American Commitment: 1954- 1963
Eisenhower and Kennedy
Review
• Vietnam – Two rice bowls at the ends of a stick.
• Long history of guerilla warfare against foreign invaders.
• Ho Chi Minh- ardent nationalist, anti colonialist, communist turned to
US for support.
• DRV declaration of independence countered by French desire to
retain their colonies.
• SOV with Bao Dai as US and French response to DRV
• Defeat and humiliation of the French at Dienbienphu.
You kill 10 of my men for everyone I kill of yours and you will lose and I
will win.
Ho Chi Minh
There is no possibility that the war can be won under a Diem
administration.
Henry Cabot Lodge
Geneva Accords
• Temporary division 17th parallel.
• All Vietnam elections in 1956
• Civilians can choose to migrate.
• No military alliances, arms or
foreign intervention.
Geneva Accords- July 1954
• Conference chaired by Molotov
and Eden.
• “ The Deal” Chou En lai and
Mendes-France- Vietnam to be
divided.
• DRV opposes but needs China
support.
• US has reservations but doesn’t
participate.
• Diem becomes Bao Dai’s prime
minister.
Domino Theory
• “Loss of China” in 1949 created
fear of communist take-over of
SE Asia.
• Acheson- Unless France
supported, Indochina would fall
like a row of dominos.
• Eisenhower- South Vietnam was
the key domino.
South-East Asia Treaty Organization (SEATO)
• Formed in Sept. 1954
• US, Britain, France, Australia, NZ,
Thailand, Phillipines, Pakistan.
• John Foster Dulles- Need for
collective security.
• “ International authority” to take
action if needed in Indochina.
• Conflict with Geneva Accords ?
Eisenhower Policy
• Gravely concerned about void
left by of French withdrawal.
• Collusion with SOV to
undermine the Geneva Accords.
• $2 billion to Diem to develop the
army and to provide US advisors.
• Ike promised every necessary aid
to maintain “ a stable and viable
state.”
Kennedy Policy
• Strongly anti-communist and
supported domino theory.
• Favored counter insurgency and
special forces. Increased support
for ARVN, US advisors and
helicopters.
• Strategic Hamlet Program
• Greater concern initially over Laos.
• Strong initial support for Diem yet
approved his removal.
Kennedy’s Advisors The Hawks
Kennedy Advisors- The Dove
• George Ball- the devils advocate.
• Undersecretary of State.
• Predicted stalemate.
• Dismissed by other advisors.
• “ Once on the tigers back, you
can’t be sure of picking a place
to dismount.”
Strategic Hamlet Program
• Established in 1962 to deny Viet
Cong sanctuary.
• Mao: “Fish cannot survive out of
water”
• Villages destroyed, Cong
supporters punished.
• 1/3 population take refuge in
cities.
• Disaster- led to anti-americanism
and communist recruits.
NLF ( Viet Cong ) Insurgency 1956- 1964
• ARVN ineffective in controlling
guerilla attacks..
• NLF consists primarily of South
Vietnamese dissidents- both
communist and non-communists
• Supplied from North through Ho
Chi Minh Trail.
• No North Vietnamese troops.
• Led by General Tran Do.
Kennedy’s Men- Robert McNamara
• World War II- Helped direct air
war against Japan.
• President Ford Motor Co.
• Secretary of Defense 1960-1965.
Replaced by Clark Clifford.
• Managerial style- charts, graphs
and projections.
• Disillusioned- war unwinnable.
• Resigned under threat of
dismissal by Johnson.
Ngo Dinh Diem
• Roman Catholic son of
mandarin. Educated.
• Nationalist, anticommunist and
antifrench.
• Sojourn in US. Friends with
Cardinal Spellman, Mike
Mansfield and JFK.
• 1954 Bao Dai’s prime minister.
Ousted him in 1955 in rigged
election.
Diem Brothers
Nhu
• Repressive, corrupt, and
autocratic.
• Purged political rivals and Viet
minh in South.
• Hated by Buddhists, alienated
the military and disliked by
Henry Cabot Lodge.
• Unsuccessful coup in 1960.
• “ A puppet who pulled his own
strings ”
The Dragon Lady
Buddhist Rebellion
• Diem corrupt, losing popular
support. Favors Catholic
supporters.
• Nhu- Secret police. Conducts
anti-Buddhist campaign leading
to riots and self emulation.
• Purges military and political
rivals.
• Lodge demands removal of Nhu.
Henry Cabot Lodge
• Former senator and Vice
Presidential Candidate in 1960
• Ambassator to South Vietnam
1960-1964
• Hostile to Diem
• Aware of coup plans and
pledged US would not interfere.
• Returned to US to campaign for
Republican Presidential
nomination.
Diem Coup
• Mutinous generals surround
Diem’s palace.
• Lodge offers safe passage which
is refused.
• Diem and Nhu escape to
Catholic church.
• Minh offers exile, but orders
their murder.
• Kennedy outraged. Assasinated
3 weeks later.
Had Kennedy Lived ?
Extended War
• Anti-Communist. Believed in Domino
Theory.
• Most of cabinet favored war. Same
group that advised Johnson.
• Cronkite Interview- 9/2/63 “To
withdraw would be a mistake. We
must persist.”
• Increased military advisors- 700 to
16,000
• Feared appearing weak. Anticipated
Goldwater challenge in 1964.
Withdrawn
• Cronkite Interview- “ War must be
won by ROV”. Saw no larger war.
• Discouraged by lack of military
progress and effective leadership.
• October 63- Agreed with
McNamera to remove 1000 troops
and withhold aid to Diem.
• Independently told RFK, O’Donnell,
and McNamara he would withdraw
support if re-elected.