During her first visit to Poland in 1980, Dr Jacqueline Hayden met the leading members of the free trade union ‘Solidarność’, including the future president Lech Wałęsa. As a freelance journalist at that time, she reported the events in Gdańsk in August 1980, when the shipyard workers went on strike to demand the creation of Free Trade Unions. Our chat includes some vivid descriptions of what she saw and heard at the time, it explains the problems facing the nascent free trade union as well as details of the interviews she carried out with General Jaruselski and Cardinal Joseph Glemp among others. Now, I really do need your help to support my work preserving Cold War history. I deliver 4 episodes a month and all I’m asking for is about $3, £3 or €3 per month to help keep us on the air (larger amounts are welcome too) plus you can get a sought after CWC coaster as a monthly financial supporter and you bask in the warm glow of knowing you are helping to preserve Cold War history. Just go to https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ If a financial contribution is not your cup of tea, then you can still help us by leaving written reviews wherever you listen to us as well as sharing us on social media. It really helps us get new guests on the show. I am delighted to welcome Jacqueline Hayden to our Cold War conversation… There’s further information on this episode in our show notes which can also be found as a link in your podcast app here. https://coldwarconversations.com/episode152/ If you can’t wait for next week’s episode do visit our Facebook discussion group where guests and listeners continue the Cold War Conversation. Just search Cold War Conversations in Facebook. Support the project! https://coldwarconversations.com/donate/ Follow us on Twitter https://twitter.com/ColdWarPod Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/coldwarpod/ Instagram https://www.instagram.com/coldwarconversations/ Youtube https://youtube.com/@ColdWarConversations 0:00 Jacqueline Hayden's journey and her first interactions with Poland's dissidents 2:25 Cold War Channel on YouTube 11:55 Jacqueline's experiences with the Solidarity movement and Lech Walesa 19:00 Meeting special figures during the Cold War and the prospects of a free trade union 30:25 Interpretation of the round table and the collapse of communism 36:59 Jacqueline's experiences in Poland during the agreement signing and her work with the Irish press 42:51 Jacqueline's encounters with the Polish secret police and other foreign journalists 49:02 Discussions on the potential end of the regime and the beginning of opening up in Russia 55:46 Jacqueline's interviews with General Juruselski and the symbolism of his handshake with Lech Walesa 1:06:07 Analysis of the 1989 election and the impact of the electoral system 1:13:36 Discussion on the role of the Catholic Church in the Cold War and the relationship between Cardinal Glemp and General Jaruzelski 1:22:10 Closing remarks, promotion of Cold War Conversations Coasters, and a call for donations Chapters powered by PodcastAI✨ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices