JFK and the Bay of Pigs; on the brink of total war during Cuban Missile Crisis; early Vietnam; JFK's attempts at peace with Khrushchev; JFK assassinated.
Stone opens the episode on Vietnam with a review of American intervention in Latin America. Lyndon Johnson, according to Stone, disregarded JFK’s “memo” about withdrawing troops and instead escalated. The Cataclysm in Vietnam as the war reaches a turning point - there's no going back. The betrayal by Richard Nixon.
Carter's dreams of change give way to Ronald Reagan. Gorbachev redeems Reagan and fresh opportunities for peace arise. The debate over Reagan's legacy.
George W. Bush's doctrine of endless war in Iraq and Afghanistan and the continued cannibalization of the U.S. economy. Squandered chances given by the end of the Cold War. A new USA, the National Security Fortress.
