Kennedy’s Dilemmas What issues did Kennedy face in 1961?

Kennedy’s Dilemmas What issues did Kennedy face in 1961? ContainmentThe Domino Theory The New World Order – A bi-polar world US vital interests such as trade/Europe/South East Asia The Arms Race Improve the living conditions of the average American, especially poor black and white (voters).

Kennedy’s Dilemmas In your groups of 4 you will play the role of the of one of the following: The President – John Fitzgerald Kennedy Secretary of State: Dean Rusk Secretary of Defence: Robert McNamara Senator: Mike Mansfield The Task The Preparation 1.Decide who’s who and then read about your chosen character. Ask yourself: What’s their foreign policy view? How are they going to solve the problem of Vietnam? Would you describe them as a ‘Hawk’ or a ‘Dove’? 2.Discuss this with the rest of your group what you stand for and why. The Decision-making 1.In your group you will be given a series of problems faced by the Kennedy administration you will have very little time to advise the President, but his decision is final. Record your decisions on the record sheet provided.

Kennedy’s Dilemmas Problem 1: The Communist are active in Cuba and Laos (right next to Vietnam). What should the President do? Problem 2: It’s 1961 and the ARVN (South Vietnamese Army) are failing to fight the Communists. They are conducting a conventional war but failing. What should the President do? Problem 4: May 1962 – McNamara returns from Vietnam saying that the war is being won. November 1962 Mansfield returns from Vietnam saying that the South Vietnamese leader is useless and the America mustn’t get involved any further in Vietnam. Are there any changes to current policy Mr President? Problem 3: In the first two years of your presidency American military advisors had grown from 3000 in Dec 1961 to 12,000 by Reports in American suggest that Americans are actually fighting not just ‘advising’ in Vietnam. Mr President we need an answer…

Kennedy’s Dilemmas Problem 5: January 1963 – 2000 ARVN troops with support from 113 US troops are beaten by 350 communist guerrillas at Ap Bac. Five US helicopters and 3 pilots lost. The ARVN refuse to launch a rescue mission. We need a decision now sir… Problem 6:The leader of South Vietnam Ngo Dinh Diem is unconvincing as a leader and doesn’t seem to support democracy. He brought in the strategic hamlets (see sheet) programme which is designed to protect the Southern Vietnamese villagers but seems to just harbour more Vietcong. Time’s running our Mr President! Problem 7: Increasing tension between the Catholics and Buddhists in Vietnam are at breaking point. The SouthVietnamese President is Catholic and his brother is the Catholic Archbishop of SouthVietnam. June 1963 – A Buddhist immolates himself in a protest against Catholic oppression. Diem’s wife in response to other similar deaths states ‘Let them burn and we shall clap our hands’. Mr President, Mr President…

Kennedy’s Dilemmas ProblemYour decisionWhat actually happened What willhappen next?

Kennedy’s Dilemmas Problem 1: The Communist are active in Cuba and Laos (right next to Vietnam). What should the President do? Pages Problem 2: It’s 1961 and the ARVN (South Vietnamese Army) are failing to fight the Communists. They are conducting a conventional war but failing. What should the President do? Page 63 Problem 4: May 1962 – McNamara returns from Vietnam saying that the war is being won. November 1962 Mansfield returns from Vietnam saying that the South Vietnamese leader is useless and the America mustn’t get involved any further in Vietnam. Are there any changes to current policy Mr President? Problem 3: In the first two years of your presidency American military advisors had grown from 3000 in Dec 1961 to 12,000 by Reports in American suggest that Americans are actually fighting not just ‘advising’ in Vietnam. Mr President we need an answer…Page 64

Kennedy’s Dilemmas Problem 5: January 1963 – 2000 ARVN troops with support from 113 US troops are beaten by 350 communist guerrillas at Ap Bac. Five US helicopters and 3 pilots lost. The ARVN refuse to launch a rescue mission. We need a decision now sir… Pages Problem 6:The leader of South Vietnam Ngo Dinh Diem is unconvincing as a leader and doesn’t seem to support democracy. He brought in the strategic hamlets programme which is designed to protect the Southern Vietnamese villagers but seems to just harbour more Vietcong. Time’s running our Mr President! Pages Problem 7: Increasing tension between the Catholics and Buddhists in Vietnam are at breaking point. The South Vietnamese President is Catholic and his brother is the Catholic Archbishop of Vietnam. June 1963 – A Buddhist immolates himself in a protest against Catholic oppression. Diem’s wife in response to other similar deaths states ‘Let them burn and we shall clap our hands’. Mr President, Mr President… Pages 69-70