Photo Noir Et Blanc Gallery

Marshall Plan Convention 1948

US Secretary of State George C. Marshall (L, 1880-1959) is pictured during a reception at London US embassy on November 02, 1948 with (L to R) Mrs Churchill, wife of US Ambassador in Great Britain Mrs Lewis Douglas, Mrs James Douglas, US Ambassador in Great Britain Lewis Douglas, Miss Sharman Douglas, James Douglas, Mrs George Marshall and former British Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill.
After the conference in Moscow with British, French, and Soviet counterparts in March-April 1947, US Secretary of State George C. Marshall had observed the growing economic collapse of Europe and the obvious intent of Soviet Russia to benefit from that collapse. He had returned to Washington thinking that the best way to avoid this was to prevent Europe's economic, social, and political deterioration by creating a European program with massive assistance from the United States. One year later, in April 1948, President Truman, a Democratic president, signed the Foreign Assistance Act, passed by a Republican controlled Congress, to establish what became known as the Marshall Plan. / AFP PHOTO / RENE HELIER

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Johnny Weissmuller Diving Action

Undated picture of US swimmer Johnny Weissmuller diving in the swimming pool of the French ocean liner Normandie. Johnny Weissmuller was one of the world's best swimmers in the 1920s, winning five Olympic gold medals and one bronze medal. He won fifty-two US National Championships and set sixty-seven world records. After his swimming career, he became the sixth actor to portray Tarzan in films, a role he played in twelve motion pictures. / AFP PHOTO / -

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France-Car Racing-Gordini

Amedee Gordini, Italian-born French sport car driver and manufacturer stands next to his racing car in the 1950s during LeMans 24 hours car race.The Gordini firm was founded by Amedee nicknamed "Le Sorcier" (The Sorcerer). At the beginning Gordini had close ties with Simca. Gordini competed in Formula One from 1950 to 1956. Later Gordini worked with Renault as an engine tuner and finally sold his firm to Renault. With a Gordini modified 1,600 cc engine, the Alpine/Renault combination continued into the 1970s, and became one of Europe's most successful championship rallying cars – the European Championship was won in 1970 (by Jean-Claude Andruet), and the World Championship in 1971 and 1973. In 1974, Alpine was taken over by Regie Renault. AFP PHOTO / AFP PHOTO

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