Book

Executing the Rosenbergs : death and diplomacy in a Cold War world

Clune, Lori, author

Overview

In 1950, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg were arrested for allegedly passing information about the atomic bomb to the Soviet Union, an affair FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover labeled the \"crime of the century.\" Their case became an international sensation, inspiring petitions, letters of support, newspaper editorials, and protests in countries around the world. Nevertheless, the Rosenbergs were executed after years of appeals, making them the only civilians ever put to death for conspiracy-related activities. Yet even after their executions, protests continued. The Rosenberg case quickly transformed into legend, while the media spotlight shifted to their two orphaned sons. In Executing the Rosenbergs, Lori Clune demonstrates that the Rosenberg case played a pivotal role in the world's perception of the United States. Based on newly discovered documents from the State Department, Clune narrates the widespread dissent against the Rosenberg decision in 80 cities and 48 countries. Even as the Truman and Eisenhower administrations attempted to turn the case into pro-democracy propaganda, US allies and potential allies questioned whether the United States had the moral authority to win the Cold War. Meanwhile, the death of Stalin in 1953 also raised the stakes of the executions; without a clear hero and villain, the struggle between democracy and communism shifted into morally ambiguous terrain. Transcending questions of guilt or innocence, Clune weaves the case - and its aftermath - into the fabric of the Cold War, revealing its far-reaching global effects. An original approach to one of the most fascinating episodes in Cold War history, Executing the Rosenbergs broadens a quintessentially American story into a global one. \"-- Provided by publisher.

• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Subject: Rosenberg, Julius, 1918-1953 Trials, litigation, etc. / Rosenberg, Ethel, 1915-1953 Trials, litigation, etc. / Trials (Espionage) New York (State) New York. / Trials (Conspiracy) New York (State) New York. / HISTORY / United States / 20th Century. / United States History 1945-1953.
• ISBN: 9780190265885

Item info:

1 item available

1 item total in all locations

Holdings :

Call Number	Copies	Material	Location
KF224.R6 C58 2016	1	BOOK	AUTOSTORE