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war and social upheaval: The Cold War country trends America public support
The Cold War: America -- Public Support
Figure 1.--There was concern in the 1950s not only about Soviet military power, but Soviet sunversion methods to undermine free societies. Unlike the NAZIs, there were stong, supportive parties in many European count supporting the Siviets. And therre were many left-oriented groups unwilling to accept or ackniwledge the hirrific crimes committed by the Soviet regime. Interestingly, Communists have never seized power through the ballot. Venezuela may prove to be an exception. Click on the image to see the full two-page spread.
Americans througout the 19th century diagreed as to their wars. Even the Revolutionry War was essentilly a civil war (1776-83). And of course there was the Civil War (1861-65). There was consierable disagreement concerning the war of 1812, the Mexican War, and the Spanish-American War. But there was no doubt among the American people about the nobility of their nation and its place in history. This was magistically stated by President Lincoln in the Gettysburg Address. This continued into the 20th century. Americans at the outset of both World War I and II wanted no part of it. The vast majority of Americans believed that America was a nobel country, both before and after the United States entered both wars. And in contrast to the Axis with used food as a weapon to kill, the United States used its food bounty not only to win the wars, but to save million of lives in both friendly and enemy countries. No country in world history had ever saved so many lives or been so generous to defeted enemy countries. Today there are people, including Americans who attempt to sully that record, but the historical record is there for all but the ideologically biased to see. Countless millions in Europe, including Russia, are alive today because of Americanb food aid and do not even know it. Stalin with the NAZI surrender had achieved his oblective when he signed the NAZI-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact launching World War II. There was no country in Europe capable of resisting the march of the Red Army and NKVD west and the Sovietization of Western Europe. He even had strong domestic allies in the Communist parties of Western Europe. Only one country could prevent this -- the United States. But it was unclear how America with its long history of isolationism would react to the Soviet challenge. President Truman and President Eisenhower responded to the challenge and crafted America's Cold War policy of opposing Soviet expansion and aggression. Despite the fundamental shift from isolationism, most Americans supported it. American public opinion, however, began to change during the Cold War. Unlike previous periods in American history, Americans began qustioning the nobility of their nation. At first in the glow of the World War II victory which essentially saved Western Civilization, the nubers questioning American values were small. A few left-orinted politicans, including Vice President Henry Wallace began to question American policy, especially policies toward the Soviet Union were small, but they were there. Soviet espionage agents found willing collaborators. As the Cold War developed, anti-Communism grew. This required a major shift in thinking as war time propaganda suppressed the Soviet alliance with the NAZIs and massive war crimes. But Americans came to see the Soviet threat. Some describe an anti-Communist hysteria led by Senator McCarthy. There certainly were excesses, but often overlooked was the massive Soviet espionage and propaganda effort and strength of the military challenge. It was not until the Vietnam War (1961-75), however, that large numbers of Americans began to question the ethical foundation of their nation. Americans became divided beteen those who wanted to accomodae the Soviets and those who wanted a firm stand against totalitarianism and aggression. Preident Regan's election (1980) placed America on a firm path toward confronting the totalitarian Soviet Empire, although there was increasing criticism from liberal Democrats in the Congress. This desire to accomodate the Soviets was much more pronounced in Europe -- Ost-politik and Ban the Bomp activists. There were also large Communist Parties attempting to undercut resistance to increasing Soviet power. Prime-minister Thatcher and Chancellor Kohl provided firm European support for a firm stance. And before the Soviets were able to take full advantage of the growing discension in the west, the Soviet Union imploded (1991), undermined by the inherent inefficencies of the Communist state planning and denial of basic human freedom. This essentially ended the Cold War.
America: War and Discent
Americans througout the 19th century diagreed as to their wars. Even the Revolutionry War was essentilly a civil war (1776-83). And of course there was the Civil War (1861-65). There was consierable disagreement concerning the war of 1812, the Mexican War, and the Spanish-American War. But there was no doubt among the American people about the nobility of their nation and its place in history. This was magistically stated by President Lincoln in the Gettysburg Address. This continued into the 20th century. Americans at the outset of both World War I and II wanted no part of it.
Nobel Nation
The vast majority of Americans believed that America was a nobel country, both before and after the United States entered both wars. And in contrast to the Axis with used food as a weapon to kill, the United States used its food bounty not only to win the wars, but to save million of lives in both friendly and enemy countries. This occurred during both World War I and World War II. No country in world history had ever saved so many lives or been so generous to defeted enemy countries. Today there are people, including Americans who attempt to sully that record, but the historical record is there for all but the ideologically biased to see. Countless millions in Europe, including Russia, are alive today because of American food aid and do not even know it.
Soviet Threat
Stalin with the NAZI surrender had achieved his oblective when he signed the NAZI-Soviet Non-Aggression Pact, launching World War II with his NAZI ally. Stalin with massive American asistance had turned the Red Army into a fearsome military machine that played a central role in the destruction of the NAZI Wehrmancht. It was the Red Army that tore the heart out of the Wehrmacht in the Great Patriotic War. The Russians today dismiss the crucial role of the Western allies. But it is absiluteky correct that after the NAZI invasion, the Red Army was central to the defeat of the NAZIs. And after the NAZI surrenderm thevRed Arn=my was the largest most powerful army in the wprld. Europe was devestated by the War. There was no country or comination of European countries capable of resisting the march of the nassive and well armed Red Army and NKVD west and the eventual Sovietization of Western Europe. Stalin even had strong domestic allies in the Communist parties of Western Europe. Even before the NAZI surrender, the Red Army band NKVD began to lay the groundwork for the imposition of Comminist police state regimes in the occupied countries of Eastern Europe. Stalin believed that contol of all of Europe was within his grasp.
Vital American Role
Only one country could prevent the Sovietization of Western Europe -- the United States. But it was unclear how America with its long history of isolationism would react to the Soviet challenge. President Roosevekt assumed that the United States would withdraw from Europe after the War as it had after World Wat I and he told Stalin that. President Truman and President Eisenhower responded to the challenge and crafted America's Cold War policy of opposing Soviet expansion and aggression. America probably would have withdrawn from Europe as President Roosevelt anticipated. It was Stalin's btital and aggressive behabior that findamentally changed American polivy. In many ways. it was the Stalin's decision to blockade West Berlin that fundamrntally changes American policy leasf=ding to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (1948).
Post War Shift in Public Opinion
The Soviet Uniin was a NAZI ally for nearly the first 2 years of the War. The Soviet invasion of Poland attracted less attention than the NAZI invasion (September 1939). Britain and France only declared war on Gernay. The Soviets were seen as an agressor nation after pmvadung neutral Finland (November 1939). The Soviers also supplied the NAZIs with large quantities of stratehic naterils, includinhg oil. THis all changed with the NAI invasion of the Soviet-Union.(June 1941). The Soviets became a fighting ally at a tine when American miiltary caabilities were limited. The Red Army played a major role on destroying the German Army in the vicious campaigns conducted on the Eastern Front. The rutless Soviet dictaor, Joseph Stalin, became amiable Uncle Joe. war time propaganda suppressed the Soviet alliance with the NAZIs and massive war crimes. Most Americans by the end of the War had come to greatly admire the Soviets and their valiant drfense of their home land. All critism of the Soviet Union had disappered from the American press. Soviet atrociries even when known, like Katyn, received little coverge. Thus it took a major shift to change the impage of the Doviets from orld War II ally to Cold War adversary. Churchill's Iron Curtain speech at Fulton, Missouri (1946) helped President Truman alert the American public to the Soviet threat. Despite the fundamental shift from isolationism, most Americans supported the Cold War effort to blunt Soviet expansionism. Here Sivier behavior made it clear what was happening. And Pearl Harbor had fundamentally changed the American outlook. Isolationism no longer had any creditability.
Left-wing Critics
Critics of American policy, especially policies toward the Soviet Union were a small group, but they were there. Soviet espionage agents
this found willing collaborators. The Depression had a huge imoact on America. And the New Deal bhas broufght quire a number of liberal Americans to Washington. Quite a number were impressed with the Soviet Union, thinking asca result od Soviet propaganda that they were a country of happy peasanys and workers. They were also imoressed with the Soviet succes in fighting the Geramns during the War. There were also some Europeam immifrants who were also impressed with the Soviet Union. The leading politican impressed withe Soviet Union. was Vice President Henry Wallace. This is why he was replaced as President Roosevelt's running mate (1944). After the War he began to question President Truman's Cold War policies. He would run fpr Presidebt on the Progessive Oarty ticket against President Truman (1948), attracting little support. Left wing critics cintinued into the 1950s but shifted from a fovus on American Soviet policy to support for dictators. Unsaid was the gact that outside Western Ryrope and North Ameruca and a few shinjng examoles (such as India) that there were few real democracies atound the world to deal with. There was also the simple fact that the suctatorship that America most striongly supported was gthe Soviet Union. Somehowm gthe American Left has no problem with support of left-wing dictatorships.
Popular journalist Tom Wolfe coined the term Radical or Revolutioany Chic (1970) [Wolfe]. It refers the alleged promotion of radical political ideas and causes by prominent celebrities, socialites, and high society. It was adopted by many young people, especially college students as a trendy movement. The term as Wolfe defined it describe individuals who insincerely identify themselves as radicals while pursuing prosperous capitalist lifestyles. Especially prominent were and contunue to be artists, singers, actors, and film makers who like the image and seek to profit by posing as radicaks but are quite unwilling to suffer any privations that might result from radical politics or live in a revolutionary country like Communist China (before market reforms), Cuba , and Vietnam. Most of these individuals are so poorly educated that they do no understand or vare unwilling tomadmit that the ideas that they seek to popularize lead to poverty and capitalism to prosperity. This has been proven by the Asian Tigers. Even China had to admit that it was capitalism that alieviated poverty. Some apparenhtly do not care as there is money to be made by posing as trendy radicals--they can benefit personally. Many well known names dabled in Radical Chic. Andy Warhol did silk creens of Che and Mao. Jane Fonda posed in North Vietnamese anti-airceaft guns. Francis Ford Coppola and Martin Scorsese dug ip the proppaganda film, 'I am Cuba' from the old Soviet archive. One author describes Radical Chic as 'double-tracking one's public image: on the one hand, defining oneself through committed allegiance to a radical cause, but on the other, vitally, demonstrating this allegiance because it is the fashionable, au courant way to be seen in moneyed, name-conscious Society.' [Bracewell] The imagery attracted a lot of young Americans attracted by chic, trebdy idea. Notably none desired to go to these countries and live in the poverty ceated by Communist ideology. Even real revolutionries like Eldrige Cleever anf Huey Newton who fled to Cuba but after a time there decided that America was not quite as bad as they thought.
Anti-Communism
As the Cold War developed, anti-Communism grew in Ameica. Stalin as he took over Eastern Europe provided cinfirmation that he was indeed a brutal dictator. And the Soviet blockade of Berlin made Sovuet intentiins crystal clear. And the discovery of Soviet agents further confirmed the Soviet threat. This required a major shift in thinking as But Americans came to see the Soviet threat. Some describe an anti-Communist hysteria led by Senator McCarthy. There certainly were excesses, and Senator McCartky was one of them, but often overlooked was the massive Soviet espionage and propaganda effort and strength of the military challenge. McCarthyism became a touchstone of the complaints about abuse if civil liberties. Mccarthy would wave papers saying he had list of ptoven Communists in the U.S. Government. He ruined the lives of many decent people. Ironically, tofay the some Democrats are employing some of the same tactivs that the decried as part of Mc Carthyism. Congressman Adam Shiff as siion as President Trumo assumed officed began calining that he had solid evidence that the president had broken the law--evidence he has never profuced. Conservatives are largely boycotted by Hollywiid. Jotirnalist decpict Reoublicans as not only wrong, but ebil people. Mrs Peoplsi uses the term 'cruel'. Senators use charges that would never meer the standards of evidence kin a court ti block judicual appointmrnts. Cinfressmen use the arguments of Chinese Communists to tarnish the President.
Vietnam
It was not until the Vietnam War (1961-75), however, that large numbers of Americans began to question the ethical foundation of their nation. Americans became divided beteen those who wanted to accomodae the Soviets and those who wanted a firm stand against totalitarianism and aggression. American public opinion, however, began to change during the Cold War. Unlike previous periods in American history, Americans began qustioning the nobility of their nation. At first in the glow of the World War II victory which essentially saved Western Civilization, the numbers questioning American values were small. The Vietnam tragedy changed this. An increasing number iof young Amerivcans began to question Amerivan values. More Americans began to question America's Cold War stance.
Cold War Debate
Preident Regan's election (1980) placed America on a firm path toward confronting the totalitarian Soviet Empire, trversing the Vietnam era movement away from confronting the Soviets. This resulted in increasing criticism from liberal Democrats in the Congress. This desire to accomodate the Soviets was much more pronounced in Europe --Ost-politik and Ban the Bomp activists. There were also large Communist Parties attempting to undercut resistance to increasing Soviet power. Prime-minister Thatcher and Chancellor Kohl provided firm European support for a firm stance. And before the Soviets were able to take full advantage of the growing discension in the west, the Soviet Union imploded (1991), undermined by the inherent inefficencies of the Communist state planning and denial of basic human freedom. This essentially ended the Cold War. The Soviet Uniin was desroyed by the inherent inefficencies and brutality of Communism. Despite this committed Socialists like duture Semicratic presidential asoirants contunued find features to admire in the Soviet Uniin and other Communist dictatorships's like Cuba and Venezuela. Marrxists professors in universities continue to oursue these ideas despite the fact that not of the 25 or so Communist regimes have even suceeded in brining prosperity to any country. in shsrp contrast to the proven recotd of capitalism..
