Coming in From the Cold: Untold Stories from the Cold War

Coming in from the Cold explores forgotten—or never-remembered—national security policy initiatives, incidents and events during the Cold War. In each episode Cold War Historian Bill Rosenau, sits down with experts on a wide range of topics to discuss these events and how they are relevant to today’s challenges. The views expressed here are those of the commentators and do not necessarily reflect the views of CNA or any of its sponsors.

J. Edgar Hoover 02/28/2023

J. Edgar Hoover 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 G-Man: J. Edgar Hoover and the Making of the American Century: The Documentary: The People vs. J. Edgar Hoover: The FBI: “FBI Records: The Vault/COINTELPRO/White Hate Groups: /episode/index/show/ciftc/id/26079054

Weaponizing the Weather 12/31/2022

Weaponizing the Weather 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 . “” /episode/index/show/ciftc/id/25451826

The Moscow Signal and Havana Syndrome 10/31/2022

The Moscow Signal and Havana Syndrome 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 responsible. While this might sound like science fiction, this story has a Cold War parallel, the Moscow Signal. In today’s episode and , from the National Security Archives, join Bill to tell the story of the Moscow Signal and how the story parallels the Havana Syndrome. Further Reading : The Moscow Signals Declassified Microwave Mysteries: Projects PANDORA and BIZARRE : The Moscow Signals Declassified Microwave Diplomacy : The Moscow Signals Declassified: Irradiating Richard Nixon /episode/index/show/ciftc/id/24857850

Napalm: The Original Weapon of Mass Destruction 09/30/2022

Napalm: The Original Weapon of Mass Destruction 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: “'Napalm Girl': An Iconic Image Of War Turns 40,” NPR, June 3, 2012, “Remembering the Halabja Massacre,” Voice of America, March 15, 2018: Bombing of Civilians and Civilian Targets by the Air Force,” Human Rights Watch, July 24, 1990: /episode/index/show/ciftc/id/24537090

Able Archer: The Invisible Cuban Missile Crisis 08/31/2022

Able Archer: The Invisible Cuban Missile Crisis 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. 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 and defense industry. 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. Further Reading Brian J. Morra, The Able Archers (Virginia Beach, VA: Köehler Books, 2022), Bernd Schaefer, Nate Jones, and Benjamin B. Fischer, “Forecasting Nuclear War,” Wilson Center, Cold War International History Project Zach Dorfman, “The Congressman Who Created His Own Deep State. Really.” Politico, December 2, 2018, . /episode/index/show/ciftc/id/24229761

In Review 07/31/2022

In Review 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. 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. /episode/index/show/ciftc/id/23903178

The Rise of the Right 06/30/2022

The Rise of the Right 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. is an assistant professor of history at Hartwick College. He is the author of “ Anticommunist Internationalism and Paramilitary Warfare in the Cold War” is the Co-Director of CNA’s /episode/index/show/ciftc/id/23593163

Nixon and Watergate 50 Years Later 05/31/2022

Nixon and Watergate 50 Years Later 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: /episode/index/show/ciftc/id/23283599

Urgent Fury: The 1983 Invasion of Grenada 04/30/2022

Urgent Fury: The 1983 Invasion of Grenada 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 discuss operation Urgent Fury, and its impact on military reform and special operations forces. Additional Resources U.S. Department of State (DOS) and U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), “Joint Overview of Operation Urgent Fury,” May 1, 1985, . DOS, “Lessons of Grenada,” February 1986, . Richard C. Thornton, “Grenada: Preemptive Strike,” Journal of Military and Strategic Studies, Fall and Winter 2008/9, Vol. 11, Issues 1 and 2. Ronald H. Cole, Operation Urgent Fury: The Planning and Execution of Joint Operations in Grenada, 12 October – 2 November 1983 (Washington, DC: DOD, 1997). Danny Shaw, “Grenada: 38 Years after a Triple Assassination, the Short-Lived Revolution still Inspires,” Council on Hemispheric Affairs, October 25, 2021, . Lindsay A. O’Rourke, Covert Regime Change: America’s Secret Cold War (Ithaca, New York: Cornell University Press, 2018). Photos from Grenada: /episode/index/show/ciftc/id/22941833

The Chernobyl Meltdown: Past and Present 03/31/2022

The Chernobyl Meltdown: Past and Present 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 site today. *Listener note: this episode was recorded on March 24, 2022, before reports emerged that Russian troops stationed in Chernobyl developed “acute radiation sickness.” Michael Kofman is the director of CNA’s Russia Studies Program. He is an expert in Russian armed forces, military thought, capabilities, and strategy. Mr. Kofman is also a Senior Editor at War on the Rocks, where he regularly authors articles on strategy, the Russian military and Russian decision-making. Twitter: Mary Chesnut is an associate research analyst with CNA’s Russia Studies Program. Prior to joining CNA, she was the program manager of the Nuclear Security Working Group a non-partisan organization at George Washington University. Twitter: /episode/index/show/ciftc/id/22637570

Numbers Stations: Unacknowledged Transmission 02/28/2022

Numbers Stations: Unacknowledged Transmission 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 Broyles director of CNA’s Special Activities & Intelligence Program. Māris Goldmanis is a historian, co-founder and editor of and an avid numbers stations researcher. Dave Broyles is the director of CNA's Special Activities & Intelligence Program. He specializes in cyber operations and special operations, as well as experimentation and innovation in the Department of Defense. Dave is also the co-host of the CNA podcast AI with AI. /episode/index/show/ciftc/id/22283513

A Visit to a Washington, DC Bomb Shelter 01/31/2022

A Visit to a Washington, DC Bomb Shelter 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. /episode/index/show/ciftc/id/21967868

Rebroadcast: The Brain as a Secret Weapon 12/31/2021

Rebroadcast: The Brain as a Secret Weapon 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. /episode/index/show/ciftc/id/21644753

The Wall of Honor's First Star 11/30/2021

The Wall of Honor's First Star 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 years, where she worked on a variety of issues including Weapons of Mass Destruction, Underground facilities, and geopolitical analysis. She is an expert in designing tailored analytic methods to solve difficult intelligence problems, and developed and instructed intelligence research and analysis courses for government and universities. Robin retired from DIA earlier this year and spends much of her time researching to support POW/MIA recovery efforts. Nicholas Dujmovic is a 26-year veteran of the Central Intelligence Agency, where he served as an analyst, manager, editor of the President's Daily Brief, and deputy chief of the Agency's History Staff. Prior to his CIA career, he served 14 years in the U.S. Coast Guard. He retired from government service in 2016 to create a program in intelligence studies at the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. On behalf of Robin Schwetzer this episode is dedicated to the Mackiernan family. If you are interested in learning more about repatriation efforts like the ones discussed in this episode, please visit the National League of POW/MIA Families, a nonprofit, 501[c][3] tax-exempt, humanitarian organization () /episode/index/show/ciftc/id/21329729

Blowtorch Bob Komer 10/31/2021

Blowtorch Bob Komer 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 Army War College, Carlisle, PA. He is the author of Blowtorch: Robert Komer, Vietnam, and American Cold War Strategy. His latest book is Sam Nunn: Statesman of the Nuclear Age. : In 20 years as an active-duty U.S. Navy officer, Wills served on a variety of small and medium surface combatants, including an assignment as the executive officer of a mine countermeasures ship. /episode/index/show/ciftc/id/20993681

Terrorism in New York: The Long 1960s 09/30/2021

Terrorism in New York: The Long 1960s 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 the City University of New York Graduate Center. In addition to his teaching and scholarship, Viola is a documentary filmmaker and an intelligence officer in the US Navy Reserves. Further Reading David C. Viola Jr., “Terrorism and the Response to Terrorism in New York City During the Long Sixties,” Ph.D. diss., The Graduate Center, City University of New York, 2017, /episode/index/show/ciftc/id/20664359

The Lavender Scare in Cold War America 09/17/2021

The Lavender Scare in Cold War America 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 Program and one of the leaders of the employee resource group Pride at CNA. David Johnson is a professor of history at the University of South Florida. /episode/index/show/ciftc/id/20514089

Rebroadcast: The Bear Came Over the Mountain 08/31/2021

Rebroadcast: The Bear Came Over the Mountain 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 to visit our website and learn more about the participants. /episode/index/show/ciftc/id/20323577

The Collapse of Cold War Naval Strategic Planning 07/31/2021

The Collapse of Cold War Naval Strategic Planning 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: “The War for Muddy Waters: Pirates, Terrorists, Traffickers and Maritime Insecurity,” by Josh Tallis: /episode/index/show/ciftc/id/19984589

The UFO Phenomenon: Reckoning with the Inconceivable 06/30/2021

The UFO Phenomenon: Reckoning with the Inconceivable 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 to visit our website and learn more about the participants. /episode/index/show/ciftc/id/19660715

From UFO to UAP 06/25/2021

From UFO to UAP 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 to visit our website and learn more about the participants. /episode/index/show/ciftc/id/19605200

Gender and Violent Extremist Organizations 05/31/2021

Gender and Violent Extremist Organizations 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 /episode/index/show/ciftc/id/19300196

Duck and Cover 04/30/2021

Duck and Cover 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 to visit our website and learn more about the participants. /episode/index/show/ciftc/id/18929765

The John Birch Society 03/31/2021

The John Birch Society 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 to visit our website and learn more about the participants. /episode/index/show/ciftc/id/18554936

The Brain as a Secret Weapon 02/28/2021

The Brain as a Secret Weapon 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. /episode/index/show/ciftc/id/18111326

The Last Shah of Iran 02/02/2021

The Last Shah of Iran 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 to visit our website and learn more about the participants. /episode/index/show/ciftc/id/17780828

Rebroadcast: Dyna-soars and Brilliant Pebbles- The Cold War in Space 12/31/2020

Rebroadcast: Dyna-soars and Brilliant Pebbles- The Cold War in Space 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 to visit our website and learn more about the participants. /episode/index/show/ciftc/id/17382122

The Congo Crisis: The Assassination of Patrice Lumumba 11/30/2020

The Congo Crisis: The Assassination of Patrice Lumumba 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 : “Interview with Congo Chief of Station,” Miscellaneous Records of the Church Committee, Record Number 157-10014-10178, May 3, 2000, and Record Administration, : Alleged Assassination Plots Involving Foreign Leaders (Washington: USGPO, 1975). :“The Congo, Decolonization, and the Cold War, 1960–1965.” : “A Critical Oral History Conference.” : “CIA’s Covert Operations in the Congo, 1960–1968: Insights from Newly Declassified Documents.” : “Why They Killed Patrice Lumumba: An Interview with Georges Nzongola-Ntalaja.” : Congo, 1964-1968. Click to visit our website and learn more about the participants. /episode/index/show/ciftc/id/17004794

The Mujahideen: From Allies To Menace 10/31/2020

The Mujahideen: From Allies To Menace 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 to visit our website and learn more about the participants. /episode/index/show/ciftc/id/16628120

Apartheid in South Africa: Project Coast 09/30/2020

Apartheid in South Africa: Project Coast 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, . “Special Investigation into Project Coast: South Africa’s Chemical and Biological Weapons Programme,” Truth and Reconciliation Commission (South Africa), October 29, 1998, . Stephen Burgess and Helen Purkit, The Rollback of South Africa’s Chemical and Biological Warfare Program (Maxwell Air Force Base, Alabama: U.S. Air Force Counterproliferation Center, April 2001). Chandré Gould and Peter Folb, “Project Coast: Apartheid’s Chemical and Biological Warfare Programme,” United Nations Disarmament Research Institute, December 20, 2002, . /episode/index/show/ciftc/id/16222229

Coming in From the Cold: Untold Stories from the Cold War

TOPICS