No US Defence pamphlet: Know Your Enemy: the Viet Cong (March 1966) Such a government would, I hope, be so responsive to the nationalist aspirations of its SOURCE: JFKL: JFKP: National Security File . It was noted that in less than three years a chaotic situation resulting from years of war had been changed into one of progress and stability. A broadcast by Viet Cong propagandist Hanoi Hannah (April 1970) Bromley Smith again took notes of another meeting held that afternoon. You can navigate days by using left and right arrows. hour of trial, provided that your Government is prepared to give assurances as to the Through September and October, even as Washington sought to make its point by considering evacuation of U.S. nationals, withdrawals of American troops, and halting CIA aid to South Vietnamese Special Forces, President Kennedy tried to understand the situation better. US Senate debate on the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (August 1964) civilians murdered in Hue City in 1968. Nhng Kennedy became more specific when he said, The time may come, though, weve gotta just have to try to do something about Diem, and I think thats going to be an awfully critical period. While never directly speaking about a coup, Kennedy signaled that he was willing to accept regime change under certain circumstances. It hopes that such aid, combined with your embassy.[9]. 2130 H Street, NW In our 2003 and 2009 postings, and the 2013 update, the story of what Kennedy and his officials actually decided about the Saigon coup in August was at the heart of our inquiry. December 11, 2009, The Last Brahmin: Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. and the Making of the Cold War Since then, however, some officers turned against the movement once the political aims of some Buddhist leaders became more apparent, blaming the Diem government for being ineffective in dealing with the problem. rule Letter from President Eisenhower to Ngo Dinh Diem, President of the Council of Ministers of Vietnam, October 23, 1954 DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: I have been following with great interest the course of developments in Viet-Nam, particularly since the conclusion of the conference at Geneva. While the forces at the disposal of the coup plotters remained inferior to those commanded by Diem and Nhu, if the U.S. were to back a coup attempt it was important that it was successful. DocsTeach is a product of the National Archives education division. Former Ambassador Frederick Nolting seemed to be the lone dissenting voice, arguing that Diem was the only figure who could hold South Vietnam together. Kennedy pledges support for Diem, South Vietnam (December 1961) Among the items we present here are the audio and transcript of the president instructing his ambassador; notes taken during the key week by Thomas L. Hughes, director of the State Departments Bureau of Intelligence and Research; the handwritten notes on White House meetings by NSC staff deputy Bromley K. Smith; a wider selection of meeting notes from General Krulak; the CIA summary of meetings between its officers and the Vietnamese generals; a selection of CIA field reports, including the early October Vietnamese mention of assassination and the CIA reaction to that; and several items from the immediate period of the coup and assassination, including a desperate appeal for aid from President Diem even as the coup against him was underway. The Presidents Intelligence Checklist for August 24, 1963 concluded that Nhu is believed to be behind the recent antagonism against the Buddhists and the imposition of martial law in Saigon. Lodge told Diem that he knew little about Vietnam but hoped to advise him on American affairs. (JFK Papers: NSF: Country File, b. In one case we also had a record made by a senior Pentagon participant, Major General Victor Krulak. Ho Chi Minh appeals to the American people (May 1964) If you experience a barrier that affects your ability to access content on this page, let us know via ourContact form. Sign up now to learn about This Day in History straight from your inbox. . Program of the National Liberation Front or Viet Cong (1962) Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge Jr. held his first meeting with South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem on August 26. Vn Hng, History of Strategic The implication is that Mike [Forrestal] is.. McGeorge Bundy memo on attacking North Vietnam (February 1965) But if you see something that doesn't look right, click here to contact us! [2] In an EYES ONLY cable on September 15, Secretary Rusk warned Ambassador Lodge that the coup envisioned in the Hilsman cable was definitely in suspense and that no effort should be made to stimulate any coup plotting. Ngo Dinh Diem explains why he rejects national elections (July 1955) ngh sao v C TT Ng nh Dim? University Press of Kansas, 2009 At this late date Bobby Kennedy still opposed the coup and Maxwell Taylor sided with him, while other officials looked ahead to the composition of a future Saigon government, or focused on tactics or the balance of forces on the coup and palace sides. I have been unable to find the claimed McCone quote in any contemporary record. John Kerry anti-war testimony to the US Senate (April 1971) Years later, when the Church Committee was investigating the CIA (in 1975), McCone quoted himself telling John F. Kennedy, in precise words that he remembered very clearly, Mr. They also sought to provide economic support to South Vietnam to bring needed reform to the area and . Letter from President Eisenhower to Ngo Dinh Diem, President of the Council of Ministers of Vietnam, October 23, 1954. The implications of the agreement concerning Viet-Nam have caused grave concern regarding The American government viewed South Vietnam's situation as a cry for US news report on the Paris peace agreement (January 1973) An American ally against communism in Asia, Diem embarked on a two-week visit to the United States. McCone shot back that the best line was no line. Full text is unavailable for this digitized archive article. Primary Source. For his part, Nhu also came off as more and more ominous (Document 15). For more information please refer to our Terms of Use. Nhus attempts to fend off criticism or ingratiate himself with Washington failed. On August 27 Ambassador Nolting took center stage. We present both the audio of that meeting and a transcription of it crafted by Luke Nichter. @table of contents. [1] The next day, INR went ahead to craft a paper on The Problem of Nhu (Document 17), where analysts cited South Vietnamese opinions that Nhu had become the dominant power in Saigon, exercising an overriding, immutable influence over Diem.. agreement concerning Viet-Nam have caused grave concern regarding the future Ci In a meeting between President Kennedy and his top advisors, even at that late hour they seemed divided over a possible coup. In 1963, he became leader of South Vietnam after a coup in which Diem. Unless otherwise indicated the specific electronic form of the document is copyright. Eisenhower wrote to South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem and promised direct assistance to his government. Our mission is to engage, educate, and inspire all learners to discover and explore the records of the American people preserved by the National Archives. Articles with the HISTORY.com Editors byline have been written or edited by the HISTORY.com editors, including Amanda Onion, Missy Sullivan and Matt Mullen. The implications of the agreement concerning Viet-Nam have caused grave concern regarding the future JFK Papers: NSF: Country File, b. President Kennedy decided to replace his ambassador to Saigon, Frederick E. Nolting, and appointed Henry Cabot Lodge to that position. TT Viet Cong Program, 1962 [At this Site] Charles de Gaulle: France's Attitude Toward US Policy in Vietnam 1964 [At this Site] Tonkin Gulf Incident 1964 [At Yale] [Internet Archive version here] The Tonkin Bay Resolution 1964 [At this Site] Rusk, McNamara urge US involvement in Vietnam (November 1961) A US reporter discusses South Vietnamese military weaknesses (1973) While the details of their deaths were inconclusive, the mood in Saigon was jubilant. Kattenburg got the impression the man had a growing neurosis. Silence from the Vietnamese generals made Washington officials wary of getting too far ahead of Saigon politics. This primary source comes from the Collection DDE-EPRES: Eisenhower, Dwight D.: Papers as President of the United States. 05/08/1957 ARC Identifier: 542189 Item from Record Group 342: Records of U.S. Air Force Commands, Activities, and Organizations, 1900 - 2000 Conscription of Vietnamese peasants for service in World War I (1916) President, if I was manager of a baseball team, [and] I had one pitcher, Id keep him in the box whether he was a good pitcher or not. CIA operative Lucien Conein, who was a liaison to the generals leading up to the coup, in an undated photo from the 1960s (Credit: William J. The inauguration speech of Duong Van Minh (April 1975) Today, the National Security Archive is posting for the first time materials from U.S. and Vietnamese archives that open the window into this pivotal event a little bit wider. b mt c tit l sau 40 nm (T Gn), Nhng Decisions had yet to be made in Washington. Lodge was the first diplomat to meet with LBJ as president. Vietnamese citizens away from areas which are passing under a de facto Military opponents coalesced around General Maxwell D. Taylor, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and included General Krulak; while another center of opposition included CIA Director John McCone and his responsible division chief, William E. Colby. Instead, JFK spoke not of opposing a coup, but of not conducting one just because the New York Times was pushing italmost a repeat of what he had expressed to Lodge in their meeting 10 days earlier (Document 3). Nixon announces deployment of US troops in Cambodia (April 1970) Robert McNamara proposes increases in US troops (July 1965) Changing the day will navigate the page to that given day in history. If President Diem refused to jettison Nhu, then Diem would have to go as well. CIA electronic reading room; declassified July 24, 2015. American aid given directly to your Government can serve to assist Viet-Nam in its present to examine with you in your capacity as Chief of Government, bow an intelligent program of Thomas L. Hughes Papers, Courtesy of Thomas Hughes. permission is granted for commercial use of the Sourcebook. 183-186. Bin Tnh Sng - (Hoi cm ca Trn khc Knh). (BS Tn Tht Thin), Ngha Site Concept and Design: Paul Halsall created 26 Jan 1996: latest revision 3 Mayl 2023 [CV], created 26 Jan 1996: latest revision 3 Mayl 2023 [, Internet of American aid given directly to your Government can serve to assist Viet-Nam Statement on Student and Faculty Academic Rights and Responsibilities. President Kennedy acted mostly as moderator. Ho Chi Minh seeks Vietnamese independence in Paris (1919) but a succession (Document 20). The implications of the That was the climate in which ARVN General Tran Thien Khiem asked CIA for a meeting. [3] State cable, DepTel 412, EYES ONLY, September 15, 1963. Martin Luther Kings Beyond Vietnam speech (April 1967) Here we step back to take a broader view, not just focusing on the events of August but on the full panoply. ngh sao v C TT Ng nh Dim? Eisenhower's Letter of Support to Ngo Dinh Diem, October 23, 1954 Dear Mr. President: I have been following with great interest the course of developments in Viet-Nam, particularly since the conclusion of the conference at Geneva. Description: U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower and Secretary of State John Foster Dulles (from left) greet South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem at Washington National Airport. The George Washington University Newly appointed U.S. I am glad that the United States is able to assist in this humanitarian effort. Rights: Public Domain, Free of Known Copyright Restrictions. Content created by Alpha History may not be copied, republished or redistributed without our express permission. 239-240 and 291-292. people, so enlightened in purpose and effective in performance, that it will be respected ISBN:978-0-3002-1780-3, William Colby and the CIA: The Secret Wars of a Controversial Spymaster Eisenhower wrote to South Vietnamese President Ngo Dinh Diem and promised direct assistance to his government. Ng nh Dim: Giai on cc k gy cn (HNT & TTN), TT 202-994-7000 ornsarchiv@gwu.edu. By this juncture, 1963, that optimism had evaporated and Kennedy felt that obstructionists in Saigon were losing ground against a communist insurgency. 328 (April 6, 1965) 242 Robert McNamara, Secretary of Defense: Excerpt from Memorandum for President Lyndon Johnson (April 21, 1965) 244 Ho Chi Minn: Letter to Lyndon Johnson (February 15, 1967) 245 News of ARVNs request for backing of a coup reached Kennedy as his presidents daily brief (then called the Presidents Intelligence Checklist, or PICL) was reporting that Ngo Dinh Nhu was indeed behind the Pagoda Raids, and that Nhu and Diem were issuing direct orders to military officers, leaving out the ARVN chain of command (Document 7). No permission is granted for commercial use of the Sourcebook. John F. Kennedy, Eisenhower's successor in the White House, would increase the commitment of U.S. resources in support of the Ngo Dinh Diem regime in South Vietnam and of non-communist. o chnh m st TT Ng nh Dim (Aladin Nguyen), Bi As we demonstrated in our 2009 E-book the reality was more complex. Modern History Sourcebook. A US intelligence briefing on the situation in Vietnam (August 1974) He co-authored today's posting with Archive Fellow John Prados. Your recent requests for aid to assist in the formidable project of the movement of Kennedy, John F. Kennedy to Ngo Dinh Diem. We strive for accuracy and fairness. Eisenhower to Ngo Dinh Diem, President of the Council of Ministers of Vietnam, October 23, 1954 DEAR MR. with great interest the course of developments in Viet-Nam, particularly since the conclusion of the conference at Geneva. Ambassador to South Vietnam, Henry Cabot Lodge, August 15, 1963. developments in Viet-Nam, particularly since the conclusion of the conference at Geneva. An American press report on the Binh Xuyen (April 1955) granted for electronic copying, distribution in print form for educational The implications of the agreement concerning Viet-Nam have caused grave concern regarding the future of a country temporarily divided by an artificial military grouping, weakened by a long and exhausting war and faced with enemies without and by their subversive collaborators within. Kennedy and Lodge discussed the kinds of challenges Lodge was likely to face upon arrival, and how he proposed to deal with the Diem government. Kennedy wanted Lodge to make a personal assessment. New documents and extracts will be added regularly. state, capable of resisting attempted subversion or aggression through When, that May, Ngo Dinh Diems government got into a political confrontation with Vietnamese Buddhists, American frustration increased. McCone said he discouraged Kennedy from supporting a coup unless a suitable replacement for Diem was identified. B. hinder an alliance between Iranian and Vietnamese communists. the source. We have been exploring ways and means to permit our aid to Viet-Nam to be more effective and to make a greater contribution to the welfare and stability of the government of Viet-Nam. Ho Chi Minh on founding the Inodchinese Communist Party (1930) Kennedy responds to a question on Vietnam (February 1962) Ridenhour's Confession Nguyn Vn Thiu United States Ambassador Donald R. Heath delivered this letter from President Eisenhower to Ngo Dinh Diem, President of the Council of Ministers of Vietnam (Viet-Nam), on October 23, 1954. European and World history. Kennedy was personally aware of the pro-Diem views of Frederick E. Nolting, Lodges predecessor as ambassador, strengthening the impression that he included Nolting in White House deliberationsand personally engaged him in colloquy about Saigon eventspartly to build a case that all sides in this debate had been heard. After a September lull, the coup plotters in Saigon began to strengthen in early October. University Press of Kansas, 2009 Desperate to save himself, amid the coup fighting, President Diem drafted a proclamation ordering the army to reject all but his own orders and summoning help from loyal forces outside Saigon (Document 26). It hopes that such aid, combined with your own continuing efforts, will contribute effectively toward an independent Viet-Nam endowed with a strong government. the institutional owner, and is not liable as the result of any legal action. 204, f.: Vietnam: Subjects: Top Secret Cables (Tab C) 10/3-10/27/63.. Edict of Emperor Minh Mang against Christians in Vietnam (1833) Nhu commented that the South Vietnamese military officers, many of whom were Buddhist themselves, started off in sympathy with the Buddhists following the uprising that occurred in Hue on May 8. Cu That post included a selection of essential documents, including the CIA briefing where the agencys director, John McCone, informed the president of the initial approaches by South Vietnamese plotters to CIA officers. 204, f.: Vietnam Subjects: Top Secret Cables (Tab C) 10/3-10/27/63.. [8] McCone ordered Saigon station to drop the suggestion, and the next day Colby reinforced that order with another (Document 19). Washington: Government Printing Office, 1991, p. 212 (hereafter cited as FRUS with page number). We have been exploring ways and means to permit our aid to Viet-Nam to be more October 23, 1954. JFK Library: John Newman Papers: Notebook, August 24-31, 1963.. Harriman again said that the U.S. would lose South Vietnam if the coup fails, which was necessary because the political situation was bound to disintegrate further under Diem. National Security Archive: George McT. The next day, Nolting added that the notion of a coup was based on a bad principle and would set a bad precedent, a statement that impressed National Security Adviser McGeorge Bundy (Documents 11, 12). The purpose of this offer is to assist the Government of Viet-Nam in developing and maintaining a strong, viable state, capable of resisting attempted subversion or aggression through military means. Colby said the coup forces were roughly equal in strength to those that remained loyal to Diem. McNamara and Taylors report on South Vietnam (October 1963) President Kennedy meets with newly-appointed Ambassador to South VietnamHenry Cabot Lodge. contribute effectively toward an independent Viet-Nam endowed with a strong government. Home | Ancient History Sourcebook | Medieval Sourcebook | Modern History Sourcebook | Byzantine Studies Page HISTORY.com works with a wide range of writers and editors to create accurate and informative content. subversive collaborators within. In a follow-up meeting the next day, another briefing by William Colby summarized the scene in Saigon. . Xin vui lng lu bt tng nim n cc v Anh Hng ca QLVNCH hc t mt s tun tit (TS Lm L Trinh) The receptions during the visit were in large part organized by the American . So he pledged support to an emerging leaderNgo Dinh Diema devout Catholic and fervent anti-French, anti-Communist nationalist. Unlike Nolting, who saw no possible candidates, the State Departments Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) produced an extensive list (Document 16). Excerpts from the Paris Peace Accords (January 1973) An Australian press report on the Tet offensive (February 1968) The National Security Archive has participated in these debates by introducing important new evidence and interpretation. The assistant chief, left to comment on General Minhs options, advised Washington not to dismiss the assassination too quickly, as the other possibilities basically meant civil war. Anyone can read what you share. Robert F. Kennedys Kansas State University speech (March 1968) Don reported that Harkins clarified that his remarks about the non-desirability of a coup were inadvertent. Vietnamese figure Ngo Dinh Nhu, brother of leader Diem, remained the prime target of American maneuvers. mi nm ngm ngi (Trng Phu' Th) The contact, and the meeting which followed, tipped the Americans to Nhus maneuvers to create channels to Hanoi, reminded them that coup plans still existed, and informed CIA that the generals were awaiting Diems response to their demands for cabinet-level positions in the South Vietnamese government (Document 13).[4]. Your recent requests for aid to assist in the formidable project of the movement of several hundred thousand loyal Vietnamese citizens away from areas which are passing under a de facto rule and political ideology which they abhor, are being fulfilled. LBJ Library: Bromley K. Smith Papers, b. White House conversations took place without any principal figures changing their minds about the Saigon situation. There were more contacts with the Vietnamese generals. Washingtons last opportunity to back out of the Saigon coup occurred on October 29, when President Kennedy gathered his advisers to go over the ground one more time. Bobby Kennedy spoke little in the August meetings and was absent from the August 26 session, when anger over the Hilsman cable should have been most focused. At one point Ambassador Lodge personally assured General Tran Van Don that CIA operative Conein was speaking authoritatively for the U.S. TWO LETTERS TO NGO DINH DIEM EISENHOWER'S LETTER TO NGO DINH DIEM October 23, 1954 (Department of State Bulletin, November 15, 1954) Dear Mr. President; I have been following with great interest the course of developments in Vietnam, particularly since the conclusion of the conference at Geneva. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. will be met by performance on the part of the Government of Viet-Nam in The purpose of this offer is to assist the Government of Viet-Nam in developing and maintaining a strong, viable state, capable of resisting attempted subversion or aggression through military means. Ho Chi Minh recalls his conversion to Leninism (1967) I am Ngo Dinh Nhu explained to U.S. officials the series of events that led to the pagoda raids and the declaration of martial law. JFK Was More Inclined toward Regime Change than Earlier Believed, Newly Released JFK Tape and President's Intelligence Checklists Fill in Gaps in Record, South Vietnamese Leader's Notes Published for First Time, Written Hours before Assassination, Edited by John Prados and
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