8.01 Roots of the Cold War
Interview
INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:
Part A
Sandra Johnson, born May 15, 1933. She lived in Michigan, Ohio, and Illinois. This interview was conducted on April 9th, 2013 at 8:30AM.
Part B
1. What was the first time you remember hearing about the Soviet Union (or the USSR) and its conflict with the United States? Tell me about it. "I was around fourteen at the start of the Cold War. I remember my parents talking about it at dinnertime. I was a little too young to fully understand what it meant and who it involved but I remember knowing that large bombs were involved."
2. What do you remember seeing or reading in the news about the Cold War? "It was all over the newspapers. Not immediately after it started, but after a few months I remember seeing big headlines about the Soviet Union."
3. What books did you read or movies did you watch that villainized the Soviet Union or dealt with the Cold War? How did they shape your impressions at that time? "Oh, I remember seeing one called "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" when I was about 22. I was in college and all of my friends were big into the war. They took me to see it. It was about aliens taking over America, and so I guess it was like a representation of communists taking over America. It made me angry."
4. What were you taught in school and at home about the Soviet Union? What did your school and family teach about nuclear threats and nuclear war? "One thing I remember specifically was practicing air raid drills when I was in junior high and high school. All the students would have to crowd together in the hallway of the building with our arms over our heads. Kids were taught this at such an early age, and the schools taught them that they had to be afraid and on guard at all times. It was a lot for me as an adolescent, I can't imagine how younger children would have felt. My parents didn't talk to my siblings and me too much about it because they didn't want us to worry. I'm glad that they did that."
5. Were you or any of your family members ever afraid that there would be a hot war or nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union? When did you feel that way? If yes, did you do anything to prepare or get ready for it? "My parents never put too much thought into the war. They didn't want their children to get upset or start worrying that something bad would happen. We hardly talked about the war at all."
6. What aspects of the Space Race do you remember? Was "Space Race" a phrase that you remember using at the time? What did it mean to you? "I remember hearing about the Sputnik in college, which was the Soviet Union's satellite I believe. Soon after that the NASA was created. I don't recall ever personally using the term "Space Race" but lots of people that I knew talked about it, so I knew what it involved."
7. How was the rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union promoted in sports? Can you think of any specific examples? "The Olympics was a big thing. There were several sports where the Soviets went up against the Americans, I think ice hockey was one, um, figure skating…there were a lot of excellent Russian figure skaters."
8. Do you remember the Berlin Wall coming down? How did it make you feel? How have your feelings about that era changed since 1989 and the Berlin Wall coming down? "I remember hearing the news about the fall of the Wall on the news in 1989. I was glad that Germany was no longer divided into East and West sides. It was a happy time, um, the two sides of Germany really celebrated together and it was a good time for them. I still feel glad for them, even now. To think about how they were cut off from part of their country, you know? What if they had family on the other side that they couldn't see for all those years? It was terrible."
9. How do you think future generations will remember the Cold War? What lessons should students today take away from the Cold War? "I already believe that people aren't remembering it as much as they used to. Now, I don't know what they're teaching in schools about it, but pretty soon, future generations won't even know the Cold War happened, and I think that needs to be changed. You know, looking back on it, a lot older and wiser, I think it's important to teach our kids about what the United States wen through during this war. Kids need to be able to appreciate what their country has done."
10. How does psychological warfare today compare to psychological warfare during the Cold War? "I don't know much about how often psychological warfare is used nowadays, but it was utilized a lot during the Cold War, because a cold war is two countries fighting economically, mentally."
Part C
Develop 2 questions of your own to ask the interviewee.
1. Do you remember the Beatles song about the USSR? How did it make you feel? "Oh, yes, I remember that song well! "Back in the USSR", I believe it was called. To be honest, at the time I thought it was quite funny. Here you have this worldwide phenomenon of a band, girls love them, they couldn't get more famous…it really was a smart idea, making a song about it. It made more people - younger people - aware of what was going on when they might not have been paying attention before."
2. What do you remember about the hydrogen bombs? "The hydrogen bomb was more powerful even than an atomic bomb. It was a big deal when the United States released the bomb. Then when the Soviets created their hydrogen bomb…it was a whole lot of power."
REFLECTION:
- What from the interview did I find most surprising? How much of an impact the Cold War had on all aspects of the world, like music, sports, and entertainment.
- How might a Russian adult have responded to the interview? Depending on how into the war they were and how partial to their country they are, they might either be mad or indifferent.
