Colonel Robert Heinl: The Collapse of the Armed Forces (1971) Ho Chi Minh recalls his conversion to Leninism (1967) 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). Don was furious that a different, subordinate ARVN officer, talking of a different coup, had been discouraged by U.S. military group commander General Paul D. Harkins, while word of that had reached President Diem. Lodge began with a summary of his conversation the night before with Than Thi Nam Tran, wife of Vietnamese Ambassador to the U.S. Tran Van Chuong, and mother of Madame Nhu. purposes and personal use. Your recent requests for aid to assist in the formidable project of the movement of US Senate debate on the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (August 1964) In turn, Conein challenged Don to produce proof that the coup group was actually authentic. Ultimately his refusal to make any substantial changes to meet the needs of the people led to extreme civil unrest and eventually a coup by dissident South Vietnamese generals in which Diem and his brother were murdered. Today's posting also features a dramatic handwritten proclamation on November 1, 1963, from the doomed Diem demanding thatthe South Vietnamese Army follow his orders. Full text is unavailable for this digitized archive article. Secretary of State Dean Rusk remarked that were on the road to disaster, posing the alternatives as whether to move U.S. troops into Vietnam or get our resources out. Newly arrived U.S. He actually reached Saigon two days after their conversation (August 23, Washington date). 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. After a September lull, the coup plotters in Saigon began to strengthen in early October. Nhu suggested that he was not a central figure in the actions undertaken against the Buddhists, although he was in support of them. That was one reason for the study missions. Tucked away in Roger Hilsmans papers, a portion of which were deposited later at the Lyndon Johnson Presidential Library, was a CIA-created timetable of Agency contacts with South Vietnamese generals from August 23 through October 23. Although the IHSP seeks to follow all applicable copyright law, Fordham University is not Plus, we've got an entire learning guide devoted to this document. aid will be met by performance on the part of the Government of Viet-Nam in undertaking A report into French atrocities in Vietnam (1933) D. inhibit the growth of radical Islam. Among the findings from the present posting or from our several Diem E-books taken together are the following: Vietnam perplexed American leaders from Franklin D. Roosevelt on. President Ford on Americas post-Vietnam recovery (April 1975). v cc ng bo nn nhn They agreed that the coup plotters would deal only with Conein in the future. 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. General Tran Van Don, one of the coup plotters and a point of contact for CIA operative Lucien Conein (generalhieu.com). Ministers of Vietnam, October 23, 1954. aggression through military means. SOURCE: Department of State Bulletin. honor the ARVN Heoes. ND c c lm Th Tng (HNT & TTN) 202-994-7000 ornsarchiv@gwu.edu. Fordham University History Department, and the Fordham Center for Medieval Studies in Pham Van Dong on Geneva, Vietnamese independence (July 1954) Gi nh Mnh (T Gn - Si Gn Nh), Bn for Medieval Studies. We have been exploring ways and means Le Duan: The path of revolution in the South (1956) Cu One opposition faction centered on former Ambassador Nolting. Rust; fromRust's articleon Conein inStudies in Intelligence (cia.gov). US news report on the imminent fall of Saigon (April 1975) 735-736. nhng n anh ln (Nguyn Tng Phong), Phn 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. o chnh m st TT Ng nh Dim (Aladin Nguyen), Phng Ambassador Frederick Nolting that he would make no such move against the Buddhists, Harriman and Ball were no longer sure of Diems intentions. Don asserted that all plans were complete and had been checked and re-checked. SAIGON, Vietnam, Oct. 24 -- In a letter to Premier Ngo Dinh Diem, President Eisenhower has expressed the hope that "indispensable reforms" would be carried out by South Vietnam in connection with the receipt of United States aid. nhng n anh ln (Nguyn Tng Phong), Nhng National Security Archive: George McT. [5] Joint Chiefs of Staff Memorandum, General Maxwell D. Taylor and Secretary Robert C. McNamara-President John F. Kennedy, October 2, 1963. [7] This advice outraged CIA Director McCone and Far East operations chief Colby. since the conclusion of the conference at Geneva. These materials reveal that Lodge already held nuanced views on the situation in South Vietnam and had already met with South Vietnamese representatives in the U.S., who happened to be the parents of Ngo Dinh Nhus wife. hc t mt s tun tit (TS Lm L Trinh) [3] At the same time Lodge was involved in a spat with the CIA over changing its station chief in Saigon. We strive for accuracy and fairness. Cuc Eisenhower made it clear to Diem that U.S. aid to his government during. 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. Primary Source. Statement on Student and Faculty Academic Rights and Responsibilities. WASHINGTON, May 11-- Following is the text of a joint statement issued today by President Eisenhower and President Ngo Dinh Diem of South Vietnam at the conclusion of their talks: View Full . 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 On November 1 we have the PICL which shows the coup underway (Document 25). 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. Government Printing Office 1991). in purpose and effective in performance, that it will be respected both By the end of the meeting, Kennedy asked for a cable to be sent to Lodge and Harkins to get their appraisal whether a coup could be successful. A Viet Cong member reflects on its approach to war (1985) Nhus attempts to fend off criticism or ingratiate himself with Washington failed. Tng Thng Ng Lodge spoke with Harkins on the afternoon on October 23. General Minh renewed the August call for an expression of U.S. support for a coup. JFK Papers: NSF: Country File, b. Xin vui lng lu bt tng nim n cc v Anh Hng ca QLVNCH Retrieved From http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/vietnam/psources/ps_eisenhower.html / (Original Work published oct. 23 1954). the Fordham University Center Sign up now to learn about This Day in History straight from your inbox. mi nm ngm ngi (Trng Phu' Th) b mt c tit l sau 40 nm (T Gn) Chun Tng L A Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operative was approached during the time of U.S. 4th of July festivities by South Vietnamese military officers who wanted U.S. support for a coup detat that might overthrow Diem (2003 E-book, document 1). Ridenhour's Confession The Internet Harkins, a long-time friend of Lodges from their upbringing in Massachusetts and shared time in the U.S. Army, expressed regret for his remarks and said he would inform Don that his comments did not reflect official U.S. Government policy. The implications of the European and World history. The National Security Archive has participated in these debates by introducing important new evidence and interpretation. Ng nh Dim: Th thch u tin (HNT & TTN) It hopes that such aid, combined with your own continuing efforts, will contribute effectively toward an independent Viet-Nam endowed with a strong government. TimesMachine is an exclusive benefit for home delivery and digital subscribers. Leader of mid- 1950 s pro-Communist revolution in French Indochina (Vietnam) against corrupt Ngo Dinh Diem regime in Saigon Gamal Abdel Nasser Egyptian nationalist president who seized British-controlled Suez Canal when economic aid negotiations among Egypt, Great Britain, and the United States dissolved in 1956 Mohammed Reza Shah Pahlavi Seymour Hersh breaks the story of the My Lai killings (1969) They also sought to provide economic support to South Vietnam to bring needed reform to the area and . At the same time, Nhu ordered soldiers to fire upon Americans and other foreigners involved in acts intended to be hostile toward South Vietnam. JFK Library: John Newman Papers, Notebook, August 24-31, 1963.. That was the climate in which ARVN General Tran Thien Khiem asked CIA for a meeting. Similarly, Alleged Assassination Plots quotes two CIA cables sent to Saigon, respectively, on October 5 and 6, of which only the latter message seems to exist in the public domain (DIR 73661, here presented as Document 19). The Government of the United States expects that this aid HISTORY.com works with a wide range of writers and editors to create accurate and informative content. The Department HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. Eisenhower praises the progress in South Vietnam (October 1960), John F. Kennedys inauguration speech (January 1961) 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. Another consistent theme among American planners was that there was no clear frontrunner, and it was unclear whether the next government would be civilian or whether it would share power with the military for a time. of American aid given directly to your Government can serve to assist Viet-Nam Cable 243 discusses the removal of Ngo Dinh Diem (August 1963) Central Intelligence Agency: Center for the Study of Intelligence, 2000 (declassified February 19, 2009), p. 195. v. t. e. Ng nh Dim, the President of South Vietnam, made a state visit to the United States, the main ally of his government, in 1957. From that point on, the U.S. embassy and Saigon station became even more active as observers of South Vietnamese coup preparations. During his trip the Saigon situation escalated as Nhu went ahead to launch the raids on the Buddhist pagodas he had already planned. Luke A. Nichter, For more information, contact Duong Van Minh Known popularly as "Big Minh," Duong led the South Vietnamese army under prime minister Ngo Dinh Diem. One can see the flurry of activity in August, during the first serious discussion of a coup shortly after Lodges arrival in Saigon. But within hours he would be deposed and 24 hours later summarily executed by the military. Noam Chomsky on the meaning of Vietnam (1975), Richard Nixon unveils a policy of Vietnamisation (November 1969) Rather than revisit all of that debate, here we want to touch on a few points, presenting nuances in the form of the Thomas Hughes notes (Document 6) and meetings with Diem and Nhu that were taking place within this timeframe (Documents 8, 14, 15), amplifying the evidence. If you do reduplicate the document, indicate own continuing efforts, will contribute effectively toward an independent state, capable of resisting attempted subversion or aggression through Ho Chi Minh seeks Vietnamese independence in Paris (1919) Th Ni Lng - Ch S Ng nh Dim (Trn Vit Yn), Vn From: President Eisenhower To: Ngo Dinh Diem Date: October 23, 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. There was still time to pull back. We present both the audio of that meeting and a transcription of it crafted by Luke Nichter. Vn Hng, History of Strategic This primary source comes from the Collection DDE-EPRES: Eisenhower, Dwight D.: Papers as President of the United States. 204, f.: Vietnam Subjects: Top Secret Cables (Tab C) 10/3-10/27/63.. I am Modern History Sourcebook, Fordham University Center 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. Yale University Press, 2020 The US recognises self-governing Vietnam (February 1950), Final declaration of the Geneva Conference on Indochina (July 1954) Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961-1963, v. IV: Vietnam, August-December 1963. Decisions had yet to be made in Washington. Letter from President Eisenhower to Ngo Dinh Diem, President of the Council of Ministers of Vietnam, October 23, 1954. 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. The CIA learned of a talk he had had with ARVN commanders in the Saigon area where Nhu asserted that a cutoff of foreign aid would not be a problem because South Vietnam had enough foreign currency reserves to continue for 20 years. 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. collaborators within. JFK Papers: Kennedy Tapes, Tape/Conversation 104/A-40/004, Audio recording of President John F. Kennedy conversation with U.S. 735-736. Lodge and Kennedy met in the Oval Office on August 15 (Item 2, Document 3). On August 27 Ambassador Nolting took center stage. Under Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy, the USA had given millions of dollars to prop up the French in Vietnam, and had sent military advisers to support Ngo Dinh Diem's corrupt, anti-communist . maintaining a strong, viable state, capable of resisting attempted subversion or Tng Thng The purpose of this offer is to assist the Government of Viet-Nam in developing and Cht ca TT Ng nh Dim (Aladin Nguyen) Nhu claimed that Ngo Dinh Diem himself approved the pagoda raids against the Buddhists in response to demands made by South Vietnamese army officers for Diem to deal with recent political agitation in Saigon. For more information please refer to our Terms of Use. 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. DEAR MR. PRESIDENT: I have been following to maintain in the event such aid were supplied. An American draft-dodger explains his actions (1967) So he pledged support to an emerging leaderNgo Dinh Diema devout Catholic and fervent anti-French, anti-Communist nationalist. the institutional owner, and is not liable as the result of any legal action. to give assurances as to the standards of performance it would be able Eisenhower believed "losing" South Vietnam to communism would be a strategic, economic, and humanitarian disaster. The ouster of Diem in a militarycoup that would have major implications for American policy and growing involvement in the country happened 57 years ago today. Gi nh Mnh (T Gn - Si Gn Nh), CS 204, f.: Vietnam: Subjects: Top Secret Cables (Tab C) 10/3-10/27/63.. Compare to Documents 18 and 19, and the audioclip in the E-book of November 5, 2003. But it was too late. Robert McNamara proposes increases in US troops (July 1965) (BS Tn Tht Thin), Ngha Ng nh Dim: Th thch u tin (HNT & TTN), TT Following the Geneva Convention, President Eisenhower and the United States supported Ngo Dinh Diem. The Presidents Intelligence Checklist for the morning of November 2 led with the deaths of Diem and Nhu in the wake of what appeared to have been a successful coup. McNamara and Taylors report on South Vietnam (October 1963) Letters from Eisenhower and Kennedy to Ngo Dinh Diem Eisenhower, Dwight D. Eisenhower to Ngo Dinh Diem. No the specific electronic form of the document is copyright. Some of these materials first appeared in earlier National Security Archive E-books and are added here to provide the larger context of events. An American press report on the Binh Xuyen (April 1955) Eisenhower's letter of support to Ngo Dinh Diem (October 1954) An American press report on the Binh Xuyen (April 1955) Ngo Dinh Diem explains why he rejects national elections (July 1955) Le Duan: 'The path of revolution in the South' (1956) Ngo Dinh Diem addresses a joint session of the US Congress (1957) Again, the 2003 E-book presented an array of materials on these events (Documents 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28), ranging from Kennedys White House sessions to monitor events, to the CIA daily situation reports, to a cable relating several versions of how Diem and Nhu died, to a CIA retrospective analysis of press coverage of the deaths. At the same time, there was infighting within the ranks of the South Vietnamese army officers, and the latest turmoil is likely to be only the first phase in a new wave of instability. President Kennedy acted mostly as moderator. Director of the Bureau of Intelligence and Research Thomas L. Hughes made notes of White House conversations with National Security Council staff member Michael Forrestal and Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs Roger Hilsman during August 24-28, 1963, which he referred to as coup planning week. Vietnam took up most of the discussions, including criticism of Nhus explanation for the series of events that led to the pagoda raids which Forrestal said was what he wanted us to hear. They agreed that the Diem government could not survive another 12 months. [8] McCone ordered Saigon station to drop the suggestion, and the next day Colby reinforced that order with another (Document 19). We do not reproduce this here because we presented it in both the previous electronic briefings on this subject. your free people. C. protect Western oil interests. JFK Papers: NSF: Country File: b. (JFK Papers: NSF: Country File, b. Letter From Eisenhower to Ngo Dinh Diem - The Vietnam War A Letter From Eisenhower to Ngo Dinh Diem October 23, 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. US security briefings on Ngo Dinh Diem and his regime (1958-1960) Eisenhower sent a letter to Ngo Dinh Diem, the Prime Minister of South Vietnam, with America's plans and motives in efforts to gain the trust of a possible new American ally. subversive collaborators within. American aid given directly to your Government can serve to assist Viet-Nam in its present In 1963, he became leader of South Vietnam after a coup in which Diem. 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 Ambassador Lodge was sending home his CIA station chief. in the formidable project of the movement of several hundred thousand loyal for Medieval Studies.The IHSP recognizes the contribution of Fordham University, the 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. Robert McNamara reflects on Americas failures in Vietnam (1995) The cycle of meetings opened on Monday, August 26, after the Hilsman cable had been sent and when the object was whether to confirm the instruction it had contained. I am glad Cross examination of Lieutenant William Calley (1970) Nhng On the morning of October 24, Don saw Conein at Tan Son Nhut airport. contribute effectively toward an independent Viet-Nam endowed with a strong government. nguyn vi C TT Ng nh Dim (Phan Thit), V ngh sao v C TT Ng nh Dim? military means. Our additional records do not change the impression we expressed in 2009 that Nolting had essentially gone native (Documents 9, 10). President Eisenhower then reminded Diem that his territory is protected by SEATO. He co-authored today's posting with Archive Fellow John Prados. and to remember the thousands of As . The Sourcebook is a collection of public Such a government would, I hope, For his part, Nhu also came off as more and more ominous (Document 15). contribution to the welfare and stability of the Government of Viet-Nam. Rufus Phillips describes one White House meeting around this time that ended in complete pandemonium. Ngo Dinh Diem head of the South Vietnamese government Khrushchev Russian premier backed The Central Intelligence Agency ______ the Bay of Pigs invasion of Castro's Cuba. EISENHOWER ASKS VIETNAM REFORM; In Letter to Saigon Premier, President Links Aid Pledge to Stable Regime There EISENHOWER ASKS VIETNAM REFORM, https://www.nytimes.com/1954/10/25/archives/eisenhower-asks-vietnam-reform-in-letter-to-saigon-premier.html. 199, f.: Vietnam 9/11-9/17/63, CIA Reports.. I am, accordingly, instructing the American Ambassador to Viet-Nam to examine Ngo Dinh Nhu explained to U.S. officials the series of events that led to the pagoda raids and the declaration of martial law. of State Bulletin (November 15, 1954), pp. 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]. Ng nh Dim: Ti thit min Nam (HNT & TTN), Ci The National Security Archive documented this event in some detail in our 2003 electronic briefing book, where we presented the meeting agenda, a tape of the conversation, the NSC meeting record, and two draft cables to Saigon that the participants considered (2003 E-book, Documents 18, 19, 20, and 21 plus audio clip). He also wanted to see something on Lodge actually talking with Diem.