|
|
|
|
By: Ashley “Let every nation know, whether, it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival of liberty.” – President John F. Kennedy 1961 Vietnam was not one of Kennedy’s nor was it a key issue of discussion between Kennedy and President Eisenhower. President Kennedy believed the changes of developing countries demanded new ideas. The Kennedy administration was led by the fact that South Vietnam had become more modern. Most of Kennedy's advisers believed that South Vietnam was not in danger. Only one of Kennedy's key advisers spoke against the war, Secretary of State for Economic Affairs George Ball. In May 1961, President Kennedy sent more Americans to Vietnam. The military wanted even more men saying that with 13,000 troops they could wipe out the Vietcong. Kennedy spent a lot of time deciding what to do but he did not want the U.S. to allow Communism in Vietnam. By the end of 1962, the military had got what they wanted having 11,300 officers operating in South Vietnam. Kennedy was told in 1963 that the war was being won and that he could begin pulling troops out by the end of the year, but the war was far from being won. The Diem regime had begun to steal American help and military supplies. Diem had to go to win the war Kennedy agreed for the CIA to help a South Vietnamese army against Diem. On November 2, 1963, Diem was killed.
Kennedy still did not know which policy to use in Vietnam. He had begun to speak
to his advisers about pulling out. Kennedy said that he would see the war
through until he was reelected in 1964. Kennedy was killed on November 22, 1963.
|
|
|
