To prevent a Communist takeover What did Congress do after the North Vietnamese attack in the gulf of Tonkin? With Dim remaining intransigent in the face of escalating Buddhist demands for religious equality, sections of society began calling for his removal from power. Lodge reported the following exchange to Washington:[97]. 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. Coordinates: 10.75918N 106.662498E In November 1963, President Ng nh Dim and the Personalist Labor Revolutionary Party of South Vietnam were deposed by a group of CIA supported Army of the Republic of Vietnam officers who disagreed with Dim's handling of the Buddhist crisis and the North Vietnamese and Viet Cong threat to South Vietnam. Lodge later concluded "Once again, brother Nhu proves to be the evil genius in Dim's life." A large proportion of the U.S. troops consisted of African American men from the inner cities, the sons of immigrants . [57], By mid-October, Dim and Nhu were aware that a group of ARVN generals and colonels were planning a coup, but did not know that nh was firmly among them, although they grew wary of him after his request for a cabinet post. [6] CIA Saigon cable 1385, October 3, 1963, ibid., p. 354. Around 20:00 the night before, Dim and Nhu hurriedly packed American banknotes into a briefcase. General Harkins reported that the suicides had occurred either by gunshot or by a grenade wrestled from the belt of an ARVN officer who was standing guard. While Colby emphasized that Saigon had stabilized, Kennedy asked numerous questions about the likelihood of success should the disaffected generals move forward with a coup attempt. To promote democracy in South Vietnam, To prevent a Communist takeover What did Congress do after the North Vietnamese attack int he Gulf of Tonkin? [139] She said "I believe all the devils of hell are against us" and that "whoever has the Americans as allies does not need enemies". There was still time to pull back. But it was too late. After . [3], ARVN rebels RVNMD rebels RVNAD rebels RVNAF rebels, Trn Vn n Dng Vn Minh Nguyn Cao K L Vn Kim Tn Tht nh Nguyn Hu C Mu Trn Thin Khim Phm Ngc Tho(spy of North Vietnam), The Kennedy administration had been aware of the coup planning,[4] but Cable 243 from the United States Department of State to U.S. One day later, Ambassador Lodge received the infamous DepTel 243, the Hilsman cable (2003 E-book, Document 2; E-book 302, Document 1). The rebel colonel assured Cao that the divisional and corps transfer had taken place smoothly. [88] nh's prediction that Vin would acquiesce was incorrect. 2023, A&E Television Networks, LLC. University Press of Kansas, 2009 [7] CIA, Saigon cable 1447, October 5, 1963, cited in Thomas L. Ahern, CIA and the House of Ngo: Covert Action in South Vietnam, 1954-1963. HISTORY reviews and updates its content regularly to ensure it is complete and accurate. We have since continued to collect material, and Luke Nichters presentation of the Kennedy-Lodge tape from mid-August offers a good opportunity to revisit the coup. Ngo Dinh Diem, (born January 3, 1901, Quang Binh province, northern Vietnamdied November 2, 1963, Cho Lon, South Vietnam [now in Vietnam]), Vietnamese political leader who served as president, with dictatorial powers, of what was then South Vietnam, from 1955 until his assassination. [30] Mu enlisted the help of Khim following Tuyn's departure into exile. [99], Under the command of Thiu,[1] the siege of the barracks started, and rebel artillery shells soon reduced the buildings to rubble, but the pro-Dim loyalists fought on, a scant five blocks from the palace. Ma Tuyen was a Chinese merchant and friend who was reported to be Nhu's main contact with the Chinese syndicates which controlled the opium trade. The coup would take place in a window of late October-early November. [79], One of Dim's aides called nh but was told that nh was not there. [39][41] Mu helped Minh to secure the cooperation of General Nguyn Khnh,[40] who commanded the II Corps that oversaw the Central Highlands of the country, and Colonel Nguyn Vn Thiu,[40] who commanded the 5th Division based just outside the capital in Bin Ha. Anyone who rises will be instantly shot". While the United States publicly disclaimed any knowledge of or participation in the planning of the coup that overthrew Diem, it was later revealed that American officials met with the generals who organized the plot and gave them encouragement to go through with their plans. When Conein telephoned the Saigon CIA station, there was a ten-minute wait. [98] According to this account, Dim "was confident that his forbearance would make the coup forces realize that he was a president who always stood on the side of the masses of the population". [67] According to Ellen Hammer, however, Quyn started his birthday with an early morning tennis match with fellow officers, who invited him to a lunchtime birthday party. Colby said the coup forces were roughly equal in strength to those that remained loyal to Diem. "[109] He further went on to anticipate what he termed a "Gtterdmmerung in the palace". [73] Lodge was not taken in by Dim, as Washington had already told Dim what reforms were necessary, such as the removal of Nhu and the use of the special forces to fight communists rather than dissidents; Dim had not responded to US advice. [112] Dunn then offered to personally go to the brothers' hideout to escort him so that the generals could not kill him, but Lodge refused, saying "We just can't get that involved". Unclear and contradictory stories abounded. They hate you too much; they will kill you. "[128], Trn Vn Hng, a civilian opposition politician who was jailed in 1960 for signing the Caravelle Manifesto that criticised Dim, said: "The top generals who decided to murder Dim and his brother were scared to death. U.S. Their message called on Dim and Nhu to give up power, and many officers identified themselves as participants. When asked about whether the US was involved, she replied "definitely", elaborating that "no coup can erupt without American incitement and backing" and declaring that she would not seek asylum "in a country whose government stabbed me in the back". But as I've said, if I can ever be of any assistance in looking after your security, I would certainly do so. HISTORY.com works with a wide range of writers and editors to create accurate and informative content. a. [23][39] General n, nominally a high-ranking general, but in a position without command of troops since the palace distrusted him, was sought out by Mu, who wanted to collaborate. Upon his return, the ambassador offered Dim and Nhu asylum, but would not arrange for transportation to the Philippines until the next day. [1], nh claimed to know nothing of C's activities, raising his voice, vowing to have his deputy killed. He said "Please remain seated quietly. If I can do anything for your physical safety, please call me. He had lost American support What was President Johnson's objective in Vietnam? President Diem is Overthrown and Assassinated - Vietnam War Commemoration Ambassador to Saigon Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. to proceed in a fashion that made clear to Diem that he needed to end nepotism and curtail the activities of his brother, Ngo Dinh Nhu, and other family members, whose efforts were impeding the counterinsurgency war then in progress. The American Soldier in VietnamMore than 2.5 million American men served in Vietnam during the war. Vice President, Lyndon B. Johnson, later said that it was the worst mistake we ever made. 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. [131], Conein asserted that Minh's humiliation by the Ng brothers was a major motivation for ordering their executions. Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961-1963, v. IV: Vietnam, August-December 1963. Lodge expressed his "admiration and personal friendship" and gratitude for Dim's hospitality. Here we supplement the 2003 coverage with some new evidence. JFK Papers: NSF: Country File, b. [93], The rebels encountered little resistance at the start of the attack on Saigon, and this allowed them to generate momentum. This present E-book opens (Document 1) with the record of a July 19, 1963, encounter between CIA Station Chief John Richardson and Diems brother, Ngo Dinh Nhu, who ran many of South Vietnams special services and was increasingly seen as the power behind the presidency. Lodge: Well, you are a chief of state. 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. n charged Nhu with convincing Dim to reject the offer. JOHN KENNEDY, VIETNAM AND THE OVERTHROW OF DIEM - Diary of a Heartland [125], Once the news of the cause of death of the Ng brothers began to become public, the US became concerned at their association with the new junta and began asking questions. Ed. [139], The United States publicly disclaimed responsibility or involvement in the coup. I have been unable to find the claimed McCone quote in any contemporary record. 198, f.: Vietnam 8/21-8/30/63.. "Our. CIA Director Colby described a Saigon situation that pictured the pro-regime forces as stronger than the plotters. Ngo Dinh Diem The US government saw South Vietnam's autocratic ruler, Ngo Dinh Diem, as a bulwark against Communism. [41], After Minh had ordered the rebels to search the areas known to have been frequented by the Ng family, Colonel Phm Ngc Tho was informed by a captured Presidential Guard officer that the brothers had escaped through the tunnels to a refuge in Cholon. "[58] Nhu had no idea that nh's real intention was to engulf Saigon with rebel units and lock Tung's loyalists in the countryside where they could not defend the Ngs. Now, if I can be of any help on that, I'm prepared to send my driver with an officer of mine to escort you to safety. Quan was Minh's deputy, and Lm was commander of Dim's Civil Guard. I don't want to hurt him. [126], The killings damaged the public belief that the new regime would be an improvement over the Ng family, turning the initial harmony among the generals into discord. Two further officers made up the convoy: Major Dng Hiu Ngha and Captain Nhung, Minh's bodyguard. [45][55] The other generals told him that the people were dissatisfied with Dim's cabinet and that Vietnam needed dynamic young officers in politics, and that their presence would reverse the declining morale in the ARVN. I was sad because I thought I was discredited with you. [66][79] Mu and n organised the invitations and set up the trap. Compare this with Document 10 here, and Items 9 (audio), 10 and 11 of E-book 302. There was no formal vote taken at the meeting, and L attracted only minority support. Origins. How could we separate in this critical hour?" They emphasized, we believe that Vietnam is not faced with any serious shortage of effective non-Communist leadership. Thomas L. Hughes, INRs director, remains proud today of the list his experts assembled in 1963. [70] Dim gave one of his chain-smoking monologues and said that he would cooperate with US recommendations. He had no time to acclimate. This was a trick on Diem's part, as the fake coup was about to start. 183-186. Who were Vietnam War leaders? - The Vietnam War Ngo Dinh Diem Several months after the event, Minh reportedly said privately that "We had no alternative. During the military junta period, the heads of state of South Vietnam did not always hold real power, the heads of military were de facto leaders of the nation. An investigation by n later determined that Nghia had shot the brothers at point-blank range with a semi-automatic firearm and that Nhung sprayed them with bullets before repeatedly stabbing the bodies with a knife. According to Jones, "when decisions regarding postcoup affairs took priority, resentment over the killings meshed with the visceral competition over government posts to disassemble the new regime before it fully took form. [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. McCone said he felt that Kennedy agreed. 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. ", the colonel retorted "Anyone who opposes us is the enemy". [94], Gia Long Palace, the presidential mansion, had once served as the home of French governor generals. Don asserted that all plans were complete and had been checked and re-checked. The issue was brought to a head when Dim scheduled a referendum for October 1955, which was rigged by his brother Nhu, and proclaimed himself the President of the newly created Republic of Vietnam. It decided to send money, supplies and military advisers to help the South Vietnamese Government. Every Colonel Blimp in the world would have made use of them. In 1963, weeks before his own assassination, President Kennedy gave approval for the CIA to encourage a group of South Vietnamese generals to depose President Ngo Dinh Diem of South Vietnam. When confronted about Dunn's claim by a historian, Conein denied the account. 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. Ngo Dinh Nhu, brother of President Diem, and Madame Nhu. Felt had been told of the existence of coup plans by Lodge, who falsely informed him that it was not imminent, saying "There isn't a Vietnamese general with hair enough on his chest to make it go. [116] When Tho arrived at Ma Tuyen's house, he phoned his superiors. Why did South Vietnamese military leaders overthrow Diem? Also it is 4:30 A.M. in Washington and the US government cannot possibly have a view. When the Ng brothers confronted nh with the report of what had happened in M Tho, nh feigned astonishment at his deputy's behaviour. Forced to kneel over two freshly dug holes, the brothers were shot into their graves and buried. Kennedy said his two top officials in Saigon should build up the coup forces, since at present it did not look as though they could successfully topple Diem. [4] Accounts of the CIA meetings with General Khiem on September 16 (CIA Saigon cable 0940) and 26 (Saigon cable 1222) appear in FRUS, IV, pp. [56], Codenamed "Operation Bravo", the first stage of the scheme would involve some of Tung's loyalist soldiers, disguised as insurgents led by apparently renegade junior officers, faking a coup and vandalising the capital. [118] 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. [71] Dim recounted to Felt about the Ng family's achievements, then complained about American aid cuts in response to the pagoda raids. nh told Tung that the fake coup needed to employ an overwhelming amount of force. The official newspaper, the Nhan Dan, opined that "By throwing off Ngo Dinh Diem and his brother Ngo Dinh Nhu, the US imperialists have themselves destroyed the political bases they had built up for years. 1, formally suspending the 1956 constitution and detailing the structure and duty of the interim government. [18][19] Numerous coup plans had been explored by the army before, but the plotters intensified their activities with increased confidence after the administration of US President John F. Kennedy authorized the US embassy to explore the possibility of a leadership change through Cable 243. While the details of their deaths were inconclusive, the mood in Saigon was jubilant. Some of these materials first appeared in earlier National Security Archive E-books and are added here to provide the larger context of events. [62] Tung would then announce the formation of a "revolutionary government" consisting of opposition activists who had not consented to being named in the government, while Dim and Nhu would pretend to be on the run and move to Vng Tu. The Archive built an E-book around those audiotapes, too, starting with DepTel 243 and then permitting the reader/listener to make extensive comparisons, by pairing the White House tapes with the NSC and State Department memoranda recording those same conversations. [37], After the coup was completed, the media learned that the conspiracy organised by Tuyn and Tho had been more advanced than that of the generals' before the latter were integrated into the main plot. Unlike Nolting, who saw no possible candidates, the State Departments Bureau of Intelligence and Research (INR) produced an extensive list (Document 16). The generals knew very well that having no talent, no moral virtues, no political support whatsoever, they could not prevent a spectacular comeback of the president and Mr. Nhu if they were alive. Having found out that nh would be recruited for Nhu's plan, and not sure which side he was really on, they promised to make him Interior Minister and other rewards if they helped to overthrow the Ng family. [137] They promised to resume the Commercial Import Program, their main aid initiative to South Vietnam, which had been suspended due to relations with Dim. Back at the embassy Lodge confronted Harkins over his intervention with the South Vietnamese officer (Document 22).

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