Cold War Culture: The Nuclear Fear of the 1950s and 1960s

Home · War & Conflict · Cold War · Cold War Culture: The Nuclear Fear of the 1950s and 1960s

Topic spans: 1955 - 1975

Cold War Culture: The Nuclear Fear of the 1950s and 1960s

With superpowers in the east and west testing powerful new weapons, the Canadian race for self-preservation took off in the early 1950s. The rising of the Iron Curtain intensified the threat of mass destruction, as communication between the Americans and Soviets came to a screeching halt. In this volatile new world, Canadians fretted about fallout shelters and the government prepared to go underground.

Photo of Diefenbunker nuclear fallout shelter near Ottawa courtesy of Chris Iwanowski

8 television clips

11 radio clips

You must sign in to leave a comment on this clip.

No comments

The Cuban Missile Crisis

Broadcast Date: Oct. 23, 1962

The nuclear crisis reaches its peak when it's reported that missiles are poised to hit targets in North America from a launching pad in Cuba. Canadian politicians speak out about the imminent crisis and the desire for peace.

The Cuban Missile Crisis

• On October 27, tensions eased when Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev agreed to take down the USSR missiles in Cuba.
• Prime Minister John Diefenbaker hesitated when asked by President Kennedy to put the Canadian forces on high-alert status. Diefenbaker finally relented, but many perceived him to be indecisive and relations with Kennedy were accordingly strained.

The Cuban Missile Crisis

Medium: Television

Program: CBC Television News

Broadcast Date: Oct. 23, 1962

Guest(s): John Diefenbaker, Herbert Herridge, Lester B. Pearson, Robert Thompson

Announcer: Rex Loring
Interviewer: Douglas Leiterman

Duration: 3:41

Last updated:
June 3, 2004

End of list