408 - Nguyễn Văn Thiệu - When Do You Give Up in a Fight?

Join host Kenneth Nguyen and series co-host Kevin Pham, author of The Architects of Dignity: Vietnamese Visions of Decolonization (Oxford University Press, 2024), in this sub-series of the podcast, exploring the key figures and moments in Vietnamese history.

In this episode of Viet History Makers, host Kenneth Nguyen and co-host Kevin Pham take a deep dive into the life and legacy of Nguyễn Văn Thiệu (1923–2001), the second and final president of the Republic of Vietnam. A soldier-turned-politician, Thiệu played a pivotal role in shaping South Vietnam’s fate during one of the most turbulent periods in Vietnamese history.

From his early days as a military officer to his rise as a key figure in the South Vietnamese government, Thiệu’s leadership was marked by both staunch anti-communism and controversial political maneuvering. As president from 1967 to 1975, he navigated a country caught in the throes of war, balancing U.S. support, internal political struggles, and an increasingly dire battlefield reality. His policies, leadership style, and ultimate decisions remain a subject of intense debate among historians and those who lived through the era.

Despite his efforts to maintain South Vietnam’s sovereignty, Thiệu’s tenure ended with the collapse of Saigon and his eventual exile. His departure from Vietnam symbolized the end of a republic he fought to preserve, leaving behind a legacy that continues to provoke discussion on leadership, loyalty, and the limits of political power in the face of overwhelming odds.

Join us as we examine Nguyễn Văn Thiệu’s journey—from his early years to his final moments in Vietnam—and discuss the critical decisions that defined his presidency. Whether viewed as a steadfast leader, a flawed politician, or a figure caught in an unwinnable war, his story offers valuable insights into the complexities of Vietnam’s modern history.

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Kevin D. Pham is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at the University of Amsterdam. His research introduces Vietnamese political thought to the academic field of political theory, showing how Vietnamese thinkers challenge and enhance conventional Western understandings of important political concepts.

He co-hosts Nam Phong Dialogues, a podcast in which he and Yen Vu have casual chats about Vietnamese history and being Vietnamese American. He is the author of The Architects of Dignity: Vietnamese Visions of Decolonization (Oxford University Press, 2024).

Kevindoanpham.com

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Many of you still have the chance to record and preserve the legacies of your own families. I’ve sat with families now for interview sessions to record the rich histories of parents and explore the lives of the generations that preceded them. Don’t let your family stories go untold! Take a moment to reach out and together we will bring out your family’s story on a recorded journey. - Kenneth Nguyen

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