The Cold War - Key People

Harry Truman

33rd President of the United States, known for implementing the Marshall Plan and the Truman Doctrine during the Cold War, as well as making the decision to use atomic weapons in World War II.

George Kennan

An American diplomat and historian, he is best known for his "Long Telegram" which outlined his views on the Soviet Union and advocated for a policy of containment during the Cold War.

Joseph Stalin

The General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union and leader of the Soviet Union during World War II and the early years of the Cold War, known for his totalitarian rule and significant expansion of Soviet influence.

Joseph McCarthy

A U.S. Senator known for his anti-communist pursuits and for leading investigations during the Red Scare, famously promoting the notion of Communist infiltration in the government and society.

Alger Hiss

A former State Department official accused of being a Soviet spy, whose espionage trial in the late 1940s was a significant event during the Red Scare.

Richard Nixon

The 37th President of the United States, he played a major role in the Cold War era, known for his policy of détente with the Soviet Union and for his controversial resignation following the Watergate scandal.

Mao Zedong

A Chinese Communist revolutionary and founding father of the People's Republic of China, he led the country from its establishment in 1949 until his death in 1976, significantly influencing the Cold War dynamics in Asia.

Ho Chi Minh

The founding father of modern Vietnam, he was a key figure in the Vietnamese struggle for independence from France and later played a crucial role in the Vietnam War against the United States.

Nakita Khurschev

A Soviet statesman who led the USSR during the height of the Cold War, he is known for his de-Stalinization policies and the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Francis Gary Powers

An American U-2 pilot whose 1960 reconnaissance flight over the USSR led to his capture and heightened tensions during the Cold War. His espionage incident significantly impacted U.S.-Soviet relations.

Fidel Castro

Cuban revolutionary leader who established a one-party socialist state in Cuba and was a central figure during the Cold War, particularly during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

John F. Kennedy

The 35th President of the United States, he served during the Cold War and is remembered for his handling of the Cuban Missile Crisis and promoting a strong stance against communism.

Dwight Eisenhower

The 34th President of the United States, he led during the early Cold War era and implemented the policy of containment against communism, as well as policy to counter Soviet influence in the Middle East.

Julius and Ethel Rosenberg

American citizens executed for allegedly espionage on behalf of the Soviet Union during the Cold War, relating to atomic secrets.