1. K ENNEDY AND D IEM

2. W HAT ARE WE LEARNING TODAY How Kennedy supported Diem and why. What the result was in the short term What the result was in the longer term W HAT AM I LOOKING FOR ? Recall and describe the actions of Kennedy and Diem. (D) Explain the impact Kennedy’s relationship with Diem had on US policy in Vietnam. (C/B) Analyse how important Diem’s relationship with Kennedy was on American policy (A/A*)

3. K ENNEDY AND D IEM As we know, Kennedy focused heavily – almost solely on the MILITARY focus. This was a long running effect on American policy. Kennedy supported Diem because he had no other choice but he appeared to believe what Diem told him.

4. D IEM Diem did not listen to American advisers on the use of troops. His best were reserved to protect him. (These had been trained by the US CIA) His policy of STRATEGIC HAMLETS was poor but he refused to stop it. When American reporters from the New York Times in Vietnam criticised Diem Kennedy tried to get them to stop running the stories. When this failed the Kennedy administration then called them unpatriotic.

5. S TRATEGIC H AMLETS Designed to protect people from the Viet Cong it failed in so many ways: Poor peasants had to pay to be in one – there was little choice. They also usually also built them! The VC simply joined the villagers and took off with the weapons America supplied to protect the villagers from...er the VC Aerial photo of a Strategic Hamlet. It was basically a fortified village.

6. D IEM & THE B UDDHISTS Diem was a Catholic and therefore whilst in a minority did all he could to persecute the biggest religion in Vietnam. Buddhist monks burned themselves to death in protest. Images like these shocked Kennedy but he played dumb over not knowing Diem would be indifferent to such acts.

7. 1962-3 By 1962 relations with Diem were poor. His actions against the Buddhists and his failure to listen to American while taking the money and support seemed at odds with any sense of being an ally. Kennedy needed a new face in Vietnam. He replaced the ambassador with Henry Cabot Lodge who despite being a Republican (Kennedy was a Democrat) did want to get better relations in Vietnam – how was another matter.

8. L ODGE AND A COUP Lodge arrived in Vietnam and had contact with people who wanted to change the leadership in Vietnam. He said “our help to the South Vietnamese regime in the past years inescapably gives us a responsibility we cannot avoid.” He believed that Diem could not achieve victory unless he listened to America – acted on the reforms and removed the power away from his brother and wife. (Unlikely!)

9. K ENNEDY ’ S PROBLEMS We will look soon at Kennedy’s men but, basically Kennedy’s team believed in Diem, American military support and not political change. Conflicts in policy between people Kennedy would rely on was an error Kennedy made and only worsened American actions in Vietnam. Lodge tried to talk to Diem – see pg. 73 (Access to History) but when this failed used leaks and other means to discredit Diem. This split in American actions was only to get worse!

10. K ENNEDY ’ S DISUNITED TEAM – 09/62 This observer looked at what the ARVN and US military were doing. He was optimistic that good progress was being made. The State Department observer looked at political system Diem had and said it was a mess and was deeply worried. Defence DepartmentState Department Kennedy asked “You two did visit the same country didn’t you?”

11. This is impossible. We can’t run a policy where there are such divergent views on the same facts. Analysis The fact is Kennedy had set up a system of policy making designed to do just that! Analysis The fact is Kennedy had set up a system of policy making designed to do just that!

12. T IME FOR A C HANGE Kennedy’s support for Diem ended when Diem began talks with North Vietnam. Kennedy’s team said although it did not wish to start a coup it would not stop one either. Whilst they debated over if a coup would occur, ARVN generals took over. Diem and his wife were both killed. Kennedy was shocked – he thought it would be bloodless!

13. I MPACT Kennedy’s relationship with Diem and the decision to get rid of Diem would be a lasting one. Subsequent leaders did not have the same nationalism that Diem had for South Vietnam. The US in effect replaced a despotic but nationalistic and able leader with replacements who were even less able and had less national identity than Diem. See http://en.wikipedia.or g/wiki/Leaders_of_So uth_Vietnam for a list of those who replaced Diem...the words revolving doors! http://en.wikipedia.or g/wiki/Leaders_of_So uth_Vietnam See http://en.wikipedia.or g/wiki/Leaders_of_So uth_Vietnam for a list of those who replaced Diem...the words revolving doors! http://en.wikipedia.or g/wiki/Leaders_of_So uth_Vietnam

14. I MPACT Lyndon Johnson and Nixon both (after the war) said the collusion in the killing of Diem was the US Govt’s biggest mistake. That said they weren’t in charge then so they could be passing the buck for all the errors they were to make in Vietnam. See Access to History by Vivienne Sanders – pg. 77