Cold War

Lindenwood University was one of the many Colleges that had to navigate a changing social and political landscape during the Cold War from things such as controversial teaching materials to Soviet students visiting the campus. This is the story of Lindenwood during the Cold War.

Raising of The Iron Curtain

Following World War II, the US and Soviet Union became the dominant superpowers in the world. Although they fought on the same side, ideologically they were very different. The US being a democracy feared the rise of communism and its spread throughout the world but were confident that they could beat it back. Much of this optimism and the United States' new role on the international stage could be felt on campus as displayed in several articles provided by the campus newspaper. “The Road to Peace” talks about the United States’ stance on its road to world peace, not through aggression but through a balance of power. Whereas “America’s Date With Destiny” focused on the new role that the US will have to play in combating the rise of communism.

The Lindenwood College Bulletin, Nov 1954 talked about the possible roads to peace and balance of power

The Linden Bark, April 3rd, 1947 reports about the rise and spread of communism in the Mediterranean area and gives insight into the fears of the time

Young Hall was funded as a part of the National Defense Education Act in response to Sputnik. The building hosts an emphasis on courses pertaining to science and mathematics.

Colleges Under Fire

The fears of communism spreading to the US led to an exaggeration of rumors that Communists had infiltrated some of our highest levels of government and educational institutions. The Red Scare and the McCarthy trials that followed were more akin to the Salem witch trials in that even the slightest thing could be scrutinized and could be considered communist. Institutions at the time were heavily scrutinized and under surveillance from the government for any hint of teaching “controversial materials” such as anything with reference to communism and anarchism. In an opinion piece written in the Lindenwood newspaper regarding the teaching of “controversial material”, it is quoted “Our country has been famous for its practice of the freedom of speech. Let us hope that the educators themselves who have taught it do not seek to subdue it now. We can combat the ideals of communism more effectively if we know against what we are fighting. Ignorance breeds only fear; knowledge breeds understanding. If we understand something, then we can better know not only what to reject but what to fight.”

The Linden Bark, December 17, 1954 Talks about a student debate on whether the United States should recognize the communist government of China and how that debate was suppressed by multiple colleges.

The Students View of The Cuban Missile Crisis

The Cuban Missile Crisis was a confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union about Soviet missiles in the Island nation of Cuba in October 1962. Lindenwood students along with many other students across the nation had many opinions on this crisis. It is viewed as one of the closest moments to nuclear war during the Cold War. A student in the school newspaper writes about how Cuba fell to communism and allied itself with the Soviet Union. The student states that our government did a good job “to remedy this tragic situation.” The steam tunnels that had previously been used as a potential air raid shelter during World War II were considered to be used as a “fallout shelter” but this idea was done away with after more modern and protective community shelters were built.

Students participating in Lindenwood College student government Social Council, Circa 1958.

The Impact of The Vietnam War on Lindenwood

The Vietnam War was a conflict in southeast Asia between the United States allied south and the communist north. It was fought by the United States as part of the policy of containment. There were many anti-war movements across the United States and some of those were visible on the Lindenwood Campus. The first male students were admitted to Lindenwood during this time and some came to attempt to dodge the draft of the Vietnam War. Lindenwood students participated in a student-led peace walk in Washington D.C. The students had a memorial for those who were killed during the Kent State killings, displaying crosses in what would now be the parking lot near Young Hall.

The Linden Bark, Feb 24, 1966, shows a satirical piece from students on the Vietnam War. It shows the student's opinion on the U.S. involvement in Vietnam and the fight against communism.

The Linden Bark, Feb 14, 1962, talked about Three sophomores who went to a peace walk in Washington D.C. It talks about a nationwide student protest in our nation's capital against the Cold War policies of the eastern and western power blocs.

The Iron Curtain Falls

As the Cold War was coming to an end there were openings of previously closed doors. In the audio below a speech from Henry Kissinger, the former Secretary of State, talks about an upcoming student exchange between Lindenwood University and the Soviet Union. This direct involvement shows the loosening of tensions. in response to Sputnik and the start of the space race. In 1988, Lindenwood student Ron Waterman was the originator of Project Peace, which led to the Lindenwood and Soviet student exchange in 1988. The result was that 15 of Lindenwood and Soviet students would visit each other’s schools. This symbolizes the de-escalation of tensions and increasing of relations.