In this episode, we look at how JFK approached American policy in SE Asia in 1961—the first year of his presidency. Specifically, we look at how handled Laos and Vietnam during this time—culminating in his November 22, 1963 NSAM which increased military support and training for South Vietnam, even as JFK resisted enormous Pentagon/CIA pressure to commit US ground troops.

This is the 19th installment of our Empire and the Deep State series--an in-depth exploration of my new book American Exception: Empire and the Deep State. I am again joined by series co-host Ben Norton of Multipolarista as well our own Seamus McGuinness who is producing the series.

Special thanks to Dana Chavarria for the sound engineering!

Music: "Too Good Your Dreams Don't Come True" by Mock Orange

In this episode, we look at how JFK approached American policy in SE Asia in 1961—the first year of his presidency. Specifically, we look at how handled Laos and Vietnam during this time—culminating in his November 22, 1963 NSAM which increased military support and training for South Vietnam, even as JFK resisted enormous Pentagon/CIA pressure to commit US ground troops.

This is the 19th installment of our Empire and the Deep State series--an in-depth exploration of my new book American Exception: Empire and the Deep State. I am again joined by series co-host Ben Norton of Multipolarista as well our own Seamus McGuinness who is producing the series.

Special thanks to Dana Chavarria for the sound engineering!

Music: "Too Good Your Dreams Don't Come True" by Mock Orange