State Department and Chess

In 1965 the State Dept. prohibited Fischer from playing, in person, at the Capablanca Memorial in Havana.

Going back a few years: an editorial in the Herald Tribune on Nov. 28, 1957 read:

In January, 1958, "Chess Review" took note and responded:

I found this article refreshing in a certain sense.  "Chess Review," probably Horowitz himself, managed to slap the State Department's hand while remaining civil and respectful.  We could use a little bit of that type of restraint in today's climate.

"... In January, 1958, ..." - batgirl

A few years later, a chess magazine published a debate over whether or not Western players should play against opponents from the USSR.