Show #79: Untold History of the U.S. – Interview with Peter Kuznick

[Niall]

Sunday, August 17th 2014: Untold History of the U.S. – Interview with Peter Kuznick

This week on SOTT Talk Radio we’re speaking with Peter Kuznick, Professor of History and Director of the Nuclear Studies Institute at American University in Washington, DC. Kuznick received his Ph.D. from Rutgers University in 1984 and was active in the Civil Rights and anti-Vietnam War movements. He is author and co-author of several books on the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the use of nuclear power, and the Cold War.

Kuznick and Oliver Stone co-authored the 10-part documentary film series and book – The Untold History of the United States – which explores some of the under-reported and darkest parts of American 20th century history using little known documents and newly uncovered archival material.

We are going to explore with Professor Kuznick the creation of the U.S. National Security State during WW2, the real reasons behind the Cold War and the decision to drop atomic bombs on Japan, and the side-lining of ‘the man who would be president’, Henry Wallace.

We're live from 2-4pm EST (11am-1pm PST / 8-10pm CET). You can call in, join the show page chatroom, or post any questions/comments you have here.

 

[Gimpy]

No bad storms here today, hoping to hear this one.

The chat room won't come up, but I'm not willing to lose the program to reboot it. ;)

 

[Gimpy]

Dead air, and the guest is alone wondering where you are?

 

[Vulcan59]

It's back on air now. :)

 

[Gimpy]

Yup, sounds great!

 

[Oxajil]

Another great show, thank you! The interview with Peter was very informative.

 

[James Henry]

Enjoyed the show, too--thanks SoTT.

Learned about a few pieces of history I was not aware. The part about Japan ready to surrender before the U.S. atomic bombs was particularly interesting. That was certainly not taught to us in U.S. schools growing up.

 

[Joe]

Enjoyed the show, too--thanks SoTT.

Learned about a few pieces of history I was not aware. The part about Japan ready to surrender before the U.S. atomic bombs was particularly interesting. That was certainly not taught to us in U.S. schools growing up.

I recommend you get the documentary series on which the show was based: "Oliver Stone's Untold History of the United States". 20bux on Amazon. A good one also to send to friends or family who you think might be interested.

 

[Ennio]

Great show. The information on Henry Wallace was especially interesting, and I was surprised that I had no idea who he was. There is also this documentary made about him here, but I suspect that a lot of the information is in the documentary Stone and Kuznick made..

Listening to Kuznick's great detailed accounts made me think about the quality some people have to transmit information or teach things in a way that seems very accessible. At least much more than the average teacher/historian, etc. I think in Kuznick's case at least part of it seemed to be an emotional understanding of the implications of the events he was describing that made the information more 'real' and 'immediate' to me. Though I realize, too, that this experience can also be very subjective.

 

[IncenDiary]

So Anthony Sutton is unreliable? I wonder why and how Peter believes this, beyond just his student's work on the subject informing him? Just wondering, watched a clip of Sutton and he "seems" very well researched; I am thinking of that clip from 1987 giving an interview about the Bolsheviks and all the details he had regarding the Wall Street intervention, etc.....

 

[Tristan]

Enjoyed the show, too--thanks SoTT.

Learned about a few pieces of history I was not aware. The part about Japan ready to surrender before the U.S. atomic bombs was particularly interesting. That was certainly not taught to us in U.S. schools growing up.

I recommend you get the documentary series on which the show was based: "Oliver Stone's Untold History of the United States". 20bux on Amazon. A good one also to send to friends or family who you think might be interested.

yep, Interesting, coincidentally this series being broadcast on public TV in Spanish

Here you are: http://www.rtve.es/alacarta/videos/docufilia/oliver-stone-historia-no-contada-estados-unidos-jfk-borde-del-abismo/2053547/

 

[Cyre2067]

I had Peter Kuznick as a professor when I went to American university so , looking forward to listening to this one!

 

[Beau]

I had Peter Kuznick as a professor when I went to American university so , looking forward to listening to this one!

It aired yesterday, so you can listen to it any time now!

 

[Mark]

I ordered the DVD set, looking forward to seeing it all -- a whopping 796+ minutes of film, whew!

 

[CNS]

Enjoyed the show, too--thanks SoTT.

Learned about a few pieces of history I was not aware. The part about Japan ready to surrender before the U.S. atomic bombs was particularly interesting. That was certainly not taught to us in U.S. schools growing up.

Yeah, interesting indeed. I can't recall the source, but years ago I remember reading that one of the motives propagated for dropping the bombs was that Japan was developing a nuclear arsenal themselves. Of course, with their infrastructure and economy already in shambles, this would be highly unlikely. Not to mention that the bombs were aimed at Hiroshima and Nagasaki because most of the other heavily populated cities were already fire-bombed beyond belief, and the Americans wanted to see the most amount of destruction on areas that had otherwise been unscathed. Talk about pure sadism. How awful! How repugnant! It just makes me so angry and so sad.