Amanpour Peacemaker: U Thant and the Turbulent 60s
Dec 23, 2025
Thant Myint-U, historian and grandson of U Thant, shares riveting stories of his grandfather's UN leadership during the 60s, highlighting U Thant's diplomacy during pivotal moments like the Cuban Missile Crisis and his struggles with Nixon's administration. Meanwhile, acclaimed filmmaker Werner Herzog discusses the importance of truth in art, challenges posed by misinformation, and how his experiences, including the intense journey of making Fitzcarraldo, provide unique insights into the nature of reality and storytelling.
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From Village Schoolteacher To Global Peacemaker
- Thant Myint-U shows U Thant rose from a rural schoolteacher to UN Secretary-General whose moral authority mattered globally.
- That ascent let him represent newly decolonized nations and shape Cold War diplomacy from a unique perspective.
Diplomacy Created Political Space During Crisis
- Thant Myint-U argues the Cuban Missile Crisis was political, not purely military, and U Thant created space for leaders to step back.
- The Secretary-General used secret and public messages to give Kennedy and Khrushchev time and political cover to de-escalate.
U Thant's Visit To Havana Calmed Castro
- U Thant personally flew to Havana and confronted Fidel Castro during the Cuban Missile Crisis to de-escalate the situation.
- Castro accepted U Thant's appeal and publicly said U Thant showed them respect, which helped prevent him becoming a spoiler.