Our 1950's podcast has a bit of everything. The 1950s can be called the decade of conformity. There is tremendous growth. Population is BOOMING, hence the term "Baby Boomers" came into vogue.

The roles of women changed, going from aspirations of Rosie the Riviter in the work force to stay at home mother and homemaker. Television, movies, and other media, all showcased the idealized images of what family life should be.

Pop culture gave us rock n roll, "The King", Chuck Berry, and others.

Toys like The Barbie Doll, Mr Potato Head, and PlayDoh became very popular.

President Eisenhower championed projects related to infrastructure. The suburbs were born, and roads, highways, bridges, and tunnel projects were all undertaken.

This episode has it all, along with a little fun at the end.

There is always more to learn!

-Jimmy & Jean

So in order to recap how we got to what became known as the "McCarthy era", we need to take a look at recent events.

Many events occurred before Senator Joseph McCarthy's rise to national fame.

There was first the breakdown of the wartime alliance with the Soviet Union, and President Harry S. Truman signed an executive order in 1947 to screen federal employees for possible association with organizations deemed "totalitarian, fascist, communist, or subversive", or potentially advocating "to alter the form of Government of the United States by unconstitutional means."

Then, you had Czechoslovak coup by the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia which heightened concern in the West about Communist parties seizing power and the possibility of subversion.

In 1949, a high-level State Department official was convicted of perjury in a case of espionage, and the Soviet Union tested a nuclear bomb.

The Korean War started the next year, significantly raising tensions and fears of impending communist upheavals in the United States.

In a speech in February 1950, McCarthy claimed to have a list of members of the Communist Party USA working in the State Department, which attracted substantial press attention, and the term McCarthyism was published for the first time in late March of that year in The Christian Science Monitor, along with a political cartoon by Herblock in The Washington Post.

So there is the quick intro, and Jeananne will pick up all of the details of McCarthyism and the Second Red Scare.

there is always more to learn!

Jimmy & Jean

Welcome to episode number 102. This one is on the Korean War.

Jean and I discuss the events leading up to the war. The Korean War is a byproduct of post WWII events and how land was divided up after the war.

We dig into the 38th parallel, communist influences vs US influence, and the beginnings of war yet again.

We delve into what becomes the first of many proxy wars between the US and Russia, as well as the conclusion of the war, which believe it or not, is still not technically over.

Take a listen, and let us know what you think.

There is always more to learn!

-Jimmy & Jean

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) serves as a fundamental institution in shaping international relations, particularly between NATO and the West. Established in the aftermath of World War II, NATO was formed to ensure collective defense and maintain peace among its member states. Its creation responded to the urgent need for a stable and secure geopolitical environment in a world recovering from the devastation of war.

Its member countries agreed to mutual defense commitments, meaning an attack against one would be considered an attack against all. This principle aimed to deter aggression and promote a united front against any adversary. As the alliance grew, NATO adapted its objectives to address new global challenges beyond traditional military threats, such as terrorism and cyber warfare.

Take a listen to what Jimmy and Jean have to say about the formation and evolution of NATO.

There is always more to learn!

-Jimmy & Jean

In our podcast on the history of US Troop Entertainment we take a deep dive into the launching of the USO, celebrity visits to the troops, the mobilization of US mail to get the letters to our troops as well as Jeep Shows.

Our Special guest in this podcast is author Robert B. O'Connor, who wrote Jeep Show: A Trouper at the Battle of the Bulge

To take a peek at Robert's book, please visit this link to his book on Amazon.

There is always more to learn!

-Jimmy & Jean

We conclude our coverage of the presidency of Harry S. Truman with part three here in this podcast.

We are again joined by Mr Mark Adams from the Harry S. Truman Presidential Museum & Library.

Foreign Policy wise, throughout his two terms as President, Truman has one development after another. The start of the Cold War, the rebuilding of Europe – not just borders, rebuilding cities and reviving the economy through programs like the Truman Doctrine and The Marshall Plan and of course The Korean War which we will do a separate episode on. Truman also shocks US officials and world leaders with another shocking decision. What was it? Take a listen and find out!

We do not want to put too much into the description, and hope you enjoy the podcast.

There is always more to learn,

Jimmy & Jean

We continue our coverage of Harry S. Truman, which is in three parts.

In part two we are joined by Mr Mark Adams from the Harry S. Truman Presidential Museum & Library.

We discuss his acclimation to The Presidency after suddenly being thrust into the role, the decisions to drop "The Bomb" in hopes of ending the war, as well as post WWII politics and the desired influence of democracy on the globe.

We do not want to put too much into the description, and hope you enjoy the podcast

There is always more to learn,

Jimmy & Jean