About this episode

The episode discusses the U.S. involvement in the coup against Ngo Dinh Diem in Vietnam during the Kennedy administration.

Keep the narrative flow going! Subscribe now for ad-free listening, early access, and bonus content! In the history of the long, misbegotten American project in Vietnam, an episode that pulled the country deeper into the quagmire deserves more attention. In 1963, the Kennedy administration green-lit a coup to topple the regime of Ngo Dinh Diem in South Vietnam. Diem was an ardent anti-Communist who lost U.S. support after a cascade of missteps in his war against the Viet Cong and his crackdown on the majority Buddhists. As "regime change" dominates today's headlines, the historian-journalist Jack Cheevers explains why the attempt to control South Vietnam ended in ruin — and with Diem murdered. History As It Happens Premium costs $5/month or $50/year. 10-day free trial, cancel any time. Subscribe here: https://historyasithappens.supercast.com/

People in this episode

Host: Martin Di Caro

Guest: Jack Cheevers

Topics covered

• Vietnam War
• regime change
• U.S. foreign policy
• Kennedy administration
• Ngo Dinh Diem
• Buddhism in Vietnam

Keywords

• Vietnam
• Kennedy
• Diem
• coup
• Viet Cong
• Buddhism
• U.S. foreign policy
• regime change

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Kennedy administration

Places: Vietnam, South Vietnam

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