Past Present Future

What If… The Vietnam War Had Ended in 1964?

Aug 18, 2024
Guest
Thant Myint-U
Thant Myint-U, a historian and the grandson of former UN Secretary General U Thant, dives deep into a pivotal 'what if' scenario regarding the Vietnam War. He discusses how close U Thant came to facilitating peace talks between LBJ and the Vietcong in 1964. The conversation explores the implications of a possible early end to the war, the personal dynamics of Cold War diplomacy, and the larger geopolitical landscape that might have shifted dramatically. A fascinating look at missed opportunities and their cascading effects on history!
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Episode notes
1
Intro
00:00 • 3min
2
Parallel Lives: The Humble Beginnings of Two Leaders
03:16 • 2min
3
UN Diplomacy in the Cold War Era
05:11 • 9min
4
Geopolitics of Vietnam in 1964
14:08 • 11min
5
Diplomacy in Turmoil
24:53 • 5min
6
The Vietnam War: A Diplomatic Crossroad
30:06 • 24min
7
A Retirement Party of Legends and Legacy
54:09 • 2min
8
Exploring Counterfactual Narratives and Upcoming Literature
56:32 • 2min