Hello there, I'm Chuck Todd and this is the Chuck Todd cast.

This week marks Veterans Day and it got us thinking about the historic role that Veterans

Plading Government is both elected leaders and activists.

According to the military times, there are currently 91 veterans serving a Congress.

It is the lowest number since World War II.

It turns down to about one in six members who have some experience in the military.

To talk about all of that and a bit more, I'm joined today by Paul Reikach, the founder

of the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America.

He's a Veteran at the Cell, podcast host, author, you name it Paul.

Welcome to the Todd cast.

Thank you Chuck, great to be with you.

Appreciate it very much.

Look, of all weeks to lose a Veteran like Max Cleeland, this is quite the week to

lose him.

Here's the guy who was the first head of the VA.

The VA basically began in the 70s, right?

I believe he was the first head when it was a cabinet level.

That's sound right?

I think.

Hope I've got that right.

He was part of the Vietnam era of veterans who I would argue had their own interesting

bipartisan caucus for a while, got ugly at the end of his political career.

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