Van Cliburn: Bridging the Culture Gap

When Van Cliburn won the first quadrennial Tchaikovsky competition in 1958, the Cold War seemed a little warmer. This documentary talks about the Cold War and how this Texan pianist was able to ease years of political tensions with only classical music and a smile.
This was created by me, Jacob Siepker for the 2018 National History Day in Iowa state competition. Feel free to use it how you wish just be sure to credit it properly. If you would like to see any of my documentation for the project including an annotated bibliography, it will be posted shortly on my website www.siepkerart.weebly.com use the tags to find it easier if it has been a while.
Finally, I would like to thank the following people:
Maggie Estes - For granting me an interview and being so open to talk about the subject of Van Cliburn and the Cliburn competition.
Stuart Isacoff - For granting me an interview and for gathering so my sources yourself in the process of creating a well ordered biography.
Jacques Marquis - For answering my emails and being so open in my research of the subject.
Jennifer Westerhoff - For coaching me in NHD for 4 years and for all of the work you do outside of school to help students.

[@tiggywinkle20]

This story of a lost love of Van Cliburn is very intriguing. Van was a wonderful
pianist and kindly gentleman whom a lady would love to have married. Are you
able to release any more details or would this infringe his privacy, the lady
involved and maybe that of your source. If this is true, then it is very sad.

[@ceolathompson6814]

This VIDEO ON "THE GREAT CLASSICAL PIANIST VAN CLIBURN" Would Have Been MEMORABLE And INTERESTING Especially Regarding "A Great Pianist" And "An Absolutely Fabulous Person As VAN CLIBURN"!
I Know That OTHERS Will Create And PRESENT A BETTER DOCUMENTARY THAT ""IS more Interesting To EVERYONE And More Informative To STUDENTS""!
The "VIDEO" - "VAN CLIBURN: BRIDGING THE CULTURAL GAP"!! The Video Has some Of The Same Materials That OTHERS Have!!
BUT!!! THAT "HORRIBLY VERY LOUD NOISE- At The BEGINNING"!!
PLEASE NOTE: ALSO!! It IS "TOTALLY IRRELEVANT, Shows POOR JUDGEMENT, LACK OF TASTE, UNCARING And VERY INSENSITIVE - "In A VERY UNNECESSARY COMMENT"!
NOTE!! The RUSSIANS Would Not Be Aware Of Anything 'Suspicious'!!
PERHAPS! There Are SOME PEOPLE Who Are 'VERY ENVIOUS And EVEN JEALOUS' Of VAN CLIBURN!! His NAME, His GREAT SUCCESS And His GREAT FAME!! His WEALTH!! THEY WANT TO 'BE LIKE VAN CLIBURN'!!!
NOTE!! Van CLiburn 'EARNED A PERMANENT PLACE IN HISTORY'! He Was Tremendously LOVED And ADMIRED In AMERICA And WORLD-WIDE!!!
PERHAPS, SOME 'Homosexuals- Gay' Who Are Like That Want To Make Him Like Them ! The Homosexuals- Gay TRY TO ""BRAND"" Or Make ""SUSPICION!!
CONT'D For THOSE WHO "TRULY LOVED VAN CLIBURN And KNOW HIM" HE WOULD NEVER WANT THEM TO THINK OF HIM As 'Homosexual Or Gay'!! VAN CLIBURN ""HATED HOMOSEXUALITY", HATED GAY BEHAVIOR"!!!! (He DISLIKED IT - TERRIBLY!!!!)
HE KNEW IT WAS "WRONG And VERY UNHEALTHY"!!!!
THE "TRUTH IS" VAN CLIBURN ""LOVED A VERY PRETTY LADY"" FROM 1970'S, 1980'S, 1990'S Through 2013!! VAN CLIBURN "LOVED HER TO THE DAY HE DIED"!!!! VAN CLIBURN CAME TO SEE HER And ""TOLD HER HE REALLY LOVED HER And ALWAYS WOULD LOVE HER""!!!! (IT WAS SO-O-O-O HEARTBREAKING And VERY TEARFUL!!!!)
VAN CLIBURN "WANTED TO MARRY The VERY PRETTY LADY"And Have "HIS OWN CHILDREN WITH HER" And HE WANTED To "EXPAND HIS CAREER WITH HER" Have "A Beautiful Life And A Beautiful Future Together"!!!!!
CONT'D!! ""THEY" TOLD VAN CLIBURN IF " HE HAD HER" OR IF "" HE MARRIED HER", 'THEY WOULD TAKE IT OUT ON HIM', That ""THEY""- WOULD- RUIN-HIS -CAREER""!!!!
CONT'D!!
VAN CLIBURN 'IS SUPREME'!!! He Is The GREATEST CLASSICAL PIANIST OF ALL!!!! HE RIGHTLY "EARNED And
DESERVED" The '''1ST PRIZE And The GOLD MEDAL"" OF The FIRST TCHAIKOVSKY COMPETITION In RUSSIA - In 1958!!!!!!
VAN CLIBURN'S GREATEST GIFTS: His Beautiful, Marvelous Carisma! WHOLESOME And Charming PERSONALITY! The "VERY TALL, VERY HANDSOME MAN'!!!! AN AMERICAN- GREAT And BEAUTIFUL!! VAN CLIBURN WAS THE TOTAL PACKAGE!!!
VAN CLIBURN'S STYLE OF PLAYING Was SO VERY UNIQUE, SO DIFFERENT, It Was More Than EXTRAORDINARY!! ABSOLUTELY PHENOMINAL!! VAN CLIBURN "IS A GENIUS"!!!! He Was Even BETTER Than The ' Older Russian Contestants'!
VAN CLIBURN WAS THE VERY BEST!!!!!
VAN CLIBURN IS "A TRULY GREAT MUSICAL AMBASSADOR'!!!! VAN CLIBURN IS OUR "GREAT AMERICAN HERO"!!!!!!

[@Magnet12]

Fuck! Get rid of that horrible noise at the start