November 14 - The United States Announces Support for Yugoslavia

This Day in History: 14 November 2020

 

14 November 1951

 

69 years ago, today, the United States announced its plan to give military and economic aid to communist Yugoslavia. The action was part of the US policy to drive a further wedge between Yugoslavia and the Soviet Union. Even though the United States had supported Josip Broz Tito during World War II, as Cold War hostilities set in, US policy toward Yugoslavia hardened. Tito was viewed simply as another tool of Soviet expansion into eastern and southern Europe. However, in 1948, Tito broke with Stalin, but still continued to proclaim his allegiance to communist ideology.

 

In order to win Tito's favour, the United States supported Yugoslavia's efforts in 1949 to gain a seat at the United Nations. In 1951, President Truman asked Congress to provide economic and military assistance to Yugoslavia, which was granted. Nevertheless, Tito continued to support the Soviet Union, as in 1956, he supported the Soviet invasion of Hungary. Even though the United States admired Tito's independence, sometimes he could be too independent. The American officials were concerned in the 1950s and 1960s when Tito encouraged and supported the nonalignment movement among Third World nations, as the Americans were intent on forcing those nations to choose sides in the Cold War.

 

Want to find out more about Yugoslavia in the Cold War? Click here for more information, or here for more about Tito.

October 5 - First Televised Presidential Address

This Day in History: 5 October 2020

 

5 October 1947

 

73 years ago, today, President Harry Truman delivered the first-ever televised presidential address from the White House, where he asked Americans to cut back on their use of grain in order to help starving Europeans. At the time, Europe was still recovering from World War Two and suffering from famine. Truman worried that if the US did not provide food aid, his Marshall Plan for European economic recovery would fail. So, he asked farmers and distillers to reduce their grain use and asked the public to give up meat on Tuesdays, eggs and poultry on Thursdays and a slice of bread each day. This program was short-lived, however, as the Marshall Plan succeeded in spurring economic growth in Europe.

 

Television was still in its infancy in 1947, as most people listened to the radio for news and entertainment, so the majority of Americans missed Truman's TV debut. Nevertheless, his speech signalled the start of a powerful and complex relationship between the White House and a medium that would have a large impact on American presidency. Each of Truman's subsequent White House speeches were televised. In 1948, he became the first presidential candidate to broadcast a paid political advertisement. Although Truman pioneered the White house telecast, it was President Franklin Roosevelt who became the first president to appear on television. However, this again had an extremely limited audience.

 

Want to find out more about how US presidents have communicated with the public over the years? Click here for more information, or here for more about the Marshall Plan.