This Terrified Americans In 1957. What Was It?

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Күн бұрын

This is a clip from a documentary feature-length movie that I made for the 50th anniversary of the launch of Sputnik, the first artificial satellite, by the Soviet Union. IT took place in October 1957. This event was a major milestone in the Space Race, a key aspect of the Cold War competition between the United States and the Soviet Union. My point of view was purely American - looking at what happened and how Americans reacted to Sputnik 1 and Sputnik 2 with Laika the dog aboard.
After winning the audience award at the Seattle Film Festival, the film opened at the IFC in New York City and got fine reviews in the New York Times and elsewhere. But few went to see the film so I licensed the rights to A&E who presented it on TV.
To view the entire film go here - • The Story Of The Sputn...
Why was Sputnik seen as a threat?
The successful launch of Sputnik demonstrated that the Soviet Union had made significant advancements in rocket technology. If they could launch a satellite into space, they might also have the capability to launch missiles that could reach the United States.
The rocket that launched Sputnik, the R-7, was seen as a prototype for intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs). Such missiles could potentially deliver nuclear warheads to targets across the globe, including the U.S.
Beyond the military implications, Sputnik was also a propaganda victory for the Soviets. It seemed to suggest that the communist system was capable of achieving significant scientific and technological feats, potentially surpassing the capitalist West.
The U.S. intelligence community was somewhat taken by surprise with the Soviets' capability to launch a satellite. This raised concerns about potential underestimations of other Soviet capabilities.
How did Americans react?
The U.S. accelerated its efforts to launch its own satellite, leading to the successful launch of Explorer 1 in January 1958.
In response to Sputnik and to consolidate the various civilian space programs, the U.S. established the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) in 1958.
Recognizing that the U.S. needed to bolster its scientific and technological prowess, Congress passed the National Defense Education Act in 1958, which provided funding for education in science, mathematics, and foreign languages.
The U.S. hugely accelerated its development and deployment of ICBMs to ensure it wasn't falling behind the Soviets in missile technology.
The U.S. ramped up its efforts to launch reconnaissance satellites to better monitor activities in the Soviet Union and gather intelligence.
The public's fear of potential Soviet missile strikes led to a renewed interest in civil defense. This included building fallout shelters, conducting air raid drills, and public service campaigns about how to prepare for a nuclear attack.
In essence, the launch of Sputnik was a wake-up call for the United States, prompting significant reactions in the domains of space exploration, military defense, education, and public preparedness.
Thank you for watching and for reading this.
David Hoffman filmmaker

Пікірлер: 27

@2listening1 8 күн бұрын

🙋🏻‍♀️ hi David! I appreciate your work.

@GumpSpelunk 8 күн бұрын

The great voice of the great person..Peter Thomas...everytime i hear his voice...it's like hearing an old friend. 🇺🇸🎙😎📺🏴‍☠️

@knelson3484 7 күн бұрын

Thank you, David. 🙂

@drewpall2598 8 күн бұрын

I enjoy these old film clips and documentaries from the 1950's and 60's that shows how folks reacted to crisis or advisements. The cold war and the race into space era were exciting and frighting times as I have learned. Thanks, David, for your hard works then and now on preserving history. 😊🧡✌

@noh9145 8 күн бұрын

Amazing video. Kinda spooky too

@LittleGrayMouse 8 күн бұрын

It's funny how the American woman thought Russia was nothing but peasants when they had cities that were as big and luxurious as our own.

@knopkaplay0507 8 күн бұрын

@@LittleGrayMouse they were quite as big, but not quite as luxurious - it was just 15 years after the war, which effectively destroyed the whole European part of the country and decimated the population. But yes, definitely not only peasants :-)

@donnacederlundjones3414 8 күн бұрын

I've been watching the Atomic Age Declassified series and it really sharpens the understanding that "what we don't know can't hurt us" was never more wrong.

@timspray2704 7 күн бұрын

I remember having teachers show us how to get under the school desk for protection from a possible atomic bomb attack. Mid 50s

@Schmidtelpunkt 7 күн бұрын

Interesting bit of the First Cold War. I wonder if people in the future will look at similar bits of the current one.

@riverbender9898 8 күн бұрын

Justifiable reaction and catalyst for our own innovations. Thanks David.

@knopkaplay0507 8 күн бұрын

Well, the fact that the American Intellectual chose to speak to the public with a basic middle-school formula on the blackboard as background may have served an indication of where the US went wrong :-)

@skydiverclassc2031 4 күн бұрын

Charles van Doren, soon to be involved in the nationwide TV game show scandal for basically cheating on "21".

@skydiverclassc2031 4 күн бұрын

It's always interesting to look back on things we considered vitally important, such as international prestige.

@rogerward8047 8 күн бұрын

David, this is superior. Now, look what we have done.

@Dicky104 6 күн бұрын

I remember this I thought it was fascinating but I live in the UK.

@TheHypnotstCollector 4 күн бұрын

I was 7, lived in San Diego over Mission Bay (nice view). Dad was part of the new world of computer programing and Electronic Warfare a Convair ( A Old Crow in 1966) we went to the backyard in the evening and saw Sputnik go by. I recall well dad saying "If they can put a dog in it they can put a bomb in it'.

@SK-fq1by3977 8 күн бұрын

Crazy. Seems like everything is urgent. Calling someone an enemy over and over yet deal with them on world scale financially, it's hypocrisy at civilians dime. Race to "whatever" is a racket!