About this episode
The episode discusses the concept of 'madman diplomacy' from Nixon to Trump, exploring military threats and their implications.
Subscribe now for early access, ad-free listening, and bonus content! Shortly after taking office in 1969, President Richard Nixon believed he might intimidate, through military threats, the Soviet Union and North Vietnam into making concessions at the peace table. In Nixon's words, it was "Madman theory." It didn't work. Today, President Trump has tried to bluster and bluff his way to victory over Iran, even threatening to wipe out Iranian civilization. Now the president hopes a naval blockade will force Tehran into surrendering the Strait of Hormuz and its nuclear ambitions. Historian Carolyn Eisenberg is our guest. Historian Carolyn Eisenberg teaches at Hofstra University. She is an expert on the Vietnam War and the author of Fire and Rain: Nixon, Kissinger, and the Wars in Southeast Asia.
People in this episode
Host: Martin Di Caro
Guest: Carolyn Eisenberg
Topics covered
- madman diplomacy
- Nixon
- Trump
- Iran
- Vietnam War
- military threats
Keywords
- madman theory
- Nixon
- Trump
- Iran
- Vietnam War
- military threats
- diplomacy
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Hofstra University
Books & works: Fire and Rain: Nixon, Kissinger, and the Wars in Southeast Asia
Places: Iran, Strait of Hormuz, Soviet Union, North Vietnam
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