Diem

Diem

1. Bao Dai in charge of SV

   • Diem made president

2. Diem acts like the ruler of SV

   • He attacks gambling, prostitution and drinking
   • Holds elections in Saigon
     • Rigged - wins by 98%
       • Causes more people not to support him
     • Attempt land reform
   • Doesn't understand peasantry

3. 1956 - General Election not held

   • Evident that Diem would not win
   • Only had about 10% of support in SV and none in NV

4. Evidently not controllable

   • US felt they had to support as he was anti-communist

5. Supported by Eisenhower

   • Provides money and military advisors

6. Infilltration - movement of communists to SV

7. JFK

   • US tried to arm villages - ink spotting spreads
   • 1961 - Agrovilles program - moving SV peasants
     • Failed - more people turned Commie
   • 1963 - slaying of Buddhists and Buddhist demonstrations
   • Said they'd look the other way when coup killed Diem
     • JFK killed 2 weeks later