Cold War Mandarin: Ngo Dinh Diem and the Origins of America's War in Vietnam, 1950-1963For almost a decade, the tyrannical Ngo Dinh Diem governed South Vietnam as a one-party police state while the U.S. financed his tyranny. In this new book, Seth Jacobs traces the history of American support for Diem from his first appearance in Washington as a penniless expatriate in 1950 to his murder by South Vietnamese soldiers on the outskirts of Saigon in 1963. Drawing on recent scholarship and newly available primary sources, Cold War Mandarin explores how Diem became America's bastion against a communist South Vietnam, and why the Kennedy and Eisenhower administrations kept his regime afloat. Finally, Jacobs examines the brilliantly organized public-relations campaign by Saigon's Buddhists that persuaded Washington to collude in the overthrow--and assassination--of its longtime ally. In this clear and succinct analysis, Jacobs details the "Diem experiment," and makes it clear how America's policy of "sink or swim with Ngo Dinh Diem" ultimately drew the country into the longest war in its history. |
Contents
The Kind of Asian We Can Live With Diem Wins American Support | 15 |
Let Our People Go The Geneva Accords and Passage to Freedom | 37 |
This Fellow Is Impossible The Collins Mission | 59 |
Miracle Man Diems Regime in Myth and Reality | 83 |
Truth Shall Burst Forth in Irresistible Waves of Hatred Cracks in the Facade | 111 |
A Scenario of Torture Persecution and Worse The Diem Experiment in Decline | 135 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
ambassador American anticommunist army ARVN Bao Dai Battle for Saigon Binh Xuyen Buddhist Buttinger cabled Catholic Collins Papers Collins's colonial command communist Conein Countries-Vietnam coup David Halberstam Department Diem and Nhu Diem cited Diem experiment Diem regime Diem's Diem's government diplomatic Dooley Dooley's Dulles Durbrow Edward Lansdale Eisenhower Embassy in Vietnam forces foreign French FRUS Geneva Accords Gia Long guerrillas Halberstam Hanoi Harkins Hoa Hao Indochina insisted JFKL journalists Karnow Kennedy Lansdale leader Lodge MACV Madame Nhu Mansfield ment military namese National Security Files Ngo Dinh Diem Ngo Dinh Nhu Nguyen Nhu's Nolting North officers pagoda palace Passage to Freedom peasants policymakers political premier president Quang Quat rebels reform refugees Rusk Senator South Viet South Vietnam Southeast Asia strategic hamlet thousand Thuc tion told troops Trueheart United University Press Viet Minh Vietnam New York Vietnamese Washington
Popular passages
Page 1 - You have certainly done your duty. As I told you only this morning, I admire your courage and your great contributions to your country. No one can take away from you the credit for all you have done. Now I am worried about your physical safety. I have a report that those in charge of the current activity offer you and your brother safe conduct out of the country if you resign.
Page 1 - LODGE: I do not feel well enough informed to be able to tell you. I have heard the shooting, but am not acquainted with all the facts. Also it is 4:30 AM in Washington and the US Government cannot possibly have a view.
Page 2 - I admire your courage and your great contributions to your country. No one can take away from you the credit for all you have done. Now I am worried about your physical safety. I have a report that those in charge of the current activity offer you and your brother safe conduct out of the country if you resign. Had you heard this? Diem: No. (And then after a pause) You have my telephone number. Lodge: Yes. If I can do anything for your physical safety, please call me. Diem: I am trying to re-establish...