation of arms at the beginning of the Cold War. It is a cross-section sketch of the atomic bomb. This information was not only critical but top secret. Obviously this was not written for US officials but is in fact written for another person or persons. Notice that the image is written on average notebook paper using pencil possibly and was used for evidence in a court case.

Questions:

1. What is the image of?
2. What purpose does this image serve?
3. Who drew this image and why?

The Cold War Reaction #1

The "Missile Gap," much like the supposed gap between your belly and your pants depends on perception. The perception of the average American in the late 1950's was that the US was on the wrong end of the missile gap and the Soviets, (thanks to the boisterous sausage claims of Nakita Krhushchev), were dominating the worlds missile program. The evidence seemed clear with such achievements as Sputnik and Yuri Gagarin the Soviets seemed to be winning the gap battle. However, nothing could be farther from the truth. The US was in fact was far ahead of the Soviets in missile and bomber production. This fact, the clandestine truth held by the Eisenhower administration, and the subsequent chain events connected to this fact was quite interesting. Knowledge is power even if the other guy doesn't know you know. Thoughts

Gilder-Lehrman Seminar in Philly

I spent a wonderful three days learning about the Revolutionary Period and the Creation of the Constitution from Carol Berkin at the National Constitution Center. Highlights include: The Betsy Ross House, The National Constitution Center, Independence Hall, and me Locking the Door to Independence Hall with a replica key.

TAHPS in KC

Acronyms aside the Pitt State/Greenbush TAH summer seminar has begun. The agenda for today The Cold War. This much intricate and propagandized era of US History is being picked apart and analysed through discussion and primary source documents.