EPISODE · May 11, 2026 · 17 MIN
The Cobbler Who Accidentally Started the Cold War
from The Rest of History · host Podcaster
In 1960, a shoe repairman's shoddy work on a U-2 spy plane's altimeter led to the most embarrassing diplomatic incident of the Cold War. What should have been a routine flight over Soviet airspace instead became Francis Gary Powers' crash landing into history—and Nikita Khrushchev's greatest propaganda gift. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See https://pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
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In 1960, a shoe repairman's shoddy work on a U-2 spy plane's altimeter led to the most embarrassing diplomatic incident of the Cold War. What should have been a routine flight over Soviet airspace instead became Francis Gary Powers' crash landing into history—and Nikita Khrushchev's greatest propaganda gift.
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The Cobbler Who Accidentally Started the Cold War
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