President

Background

Actions/Events

Significance of Action

Harry Truman

1945-1949 France tried to recolonize Indochina

Ho Chi Minh and Communists resisted

U.S. opposed French recolonization, but feared communism

1949-1953 U.S. began massive aid to France; by 1953 was paying 80% of French bills in Indochina

Sent O.S.S./C.I.A. to work with French to combat Communists

Fall of China, Korean War put pressure on Truman to hold line on communism in Asia

Supported French colonialism in order to stop communism

Dwight Eisenhower

1954 Dien Bien Phu falls; French defeated

Geneva Conference divided Indochina

Proposed unification elections be held in 1956

Selected Ngo Dinh Diem as U.S. ally

Supported Diem’s decision not to hold elections in 1956

Gave economic aid

Sent 1,000 advisers to Vietnam

Domino theory made Vietnam critical to Asian containment

Support of Diem laid foundation for future commitments

John Kennedy

Worried by Diem’s repression of Buddhists; refused to reform political corruption in South

Viet Cong grew in strength

JFK resisted call to send combat troops

Increased advisers to 16,000

Supported domino theory

Tacitly supported Diem’s ouster in 1963

Postponed either escalation or withdrawal

No clear future direction on war

Diem’s death left South in political and military chaos

Lyndon Johnson

Faced political chaos in Vietnam

Believed in domino theory

Feared conservative political attacks on Great Society

Realized fighting war could destroy his presidency

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution 1964 gave LBJ authority to fight war

Began bombing North Vietnam

Sent combat troops to Vietnam; by 1968, 540,000 troops in South Vietnam

Opposition to war grew

Saw war as test of U.S. will as superpower

Escalated the war and gradually divided nation

Tet offensive set stage for U.S. desire to withdraw from Vietnam

War destroyed Johnson’s presidency and tarnished his legacy

Richard Nixon (Ford)

Pledged to “Vietnamize” war

Claimed he had a secret plan to end the war

Reduced U.S. role in war

Invaded Cambodia

Bombed North Vietnam

Peace accords in 1973 left Communists in South Vietnam

Ended draft; withdrew U.S. troops

Watergate removed Nixon and reduced public support for South Vietnam

Communists took over South Vietnam in 1975