Cold War Expansion and Americanism

The Cold War expanded and shifted over time, lacking a clear internal logic and driven by paranoia and anxieties rooted in the 1930s.
It involved repackaged old and new American politics and defied simple logic, necessitating a careful examination of its developments.

Unity and Collaboration:
- A belief in a unified American identity despite political disagreements.
- Trust in the state as a representation of the people's unity.
- Cultural unity symbolized by shared American culture (film, music, literature).
- Rejection of Victorian-era divides based on class, race, and fear of contamination.
- Example: Sinatra representing the best of all Americans, bridging vaudeville traditions with high culture.
Racial Inclusion:
- Necessity of racial diversity and integration due to the logic of the GI Bill.
- Makes no sense to have segregated armed forces.
- Makes no sense to have segregated baseballs.
- Makes no sense to have segregated spaces.
- Veterans should have access to education and homes regardless of race.
Gender Roles:
- Less emphasis on gender inclusivity compared to racial inclusivity.
- Expectation of women returning to traditional roles after wartime contributions.
- Idealized vision of functioning, ordered families with a working father and a consuming mother.

The Cold War introduces the paradox of unity versus the presence of subversives and un-American activities.
The shift from anti-fascism during the war to anti-communism after the war leads to the investigation of anything resembling communism.
HUAC (House Un-American Activities Committee) investigates un-American activities, sometimes reflecting older Victorian ideals.
- Example: the Klan, being seen as an American institution.
HUAC investigations focused on alleged communists, including those who collaborated with communists during the 1930s and 1940s due to shared political interests.

HUAC asked not just about current affiliations but also past associations with communism.
This highlights a tension between the aspirational postwar period and the paranoid anxieties of the Cold War.

School children were educated to "Duck and Cover" to prepare for atomic bomb attacks.
This strategy was taught through films like "Bert the Turtle" to simplify the complexities of the Cold War for children.
The goal was to instill fear and encourage trust in the state for protection, though the effectiveness of "duck and cover" was questionable.
It served to keep the public vigilant and trusting of the government.

As awareness of the true extent of atomic weapons' damage grew, distrust in the state increased.
The Oppenheimer trials focused on loyalty rather than the creation of destructive weapons.
The key issue was how the Soviets obtained the bomb and the loyalty of individuals involved.

The postwar world was envisioned to be built on:
- Keynesian economics
- Collaborative and cooperative relationships
- A functional United Nations.
- The Bretton Woods Agreement.
- The end of European empires.
The US containment policy towards the Soviets was influenced by Kennan doctrine.
- Push back, don't give up ground, but don't try and take ground.
- Greece and Turkey and the Truman Doctrine (aid, money, guns).
- The Domino Theory.
Internal subversion became a concern, exemplified by HUAC.
The "loss" of China to communism triggered intense political debate in the US (Who lost China?).
The US committed to defending South Korea, emphasizing the importance of containing communism in Asia.

Joe McCarthy's accusations of communist infiltration in the State Department created political upheaval.
McCarthy targeted Ivy League graduates and alleged political and sexual deviants.
The Army-McCarthy hearings were televised, leading to McCarthy's downfall due to his bullying tactics and lack of evidence.
Key argument: Don't trust the State Department.
Elite education is bad.
HUAC remained influential, focusing on Hollywood and cultural figures, with Richard Nixon as a prominent figure.

The progressive wing broke, the Dixiecrats broke, but Truman still won.
After '48 radicals became known as communists.
Dixiecrats linked back to the Democratic party.
Republicans reinvented themselves as moderates.
A new consensus emerged, based on anti-communism, Keynesian economics (defense spending), capitalism, Christian values, and domestic order.

Eisenhower's strategy of "massive retaliation" threatened a full-scale atomic response to any communist aggression.
John Foster Dulles advocated "brinksmanship," emphasizing the need to be willing to go to the brink of war.
The public Cold War involved symbolic victories and propaganda, while the covert Cold War involved covert actions and interventions led by the CIA.
Brinksmanship is choosing when you're willing to go to the edge.
Newell report: We must do whatever we can, but it must be kept secret.
The US overthrew the democratic government of Iran and install a king.
The US supported the military dictatorships in Cuba.

The CIA, led by Allen Dulles, engaged in espionage, sabotage, and support for military coups.
The Duval Commission report emphasized the need to subvert and destroy enemies, even if it meant violating rules and committing war crimes.

The Bay of Pigs invasion to overthrow Castro failed, leading to the Cuban Missile Crisis, bringing the world to the brink of nuclear war.
External subversion and internal subversion caused a constant state of tension.