Episode 2 Notes America's war in vietnam America's Mandarin 1954-1963 DIEM (supported by Eisenhower) Diem inherited shaky bureaucracy and had 2 year time limit to elections 900,000 Vietnamese Catholics moved to the South Landsdale, Diem's closest advisor Diem had to consolidate power or lose US support He crushed rebellion, and would never compromise Check out in Appy Book DR. PHAM THI XUAN QUE DIEM AND EISENHOWER, 1959: Eisenhower: You have exemplified in your corner of the world patriotism of the highest order. You have brought to your great task of organizing your country the greatest of courage, the greatest of statesmanship. You are indeed welcome sir. NARRATOR: Without American support, Diem would never have survived. With it, he seemed to have done the impossible. Washington held him up to the world as a model of anti-communism, the miracle man of Asia. Diem took weapons and dollars, but not advice New Phase in the southern struggle 1960 formation of the NLF communist formed coalition of anti Diem forces Kennedy vs. Khruschev anti colonialism support by USSR Bay of Pigs problems for Kennedy Nolting reiterated this pride hurt for JFK To them, "national liberation" was code for "Communist aggression." Diem tried to keep American forces out. Feared foreigners Kennedy reluctant also Supported counterinsurgency - small and stylish Green Berets - train vietnamese to behave as guerillas (harass communist supply lines) JFK ABC MC? He would win this limited war -- with a few American advisers, a lot of American hardware, and a positive attitude... CAPTAIN EDMOND FRICKE: Prophetic comment from US advisor And, as you know, it's the man who gets the support of this farmer who is going to eventually win this war. VC cruelty The Vietcong had assassinated 500 civilians and Diem officials, and killed 1,500 of his troops in the first half of 1961. VC influence in the country-side was growing. ALT VIDEO CLIP HERE Strategic Hamlet program failure - resentful peasants McNamara publicly praised it Nhu at war with communists and all critics of regime mad at brother Diem and wife 1963 crisis brought about by Buddhists Madame Nhu comments about barbequing a monk Buddhists were joined with students Used American press Diem's Generals began to plot against him Military was largely Buddhists US changed advisors, Nolting out, Lodge in ADVISORS The U.S. was now spending a million and a half dollars a day on the war. There were 16,000 American soldiers in South Vietnam, still called "advisers," but inevitably seeing action. TF In 1963 and afterwards, all US advisors were of view that it was good that Diem was ousted in a coup.