America Key People

Question 1

A US diplomat who in 1946 wrote a defining analysis which advocated for standing up to communism. This policy became known as containment. Also wrote Long Telegram.

Answer 1

George Kennan

Question 2

A five star general, fought in WW1 and commanded US Army in Far East in WW2. In command of UN forces in Korea until removed from position by Truman.

Answer 2

Douglas MacArthur

Question 3

Founded Communist Party of China. Proclaimed a Communist China in October 1949 and then ruled for 27 years.

Answer 3

Mao Zedong

Question 4

Democrat, early believer in the Truman Doctrine and ‘domino theory’. Appointed as Secretary State and produced NSC-68.

Answer 4

Dean Acheson

Question 5

Established Republic of China on Taiwan after defeat by Mao. Lack of support from Truman disappointed Taiwan. Ruled as a dictator.

Answer 5

Jiang Jieshi

Question 6

Vietnamese Communist Revolutionary Leader. Prime Minister and President of Vietnam.

Answer 6

Ho Chi Minh

Question 7

British economist, led the British delegation that established the Bretton Woods system. Economy philosopher.

Answer 7

John Maynard Keynes

Question 8

Leader of Miners’ trade unions who founded Congress of Industrial Organisation. Supported FDR and the ‘New Deal’. After WW2 he led many mine workers’ strikes.

Answer 8

John L Lewis

Question 9

Senator for Wisconsin. Accusations about widespread communist conspiracies. Led to the coining of ‘McCarthyism’. Eventually censured by Senate in 1954.

Answer 9

Joseph McCarthy

Question 10

Joined NOI in 1948. Charismatic style made him nationally infamous. Assassinated in 1965 after breaking away from NOI.

Answer 10

Malcolm X

Question 11

Former Baptist preacher turned politician who represented Harlem in HoR. In 1961 he became Chair of the House Education and Labour Committee which put him in a key position to aid progress of social legislation.

Answer 11

Adam Clayton Powell

Question 12

A lawyer for the NAACP who won a series of cases before Brown vs Board. LBJ nominated him to Supreme Court in 1967.

Answer 12

Thurgood Marshall

Question 13

Nominated as Democratic Candidate and failed in 1952 and 56.

Answer 13

Aldai Stevenson

Question 14

Secretary of State for Eisenhower. Staunch anti-communist, trained lawyer and older brother of Allen Dulles (Director of CIA) and he advocated for brinkmanship.

Answer 14

John Foster Dulles

Question 15

Early member of the communist party. Leader of party of Stalin’s death. in 1956, delivered ‘Secret Speech’ in which he denounced Stalin’s cult of personality and called for peace with the West.

Answer 15

Nikita Khrushchev

Question 16

Aerospace engineer, ambivalent member of Nazi party. Surrendered at end of war, transferred to NASA in 1958, led Saturn series.

Answer 16

Werner Von Braun

Question 17

Director of CIA, but JFK removed him after Bay of Pigs. Commissioned U-2 spy plane. Sat on Warren Commission.

Answer 17

Allen Dulles

Question 18

Justice of Supreme Court, renowned for residing over a series of liberal decisions.

Answer 18

Earl Warren

Question 19

Governor of Arkansas and used the Little Rock incident to establish his reputation as segregationist. Epitomised ‘by all lawful means’.

Answer 19

Orval Faubus

Question 20

Co-wrote the Southern Manifesto and filibustered for over 24 hours in an attempt to derail 1957 Civil Rights Act.

Answer 20

Strom Thurmond

Question 21

Head of Department of Defence, favoured military intervention.

Answer 21

Robert McNamara

Question 22

Secretary of State under both Kennedy and Johnson. Involved in foreign policy.

Answer 22

Dean Rusk

Question 23

JFK’s younger brother. Under Johnson was the Attorney General.

Answer 23

Bobby Kennedy

Question 24

Deposed Batista in 1959. Over 600 attempts on his life. Turned Cuba into communist country.

Answer 24

Fidel Castro

Question 25

NAACP Executive Director 55-77. Called for advice by many presidents.

Answer 25

Roy Wilkins

Question 26

Credited with starting second wave feminism. Published book Feminine Mystique. In 1966 founded NOW.

Answer 26

Betty Friedan

Question 27

Republican candidate in 1964 election, highly conservative policies led to lowest ever share of votes. Tried to rebuild reputation through opposing increased influence of religious right.

Answer 27

Barry Goldwater

Question 28

Business-like attitude towards running Vietnam war. Convinced strategy of attrition was working but was undermined by Tet Offensive and replaced.

Answer 28

William Westmoreland

Question 29

VP under LBJ. Principal author of 1964 Civil Rights Act. Lost to Nixon in 1968.

Answer 29

Hubert Humphrey

Question 30

General Vo Nguyen Giap

Answer 30

Fought against Japanese then served as leader of the Vietminh in the war against the French. Leader of NVA when civil war broke.

Question 31

Leader of SNCC. Coined phrase, 'Black Power'. Prime Minister of Black Panther Party.

Answer 31

Stokely Carmichael

Question 32

1969 article 'After Black Power, Women's Liberation' linked two movements. Co-founded National Women and Ms. magazine before being outspoken critic of Vietnam war.

Answer 32

Gloria Steinam

Question 33

Co-founded Black Panthers. Fled to Cuba.

Answer 33

Huey Newton

Question 34

Evangelist preacher, spriritual advisor to Nixon, Johnson and Eisenhower. Friend of King. Outspoken on issues.

Answer 34

Billy Graham

Question 35

Working class Mayor of Chicago. Key figure in Democratic party as ally of Johnson. The 1968 Democratic Convention was supposed to highlight his achievements but heavy handed policing earned comparisons to Gestapo.

Answer 35

Richard J Daley

Question 36

Balanced Nixon ticket well. Initially, seen as Nixon's enforcer but Nixon grew to resent his self confidence and lack of vision.

Answer 36

Spiro Agnew

Question 37

Was National Security Advisor and Secretary of State under Nixon. Operated foreign policy based on ideas of realpolitik. Allowed them to pursue detente.

Answer 37

Henry Kissinger

Question 38

Opposed Keyne's theories. Economic advisor to Reagan. Thought that controlling economy should be done through controlling amount of money in circulation.

Answer 38

Milton Friedman

Question 39

Wrote controversial report 'The Negro Family: The Case for National Action' which blamed poverty on the breakdown of black family unit. Democratic Senator.

Answer 39

Daniel Patrick Moynihan

Question 40

Dixiecrat who signed the Southern Manifesto but critic of US foreign policy. Opposed McCarthyism and HUAC and in 1966 published 'The Arrogance of War' attacking the Vietnam War.

Answer 40

J William Fulbright

Question 41

First black woman in Congress and first to stand for president. Supported spending on education and healthcare. Co-founded NOW.

Answer 41

Shirley Chisholm

Question 42

Loyal servant to Nixon. Reorganised the White House. Eventually served 18 months for Watergate.

Answer 42

Harry Robbins 'Bob' Haldeman

Question 43

Failed to address economic woes of USSR leading to stagnation. Reactive foreign policy meant no active role in Vietnam but was forced to negotiate with US after Nixon's approach to China.

Answer 43

Brezhnev

Question 44

Director of FBI until 1972. Fiercely anti-communist.

Answer 44

J Edgar Hoover

Question 45

Investigative journalists for Washington Post. Broke story of Watergate.

Answer 45

Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein

Question 46

Chief Domestic Advisor for Nixon. Responsible for initiating the 'plumbers' and for keeping information about Watergate. Served 18 months.

Answer 46

John Erlichman

Question 47

Married Gerald Ford. Approval ratings over 75% for open stance on addiction and pre-marital sex. Supporter of women's rights and pro-choice. Founded Betty Ford Clinic.

Answer 47

Betty Ford

Question 48

Advisor to Kennedy and Johnson and anti-communist. Disagreed with aspects of Kissinger's policies.

Answer 48

Zbigniew Brzezinski

Question 49

Deputy Secretary of Defence under Johnson. Advocated economic ties with USSR. Successes over Camp David Accords were considerable but resigned under Carter.

Answer 49

Cyrus Vance

Question 50

Chinese Communist leader. Addressed economic problems caused by Mao's Great Leap Forward. Pursued policy of opening China up to foreign companies.

Answer 50

Deng Xiaoping

Question 51

Iranian religious leader who was exiled for his opposition to the Shah, who himself was a puppet of US. Returned to lead revolution against the Shah and instituted theocratic rule in the country.

Answer 51

Ayatolla Khomeini

Question 52

Baptist minister who worked closely with King. Founded own civil rights group Operation PUSH and stood as candidate for Democratic nomination 1984 1988.

Answer 52

Jesse Jackson

Question 53

Constitutional lawyer renowned for opposition to feminism. Campaigned against ratification of ERA.

Answer 53

Phyllis Schlafly

Question 54

First openly gay person to be elected to public office in California. Killed in 1978, became martyr for homosexual community.

Answer 54

Harvey Milk