DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: We revisit the normalizing of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Vietnam. That is the subject of today's "CNN 20" segment.</s>LINDEN SOLES, CNN ANCHOR: "A time to heal and a time to build," with those words President Clinton normalized diplomatic relations with communist Vietnam, in an attempt to bring closure to a conflict that cost 58,000 U.S. lives.</s>WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Twenty years after the fall of Saigon roughly, the Clinton administration decided it was time to establish full diplomatic relations with Vietnam. This was by no means an easy decision, given the passions, the emotions involved. Before Mr. Clinton did it, he canvassed a wide range of opinion, including a lot of Vietnam vets. Remember, President Clinton never served in Vietnam. He was a fierce opponent of the war. He got the absolutely essential, the critical, political cover he needed to go through with it: a commitment by Arizona Senator John McCain, who had been a POW for 5 1/2 years, that he would stand alongside him when that announcement was made.</s>SEN. JOHN MCCAIN (R), ARIZONA: I also believe that it's in the best interests of the United States of America.</s>BLITZER: Today, there is a decent relationship between the United States and Vietnam. And recently has moved along, and both sides have fairly successfully managed to bury the hatchet. Remember, one of the key issues has always been the still nearly 2000 U.S. troops missing in action. And Vietnam is now cooperating in the search for remains.
CNN 20: U.S.-Vietnam Diplomatic Recognition, July 11, 1995