Presidents and leaders during the Vietnam war
Dwight D. Eisenhower
1953-1961
President Dwight D. Eisenhower, was the first president to go head on into the Vietnam conflicts. He did not Support the accords signed by France and Vietnam in Summer of 1954. The accord made the 17th parallel dividing the country of Vietnam to north and south. Eisenhower and his secretary of state John Dulles believed that the agreement gave the communists too much power in the north. So he decided to create the Southeast Asia Treaty organization known and SEATO. It was created to stop any more communist influence in Southeast Asia. Eisenhower came up with the Domino theory which was a theory that stated if a political event happened in one country it would happen in another neighboring country; an example is Communism. This theory laid the foundation for U.S involvement in Vietnam. This theory was his way of mobilizing the troops and involving the U.S in this war.
President Dwight D. Eisenhower, was the first president to go head on into the Vietnam conflicts. He did not Support the accords signed by France and Vietnam in Summer of 1954. The accord made the 17th parallel dividing the country of Vietnam to north and south. Eisenhower and his secretary of state John Dulles believed that the agreement gave the communists too much power in the north. So he decided to create the Southeast Asia Treaty organization known and SEATO. It was created to stop any more communist influence in Southeast Asia. Eisenhower came up with the Domino theory which was a theory that stated if a political event happened in one country it would happen in another neighboring country; an example is Communism. This theory laid the foundation for U.S involvement in Vietnam. This theory was his way of mobilizing the troops and involving the U.S in this war.
John F. Kennedy
1961-1963
John Kennedy was a strong believer in containing communism. Kennedy made it clear that he would continue the policy of former President Eisenhower. He also made it clear that he supported the 'domino theory', so he was convinced that if South Vietnam fell to communism so would other states in the region. Kennedy had to make the decision on whether or not to involve the U.S more into Vietnam or just let it run its course. But he believed that just a small increase in troops sent to Vietnam would ensure success. He then increased the size of the South Vietnamese army from 150,000 to 170,000. He also agreed to an extra 1,000 U.S military advisers to train the South Vietnamese army. Kennedy was convinced that Diem could never unite South Vietnam and he agreed that the CIA should initiate a program to overthrow him. Diem was overthrown and killed in November 1963, Kennedy was assassinated three weeks later.
John Kennedy was a strong believer in containing communism. Kennedy made it clear that he would continue the policy of former President Eisenhower. He also made it clear that he supported the 'domino theory', so he was convinced that if South Vietnam fell to communism so would other states in the region. Kennedy had to make the decision on whether or not to involve the U.S more into Vietnam or just let it run its course. But he believed that just a small increase in troops sent to Vietnam would ensure success. He then increased the size of the South Vietnamese army from 150,000 to 170,000. He also agreed to an extra 1,000 U.S military advisers to train the South Vietnamese army. Kennedy was convinced that Diem could never unite South Vietnam and he agreed that the CIA should initiate a program to overthrow him. Diem was overthrown and killed in November 1963, Kennedy was assassinated three weeks later.
Lyndon Johnson
1963-1969
Lyndon Johnson succeeded John F Kennedy as president. Johnson was a strong supporter of the ‘Domino Theory’ like Kennedy. He was encouraged to send more troops to help in Vietnam, he believed that if they did not send more troops that they would be "fighting in Hawaii and next week we’ll have to be fighting in San Francisco.”(Johnson). At first he was not happy about sending troops to Vietnam the elections were coming up and sending more troops would not please some Americans he was not against it he just did not want to upset his people. He wanted to do bombing raids for a fast and easy way to fight in this war. He was supported by congress, the attack was called 'operation rolling thunder' with the initial attack was only supposed to be 8 weeks long, but actually took 3 months. Johnson never could have imagined the things that he started. By the 1968 presidential election, America had become involved in a war that was to take on far greater dimensions than anyone could have believed in 1965. He did not stand for the 1968 presidential election and many people believed that this was the result of what was happening to US troops in South Vietnam at the time.
Lyndon Johnson succeeded John F Kennedy as president. Johnson was a strong supporter of the ‘Domino Theory’ like Kennedy. He was encouraged to send more troops to help in Vietnam, he believed that if they did not send more troops that they would be "fighting in Hawaii and next week we’ll have to be fighting in San Francisco.”(Johnson). At first he was not happy about sending troops to Vietnam the elections were coming up and sending more troops would not please some Americans he was not against it he just did not want to upset his people. He wanted to do bombing raids for a fast and easy way to fight in this war. He was supported by congress, the attack was called 'operation rolling thunder' with the initial attack was only supposed to be 8 weeks long, but actually took 3 months. Johnson never could have imagined the things that he started. By the 1968 presidential election, America had become involved in a war that was to take on far greater dimensions than anyone could have believed in 1965. He did not stand for the 1968 presidential election and many people believed that this was the result of what was happening to US troops in South Vietnam at the time.
Richard Nixon
1969-1974
Richard Nixon promised America that he would reduce U.S troop involvement in Vietnam. He called this plan "Vietnamization," whereby the U.S. would gradually withdraw from the war, leaving the South Vietnamese army to shoulder the bulk of the fighting. He planned on building up the South Vietnamese army, so that he could slowly pull out all American troops. Nixon wanted to sign a peace treaty, but North Vietnam had no intentions on signing. In order for them to sign, Nixon had a plan to bomb them from the sky using all of the U.S air power he could. The plan worked and all parties to the conflict signed, including South Vietnam, the final agreement was made in Paris on January 27. The treaties key elements were: all parties would initiate a cease-fire in place 24 hours after signing the agreement; U.S. forces and all foreign troops would withdraw from South Vietnam no later than 60 days after signing the agreement; American prisoners would be released simultaneously with the withdrawal of American and foreign forces; and a National Council of National Reconciliation and Concord would be created to organize and oversee free and democratic elections to determine the political future of the South. Nixon then resigned from office.
Richard Nixon promised America that he would reduce U.S troop involvement in Vietnam. He called this plan "Vietnamization," whereby the U.S. would gradually withdraw from the war, leaving the South Vietnamese army to shoulder the bulk of the fighting. He planned on building up the South Vietnamese army, so that he could slowly pull out all American troops. Nixon wanted to sign a peace treaty, but North Vietnam had no intentions on signing. In order for them to sign, Nixon had a plan to bomb them from the sky using all of the U.S air power he could. The plan worked and all parties to the conflict signed, including South Vietnam, the final agreement was made in Paris on January 27. The treaties key elements were: all parties would initiate a cease-fire in place 24 hours after signing the agreement; U.S. forces and all foreign troops would withdraw from South Vietnam no later than 60 days after signing the agreement; American prisoners would be released simultaneously with the withdrawal of American and foreign forces; and a National Council of National Reconciliation and Concord would be created to organize and oversee free and democratic elections to determine the political future of the South. Nixon then resigned from office.
Ho Chi Minh
1945-1969
Ho Chi Minh was a Vietnamese Communist and revolutionary leader who sought to free his nation from colonial influence. He led Vietnamese troops against Japanese, French, and American occupying forces, as well as against rival factions of Vietnamese. He like the U.S wanted to reunify Vietnam only he wanted to create a Democratic Republic of Vietnam, which he would rule over. This was thought to be a communist ordeal therefore the U.S got involved. He died in 1969, six years before the North declared victory in the Vietnam War and completed the reunification of the country under Communist rule. His followers took over after his death.
Ho Chi Minh was a Vietnamese Communist and revolutionary leader who sought to free his nation from colonial influence. He led Vietnamese troops against Japanese, French, and American occupying forces, as well as against rival factions of Vietnamese. He like the U.S wanted to reunify Vietnam only he wanted to create a Democratic Republic of Vietnam, which he would rule over. This was thought to be a communist ordeal therefore the U.S got involved. He died in 1969, six years before the North declared victory in the Vietnam War and completed the reunification of the country under Communist rule. His followers took over after his death.