Main content

John McAfee (pictured), Trần Thiện Khiêm, Karla Burns, Horace 'Lyle' Hutley

Matthew Bannister on businessman John McAfee, General Trần Thiện Khiêm, singer Karla Burns and war veteran Horace 'Lyle' Hutley.

Matthew Bannister on

The controversial American businessman John McAfee who made his first fortune selling anti-virus software, retreated into a compound in Belize where he was suspected of links with organised crime, campaigned to win the Presidential nomination for the Libertarian party and was found hanged in a Spanish prison cell after facing extradition on fraud and tax evasion charges.

General Trần Thiện Khiêm, a key player in the 'snake pit' of coup and counter coup that destabilised the government of South Vietnam during the war of the 1960s.

Karla Burns, the Broadway and West End singer who became the first black person to win an Olivier Award.

Horace 'Lyle' Hutley, thought to be the last surviving prisoner of war who worked on the infamous bridge over the River Kwai.

Producer: Neil George

Interviewed guest: Michael Carlson
Interviewed guest: Nanette Burstein
Interviewed guest: Professor Lien-Hang T. Nguyen
Interviewed guest: Bill Ripper
Interviewed guest: Allan Mallinson

Archive clips used: CNBC News, 24/06/2021; Soft Focus with Jena Friedman, Adult Swim 2019; John McAfee on Larry King, Ora TV 11/03/2016; President Johnson Speaks on the Vietnam Crisis, British Pathe 1964; The Fall of Saigon, CBC News 1975; One On One, PBS 02/01/2019; It’s All Good With Sierra, Wichita Public TV 14/06/2012; The Battle of Dunkirk, British Pathe 1940; The Fall of Singapore, British Pathe/Gaumont/Reuters 1942; Far East Prisoners of War Return Home, British Movietone 11/10/1945.

Available now

28 minutes

John McAfee

Born 18 September 1945; died 23 June 2021, aged 75.

Last Word spoke to American cultural commentator Michael Carlson, and documentary maker Nanette Burstein.  

Trần Thiện Khiêm

Born 15 December 1925; died 24 June 2021, aged 95.

Last Word spoke to Lien-Hang T. Nguyen, Professor of History at Columbia University, New York.

Karla Burns

Born 24 December 1954; died 4 June 2021, aged 66.

Horace ‘Lyle’ Hutley

Born 19 May 1917; died on 17 June 2021, aged 104.

Last Word spoke to his nephew in law Bill Ripper, and author and former soldier Allan Mallinson.

Broadcasts

  • Fri 2 Jul 2021 16:00
  • Sun 4 Jul 2021 20:30

Podcast