Episode 9: Sunset in Saigon

Coming to the end of his term, President John F. Kennedy finally moves to bring an end to American involvement in the now-unpopular war in Vietnam. Even as negotiations with the North Vietnamese lead nowhere and the U.S. military begins harboring resentment about JFK's handling of the conflict, Kennedy, with an eye toward securing his historical legacy, and battered by the doctors' scandal, begins troop withdrawals. But to secure his legacy politically and to help his likely successor Lyndon B. Johnson, Kennedy proposes a "Saigon Declaration" which, though politically expedient, may eventually result in unintended consequences.

Length: 21:23

Show Notes For This Episode

Next Episode: June 20, 2021