Today, J. Edgar Hoover is remembered as a power-hungry, corrupt and prejudiced man, obsessed with an imagined threat of domestic communists. But during his life, he was widely respected and admired as the man responsible for building the FBI into a premier law enforcement agency. In the final episode of Coming in from the Cold Bill sits down with Beverly Gage, author of “G- Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century,” to discuss the complicated legacy of Hoover. Further Reading ...
Feb 28, 2023•42 min
Jim Fleming is the Charles A. Dana Professor of Science, Technology, and Society at Colby College and a research associate at the Smithsonian Institution. He has earned degrees in astronomy (B.S. Penn State University), atmospheric science (M.S. Colorado State University) and history (Ph.D. Princeton University). Professor Jim Fleming's website . “ Fixing the Sky: The Checkered History of Climate Engineering ”...
Dec 31, 2022•38 min
In 2017, reports of the mysterious “Havana Syndrome” dominated the news. American diplomats around the world reported experiencing a variety of symptoms including hearing a sudden loud noise, pain in one or both ears, feeling of pressure or vibrations in the head, tinnitus, visual problems, vertigo, nausea and cognitive difficulties. There is no consensus among American Intelligence agencies as to the cause of Havana Syndrome, but one theory is that directed microwave weapons could be responsibl...
Oct 31, 2022•27 min
The dropping of the atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki is seen by most as the ultimate display of man’s capacity to destroy. While the destructive power of nuclear weapons cannot be denied, there was another weapon used in the Pacific campaign which was responsible for even more civilian death, Napalm. In this episode, Bob Neer, author of “Napalm an American Biography,” joins Bill to discuss the history of Napalm and its complicated role in U.S. Military history. Bob Neer’s Website: https://...
Sep 30, 2022•37 min
The Cuban Missile Crisis is widely considered to be the closest the world has come to nuclear war. But while that crisis played out in public view, there was another close call that happened in the shadows. In this episode the story of Able Archer 83. Brian Morra is the author of “The Able Archers.” He has spent his career in intelligence and national security beginning with his time as a decorated Air Force Intelligence officer and through his many years as a senior executive in the aerospace a...
Aug 31, 2022•46 min
In this episode, we are taking a look back at the series so far and looking ahead to where it's going in the future. John Stimpson is the producer of Coming in From the Cold and a member of CNA’s Office of Communications. Lt. Cdr. Steven Wills served for 20 years as an active-duty U.S. Navy officer, he served on a variety of small and medium surface combatants, including an assignment as the executive officer of a mine countermeasures ship....
Jul 31, 2022•35 min
From the beginning of the Cold War, a network of U.S. conservatives dreamed of an international anti-communist revolution. Rather than overthrowing communist regimes directly, they instead pinned their hopes on armed groups who could topple communist states from within. In this episode, we explore the ideology of anticommunist internationalism and how it connects to today’s American far-right. Kyle Burke is an assistant professor of history at Hartwick College. He is the author of “ Revolutionar...
Jun 30, 2022•47 min
50 years ago, the Watergate scandal rocked American politics. The break-in and subsequent cover-up by the Nixon administration led to the only presidential resignation in American history and defines political scandal to this day. In this episode of Coming in From the Cold: Michael Dobbs, author of “King Richard: Nixon and Watergate--An American Tragedy,” joins Bill to discuss President Nixon, the Watergate scandal, and its impact 50 years later. Michael Dobbs’ biography: https://www.michaeldobb...
May 31, 2022•41 min
In 1983, the United States along with Caribbean partner nations invaded the island nation of Grenada. The goals of the operation outlined by the Reagan administration were to protect American citizens on the island, forestall further chaos, and restore the rule of law and order on the island of Grenada. While broadly successful in objectives, the operation was criticized by both U.S. and allied officials. In this episode of Coming in From the Cold, Alex Powell and Steve Wills join Bill, to discu...
Apr 30, 2022•33 min
On April 26, 1986, reactor No.4 of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded, triggering one of the worst man-made disasters in human history. Today, Chernobyl is back in the news as the site of one of the first battles in the Russia-Ukraine War. In this episode of Coming in From the Cold, Steve Wills sits down with Michael Kofman and Mary Chesnut, from CNA’s Russia Studies program. They discuss the impact that the Chernobyl accident had on the Ukrainian people, and the strategic value of the s...
Mar 31, 2022•32 min
When most of us think of radio stations we think of pop music and drive-time DJs. But those with shortwaves radios can access a whole other world of broadcasts, including police scanners, satellite signals and the mysterious “numbers stations.” These stations occasionally broadcast a bizarre string of numbers before going silent. To learn more about these “number stations,” what purpose they serve and how they were employed during the Cold War, Bill welcomes historian Māris Goldmanis and Dave Br...
Feb 28, 2022•24 min
Episode 27 of Coming in from the Cold covered the history of fallout shelters and civil defense in Cold War America, now our team had a chance to experience one firsthand. Producer John Stimpson joins Bill for a guided tour of the Tudor Place fallout shelter. Special thanks to Mark Hudson, Executive Director of Tudor Place, for providing the tour and making this episode possible. Follow the link below to follow along with a photo album of the tour. https://www.facebook.com/CNA.org/photos/pcb.491...
Jan 31, 2022•29 min
In this episode, Ralph Espach and Ken Gause join bill to discuss the weird world of Soviet and American experiments with parapsychology, during the Cold War.
Dec 31, 2021•43 min
At the CIA Headquarters in Langley Virginia, stands the Wall of Honor. Here CIA operatives who have died in the line of duty are memorialized. The first star on that wall belongs to Douglas Mackiernan. On this episode of Coming in From the Cold, Robin Shwetzer a retired DIA analyst, and Nicholas Dujmovic a retired CIA analyst join Bill to discuss the story of Douglas Mackiernan and the effort to repatriate his remains. Robin Shwetzer served as an analyst at the Defense Intelligence Agency for 25...
Nov 30, 2021•38 min
Very few people know the name Robert Komer, but he played a key role in shaping America’s national security policy during the Kennedy and Johnson administrations. In this episode Coming in From the Cold, Dr. Frank Jones author of the book Blowtorch: Robert Komer, Vietnam, and American Cold War Strategy. Join Bill and friend of the show Steve Wills to tell the story of Robert Komer. Frank Leith Jones is a professor of security studies in the Department of National Security and Strategy at the US ...
Oct 31, 2021•37 min
When most American’s think of terrorism in New York City, they think of September 11, 2001. However, there is an entire untold history of terrorism in the city dating back decades. On today’s episode of CIFTC, Bill sits down with David Viola professor of criminology at John Jay College, who tells the story of terrorism in New York, during the long 1960s. David C. Viola Jr., Ph.D. , is an adjunct professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York. He received his Ph.D. in history from ...
Sep 30, 2021•34 min
The story of Sen. Joseph McCarthy targeting alleged Communists working for the federal government is part of every American history textbook, but his persecution of LGBTQ people is not as widely known. In this episode, we are exploring the Lavender Scare. CNA analyst Kyle Penner and David Johnson author of, "The Lavender Scare: The Cold War Persecution of Gays and Lesbians in the Federal Government," join Bill for this discussion. Kyle Penner is a Research Analyst in CNA's Undersea Warfare Progr...
Sep 17, 2021•32 min
Paul Saunders and Alex Powell join Bill to discuss the Soviet Invasion of Afghanistan, and how world powers continue to make the same mistakes. Click here to visit our website and learn more about the participants.
Aug 31, 2021•35 min
On this episode of Coming in From the Cold, CNA analysts Josh Tallis and Steve Wills join Bill. They discuss Steve’s new book, “Strategy Shelved: The Collapse of Cold War Naval Strategic Planning.” “Strategy Shelved: The Collapse of Cold War Naval Strategic Planning,” by Steve Wills: https://www.usni.org/press/books/strategy-shelved “The War for Muddy Waters: Pirates, Terrorists, Traffickers and Maritime Insecurity,” by Josh Tallis: https://www.usni.org/press/books/war-muddy-waters...
Jul 31, 2021•44 min
This month on Coming in From the Cold, returning guest Ken Gause and Kevin Pollpeter join Bill to discuss the Pentagon’s report on Unidentified Aerial Phenomena. Click here to visit our website and learn more about the participants.
Jun 30, 2021•39 min
On this bonus episode of Coming in From the Cold, we are gearing up for the Pentagon’s report on “unidentified aerial phenomena (UAP)” anticipated today, June 25. Sam Bendett, an expert on Russian military technology joins Bill to explore the possibility that adversary technology can explain these phenomena and dive into the Russian experience with UAP. Click here to visit our website and learn more about the participants....
Jun 25, 2021•19 min
This time on Coming in From the Cold, Pamela Faber and Meg McBride join Bill to discuss their recent report, "Understanding Gender and Violent Extremism." Including examples from the Cold War. Click here to explore the report discussed in the episode: https://www.cna.org/CNA_files/PDF/Understanding-Gender-and-Violent-Extremism.pdf
May 31, 2021•33 min
On this episode of Coming in From the Cold, returning guests Steve Wills and Anya Fink join Bill to discuss the Cold War history of nuclear fallout shelters, civilian evacuations plans, and other aspects of civil defense. Click here to visit our website and learn more about the participants.
Apr 30, 2021•37 min
Bill and his guests discuss the rise and fall of the John Birch Society, a far-right organization which trafficked in conspiracy theories. CNA’s Meg McBride returns, accompanied by Darren Mulloy author of the “The World of the John Birch Society: Conspiracy, Conservatism and the Cold War.” Click here to visit our website and learn more about the participants.
Mar 31, 2021•33 min
On this episode, Ralph Espach and Ken Gause join bill to discuss the weird world of Soviet and American experiments with parapsychology, during the Cold War.
Feb 28, 2021•35 min
Dr. Afshon Ostovar Associate Professor at the Naval Postgraduate School and CNA’s Mike Connell join Bill to discuss the rise and fall of the Shah of Iran. Click here to visit our website and learn more about the participants.
Feb 02, 2021•48 min
On this episode, from Sputnik to Apollo to Star Wars, we cover the Cold War in space. Steve Wills returns, joined by special guest Don Brown, who leads the government group at Telesat, a major satellite operator. Click here to visit our website and learn more about the participants.
Dec 31, 2020•43 min
Pamela Faber returns along with Judd Devermont the director of the Africa Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). They discuss the Assassination of Patrice Lumumba, the first elected prime minister of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and its implications for Central Africa. Additional Reading U.S. National Archives : “Interview with Congo Chief of Station,” Miscellaneous Records of the Church Committee, Record Number 157-10014-10178, May 3, 2000, and Record Adm...
Nov 30, 2020•43 min
This month on Coming in From the Cold, a discussion of the history of Afghanistan leading up to the Soviet Invasion, and the war's legacy in the nation today. Regular guest Steve Wills sits in for Bill Rosenau as host and is joined by Ohio University professor of history Dr. John Brobst, and Dr. Jon Schroden Director of CNA's Center for Stability and Development. Click here to visit our website and learn more about the participants....
Oct 31, 2020•41 min
This month on Coming in From the Cold, CNA analyst Pamela Faber and Steve Wills join Bill to discuss Project Coast. This was the covert effort of the Apartheid government to develop chemical and biological weapons, assassinate political dissidents, and continue the oppression of the Apartheid State in South Africa. Related Materials Chandré Gould, Brian Rappert, Verne Harris, and Kathryn Smith, “Why Project Coast Still Matters,” Institute for Security Studies, November 24, 2014, https://issafric...
Sep 30, 2020•46 min
