The 75th anniversary of the cold war. With me today is dr. William hitchcock, the professor of history at the university of virginia. Dr. Hitchcock is the author of several books on the cold war, most recently the age of Eisenhower America and the world in the 1950s. Published in 2018 by simon and schuster. Will, welcome and ask for joining us. William thank you, good to be with you. Looking forward to a conversation. Sean lets get to it. In surveying the 45 years of the cold war and its impact, one could argue that it fundamentally changed the constitutional framework of the American Government, that it was this period that saw the greater concentration of power in the president at the expense of the congress, that more than ever in our history because of the challenges of the cold war our National Course is now set by the personality of the president. Would you agree with that . William well, yes, i would agree with that. And i think its been characteristic of the presidency over the
Theyve been repaid many fold and the end is not yet. With this mom, we have added new and revolutionary increase in discussion to supplement the growing power of our armed forces. In their present form, these bombs are now in production and even more powerful forms are in development. Its an atomic bomb. Its a harnessing of the basic power of the universe. The force from which the sun draws its power has been loosed against those who brought war to the far east. We are now prepared to destroy more rapidly and completely every productive enterprise the japanese have in any city. We shall destroy their docks, their factories and their communications. Let there be no mistake, we shall completely destroy japans power to make war. It was to spare the japanese people from utter destruction that the ultimatum of july the 26th was issued at potsdam. Their leaders promptly rejected that ultimatum. If they do not accept our terms, they may expect rain from the air, the like of which has never be
To be the supreme allied commander and it was an accident of timing with this decision. So i was the accidental admiral. Host that the navy was an accident as well as a career . Somewhat. Going way back i grew up in the marine corps family. My father was the fighting in korea and vietnam and i grew up in that environment and i went to Quantico High School and then went on to the Naval Academy thinking i would be a marine corps officer. After my first year the navy sends everybody out on a cruise and you go out on a ship beautiful cruiser on san diego it was late in the day the sun was setting and and i just wanted to be a sailor at that point so i told my dad and my mom and they were hoping it would be a marine that they got over it years later when i got my first star is that i think that came out okay. Host you almost left the nav navy . I did i graduated from annapolis and went to see for five years three on a destroyer in san diego and then to florida where i come from you today my
Skin two. The president pro tempore the senate will come to order. The chaplain, dr. Black, will open the senate in prayer. The chaplain let us pray. Mighty god, teach us to trust you more fully, to wait quietly for the unfolding of your providence, to pray fervently, and to worship more humbly. Reassure us with your wisdom, power, and love, that your providence will prevail. Lord, you are our shelter for every storm. Remind our lawmakers to remember how your purposes have prevailed in our nations history so they need not fear for the future. Provide them with a firm faith that will enable them to meet the daunting challenges of these times. Lord, lengthen their moments of prayer until their lives become a continual aspiration after you. We pray in your matchless name. Amen. The president pro tempore please join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivis
Admiral why do you refer to yourself as the accidental admiral . [laughter] what a great question. You can choose to hear a particular course you will lose ultimately in a different direction. And then to be in charge of all activity and with the commander of us Pacific Command position for senior admiral. My boss, a wonderful boss, secretary gates called to say forget about the pacific we will send you to nato i bk the first and only admiral to be the supreme allied commander and it was an accidenthe. That the navy was an accident as a career . Soet somewhat. That my father had kernel of marines growing up in that environment and going to Quantico High School thinking it would be them marine corps everybody goes out on a cruise going on a cruise are in san diego. Late in the day on the peer and the sun was setting looking out on all that ocean and i just wanted to be a sailor. I told my dad and mom they were hoping it would be a marine that years later my dad said that came out okay.