At the Brink: Presidents, Nuclear Weapons, and the Fate of the World Part 1, with Dr. Anthony Eames

April 14, 2026

00:00 01:05:04

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How have American presidents managed the most destructive weapons ever created?

In this episode, Dr. Anthony Eames, Director of Scholarly Initiatives at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute, joins me to examine the history of nuclear weapons through the decisions of U.S. presidents—from Truman and Eisenhower to Reagan and beyond. We discuss the logic of deterrence, the rise of arms control treaties, and the moments when the world came dangerously close to nuclear war.

How have presidents managed this extraordinary power—and what lessons still matter today?

A Voice in Their Own Destiny: Reagan, Thatcher, and Public Diplomacy in the Nuclear 1980s

https://www.amazon.com/Voice-Their-Own-Destiny-Diplomacy/dp/1625347103/

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CREDITS
Host: Richard Lim
Producer: Michael Neal
Artist: Nip Rogers, www.NipRogers.com

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Richard is a writer and history enthusiast who has served at the White House and George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate.

Michael is a consultant and a freelance podcast producer.