Ep 125: Nick Bunker on America and the Early Cold War
May 28, 2024
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Journalist and author Nick Bunker discusses America's early Cold War era, including Truman, Stalin, nuclear thinking, and the need to defend Korea. The podcast draws parallels between historical events and current US-China relations, focusing on Asia and Europe.
Truman's Fair Deal program aimed for fairness domestically and countered Soviet influence globally.
Right-wing criticism towards Truman's Asia policy, focusing on defending Taiwan and South Korea.
NSC 68 served as a public relations campaign to rally against communism, highlighting current bipartisan cooperation on China-related issues.
Deep dives
US Military Challenges and Foreign Policy Parallels
The podcast delves into the parallels between the military challenges and foreign policy debates in the late 1940s and early 50s and those of today, particularly focusing on limited wars, integration of nuclear weapons, and discerning communist powers' objectives.
Truman Administration's Fair Deal and Foreign Policy Goals
The discussion highlights Truman's domestic Fair Deal program aimed at fairness for all Americans and his foreign policy objectives such as creating NATO and the Marshall Plan to counter Soviet influence.
Evaluating Truman's Asia Policy and Right-Wing Criticism
The conversation explores the right-wing criticism, particularly from figures like Taft, regarding Truman's Asia policy, including debates on focusing on Asia over Europe and defending Taiwan and South Korea.
Critiques of NSC 68 and Comparison to New Look Strategy
The summary examines the critiques of NSC 68 for its maximalist approach without matching resources and compares it to Eisenhower's New Look strategy, suggesting a stronger focus on realistic resource allocation and defense priorities.
NSC 68 as a Public Advocacy Strategy and China Relations
NSC 68's role as a public relations campaign for galvanizing American and European support against communism, especially in Asia, and the current broad bipartisan cooperation on China-related issues in Washington are discussed.