On this episode of American Prestige, an exploration of Henry Kissinger and Richard Nixon’s joint pursuit of war in Southeast Asia during the 1960s and ’70s.
Richard Nixon, left, meets with Henry Kissinger to discuss negotiations following the Paris Peace Accords, Washington, D.C., June 11, 1973. (Jim Palmer / AP Photo)
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On this episode of American Prestige, an exploration of Henry Kissinger and Richard Nixon’s joint pursuit of war in Southeast Asia during the '60s and '70s.
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On this episode of American Prestige, Danny and Derek welcome Carolyn Eisenberg, professor of history at Hofstra University, to explore Henry Kissinger and Richard Nixon’s joint pursuit of war in Southeast Asia in the 1960s and ’70s. Using Carolyn’s book Fire and Rain as a guide, the group gets into the duo’s relationship, their aims in escalating conflict in the region while pursuing diplomacy with China and the Soviet Union, military events like Operation Lam Son 719, and what this story reveals about US foreign relations.
Carolyn also contributed to the edited anthology The Good Die Young: The Verdict on Henry Kissinger, which was released after his death in December 2023.
Be sure to also check out Danny and Derek’s special episode with Greg Grandin on the life and legacy of Kissinger.
Here's where to find podcasts from The Nation. Political talk without the boring parts, featuring the writers, activists and artists who shape the news, from a progressive perspective.
Warner Brothers shamefully won’t consider Danny and Derek’s aggressive offer. In this week’s news: U.S.-Iran nuclear talks resume in Geneva amid reports that the White House is weighing strike options (0:54), plus Trump claims in his State of the Union that Iran is building nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles (9:58); on the fourth anniversary of the Ukraine invasion, the EU fails to advance new Russia sanctions and a Ukraine loan package due to Hungarian interference (12:28); fighting again intensifies in the eastern DRC (15:53); Mexican authorities kill alleged cartel leader El Mencho, triggering widespread violence (18:49); the Committee to Protect Journalists reports a record number of media workers killed in 2025, mostly killed by Israel (22:07); the UAE backs construction of Israeli-controlled camps in Rafah (23:25); the U.S. extends consular services to West Bank settlements (25:34); the so-called Islamic State declares a “new phase” of operations in Syria (27:37); Pakistan launches cross-border strikes into Afghanistan amid renewed tensions (29:16); the RSF massacres civilians in North Darfur (31:44); a diplomatic spat erupts between Washington and Paris over rhetoric on left-wing violence (33:22); Cuba faces a firefight off its coast and limited U.S. easing of fuel restrictions for private firms (35:44); Trump proposes sending a hospital ship to Greenland (38:51); and the Supreme Court overturns Trump’s tariffs as the administration moves to reimpose duties via alternative means (41:14).
Grab a copy of Danny and Michael Brenes’ edited volume Cold War Liberalism: Power in a Time of Emergency. Use the discount code BESSNER26.
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Daniel BessnerTwitterDaniel Bessner is an historian of US foreign relations, and cohost of American Prestige, a podcast on international affairs.
Derek DavisonDerek Davison is a writer and analyst specializing in international affairs and US foreign policy. He is the publisher of the Foreign Exchanges newsletter, cohost of the American Prestige podcast, and former editor of LobeLog.