1952

1952 was a leap year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. It occurred during the early Cold War and saw ongoing conflict in Korea, rising anti-colonial movements, and notable advances in science and culture.

In the United States, Dwight D. Eisenhower was elected president, defeating Adlai Stevenson, with Richard Nixon as his vice president. Nixon's “Checkers” speech, delivered in September, helped shape the campaign.

The Korean War continued through 1952, with major battles and stalled peace talks that would culminate in a 1953 armistice.

The same year saw significant domestic events in Europe and Africa. The Great Smog of London in December caused thousands of deaths and spurred later environmental legislation, while in Kenya the Mau Mau uprising led Britain to declare a state of emergency in October 1952.

On the scientific front, the United States conducted the first thermonuclear test, Ivy Mike, on November 1, 1952, at Enewetak Atoll, a major milestone in nuclear weaponry.

The 1952 Summer Olympics were held in Helsinki, Finland, marking the first participation of the Soviet Union in the Games.