- kennedy’s Ideology -Vietnam Things to look at
• L/O – • To identify what shaped Kennedy’s philosophy towards Vietnam
• Kennedy’s philosophy • World Events • Kennedy’s Advisors
Review of Eisenhower’s responsibility; • Student Points; • By becoming guarantor of Vietnam and breaking the Geneva accord, Eisenhower made US troops a legitimate target for the Vietminh. • Eisnwhower support unethical decisions made by Diem, such as the suspension of free elections in 1956 – (I would add this undermined the moral auhtority that the US had in Vietnam) • The US lost credibility by supporitng a corrupt regime. • By rejecting Dulles and Nixon suggestion of using atomic weapons,, Eisenhower avoided provocation of Russia.
Key Hint;
You must refer to events and people that shaped US policy.
Using sophisticated language; Quagmire – a “morass” Predecessors/Successors Commitment/ Escalation (increase) Stalemate Moral Authority Detractors (critics) /Supporters Provocation/Provoke
• Eisenhower was haunted by the loss of China to communism in 1949 and did not want to be blamed like Truman for the subsequent fall of Vietnam. A stalemate in Vietnam was better than a loss. Cold war tension was real. A withdrawal from Vietnam would have destroyed his presidency, but a commitment, coming so soon after the Korean War was unrealistic. The domino theory, to many in the administration was real, and Eisenhower’s decisions appeased the detractors who felt intervention in Vietnam was critical. • Eisenhower fell into the quagmire of Vietnam because of the indecision of his predecessors Roosevelt and Truman. His commitment, although limited set a dangerous precedent for his successors. He helped develop a scenario that he himself became a victim of. Eisenhower was not only a pawn, but an architect of the commitment trap.
•Historical Interpretations of increased involvement in Vietnam.
The QUAGMIRE THEORY • Each president made a step and this caused deeper involvement. Before they knew it, troops were on the ground and they were at War.
STALEMATE theory • Each president knew they could not win, but did not want to concede defeat.
Commitment Trap • Each president did not want to lose face because of actions taken by their predecessor.
After 1954…..
Dien Bien Phu May 1954 – The battle of Dien Bien Phu saw the _____________ lose to _________ This was because_____________________ July 1954 – The Geneva Accords signed by ___________ The Accords established that______________
SEATO - Justification What was it again? • The Southeast Asia Collective Defence Treaty, or Manila Pact, was signed on 8 September 1954 in Manila,[2] as part of the American Truman Doctrine of creating anti-communist bilateral and collective defence treaties • SEATO was intended to be a Southeast Asian version of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO),[6] in which the military forces of each member would be coordinated to provide for the collective defense of the members' country. fter its creation, SEATO quickly became insignificant militarily, as most of its member nations contributed very little to the alliance. • Though sought by the U.S., involvement of SEATO in the Vietnam War was denied because of lack of British and French cooperation.[21][19]
Justification • Used as justification for US involvement in Vietnam • Stand against communist aggression • Was it legal? Did it contradict the Geneva Accord?
1956 Election Scam in the South Diem held elections – with help of US Those who voted for Bao Dai were punished Out of 450,000 voters, 605,025 voted for Diem The elections consolidated Diems power base in the south.
Eisenhower o Policy of “Massive Retaliation”. o Kennedy will adapt this to “flexible response”
By 1961 o No combat troops in Vietnam o Diem given over a billion dollars “We bet heavily on him” o 1960 – NLF founded – Vietcong begin insurgency operations in the South as a result of Diem’s effective anti communist round ups. o Kennedy came in in 1961…… o http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyevxqAQBJ8
o What was Kennedy’s perspective on Vietnam?
Influences – Make Notes
His Background Young deaths Catholic Anti-Communist - Mccarthy – Close friend of family
Young President Young – Something to prove Time period – Tension – Requirement to act.
Why did Kennedy get involved? • Could be a 12 or 24 mark question (adjust depth accordingly) Background – catholic, wealthy, competitive, Mccarthysim, Brother died in WW2 Inherited position – Truman Doctrine Early EXP – Cuba/bay of Pigs/Castro Events- Ap Bac Humiliation (1963), Diems assassination, growth of VC Advisors – Mcnamara/Lodge/Rusk/Bundy
Inherited Policy Eisenhower – Increased funding to the French but was unwilling to commit troops Domino Theory was accepted belief – (China, 49, Korean War 1050-53) – Communism was on the march. Cold War tension – Space race – America fell behind the Soviets (57 – Sputnik) – Need for action.
Advisors • Mcnamara – Tough, intelligent – Wanted a commitment to Vietnam. • Dean Rusk – Deep thinker – Favoured intervention – very anticommunist. • Lodge – Anti-communist.
Events • Bay of Pigs – 1961 – humiliation • Laos (next door) Fear of communist takeover – It remained a neutral country but Ho Chi Minh was using trails into South Vietnam. • Khrushchev forecast the triumph of communism just before Kennedy’s inaugoration. Eisenhower warned Kennedy that the Republicans would not stand for “any retreat in SE Asia”.
January 2009- Question A (12) “Explain why Kennedy believed that keeping South Vietnam free from communism was essential for the protection of the United States national interest”. (12) This is a different question from “Why did Kennedy get involved”?. You need to analyse national interest reasons rather than personal positions..
HINT – 3 Key points for a twelve marker; • US credibility as a super power – leader of the free world, NATO and the UN. • Fear of China, Korea, Cuba, Laos. Cold War escalating- Space race/events. • The domino theory and containment. Include fear of loss of business interest in SE Asia and the Truman doctrine.
Demonstration • “Explain why Kennedy believed that keeping South Vietnam free from communism was essential for the protection of the United States national interest”. (12)
• Plot your twelve mark question using the exam guidance sheet.
Part Two – Kennedy and Vietnam • From Ideology to Practice • How did Kennedy act in Vietnam? • Was Kennedy responsible for the US involvement in Vietnam?
• “South Vietnam is the cornerstone of the free word. No other challenge is more deserving of our effort and energy”. (1956)
Advisors • Make notes using your advisors sheet; • Kennedy used the defence department, rather than the state dept. This made his brother, Robert Kennedy uneasy. • Rather than focusing on solutions to problems, the defence department often had the use of military force in their thinking which may have clouded their judgement.
Robert Mcnamara (Defence) • Attended Berkeley and Harvard • Taught accountancy. • Seen as a “whizz kid” - Rose to president of the Ford Company - Kennedy offered him a role in the Defence Dept. • Incredible energy. Arrogant. Powerful presonality “the most dangerous man in the cabinet” (Robert Kennedy”. • Relied on military solutions to Vietnam – believed in commitment. • Lack of historical knowledge. • Liked to reduce problems to statistics (work exp?) • Encouraged Kennedy to send ground troops to Vietnam. • Retained by Johnson.
Ambassador Lodge • US Secretary to the UN – Appointed in 1953 by Eisenhower • Lodge supported Eisenhower Administration stance on anticommunism. • Foreign Policy Expert. • Ugly incident over Guatemala tainted a very distinguised career. • Ran as vice president to Nixon in the 1960 electionControversial amongst right wing republicans • Appointed b y Kennedy to be Ambassador to S.Vietnam 19631964. – • Believed in the domino theory and importance of making a stand in Vietnam. • Put Diem on “hold” when coup took place. Recongised that Diem embarrassed the US position in Vietnam
Dean Rusk (State) • Quiet – Professional • Three years at Oxford University – Fascinated with politics and international relations. • Worked in Truman state dept (note difference from defence dept – Mcnamara) • Anti-Communist – had experience of appeasement (1937-39) • Not part of the “in crowd”, unlike Mcnamara. • Felt Vietnam was the preserve of the defence dept and allowed the Vietnam issue to slip away from state control. • Slow, indecisive – Liked to consider all options.
Demonstration • Complete your advisors chart. • JFK’s Problems – From what we have looked at today and last lesson, use the problems worksheet to record the major problems that Kennedy faced before even making tactical decisions • Ensure you have researched the ideological positions of other advisors to the Vietnam question. • Begin answering questions in the scavenger hunt. Hand these in once finished. • .
JFK (1960-1963): Involvement • Taylor- Rostow report (Nov 61) called for: • • • •
Improved training for ARVN Greater use of helicopters Strategic bombing of North Vietnam Increased use of US combat troops
Report highlighted misunderstanding by US of issues in Vietnam. JFK decided not to send combat troops but to increase military aid and and create new Assistance command programme (Feb ‘62).
JFK (1960-1963): Involvement • Mansfield Feb ‘63 argued that involvement since 1955 and $2b worth of aid had made no difference and that change must come from Saigon. • JFK refused to withdraw before ‘64 election • Taylor-McNamara Report Oct ’63 reported positively on military situation in Vietnam and that by end of 1965 all troops should be home as ARVN would be able to contain the VC.
Where are we going next?
Key Questions; Was Kennedy going to withdraw? Was the War “Kennedy’s War”? Was Kennedy to blame for increasing US commitment? What was the significance of Diem’s assassination?