The End Of The Diem Regime Essay

, Research Paper

The Kennedy administration was responsible for the overthrow of the

Diem regime and Diem?s assasination.The U.S. did not have a problem with

Diem, the real problem was with Diem?s brother Nhu.Nhu was responsible

for many protests by Bhuddist monks where Mrs. Nhu would call the monks

who set themselves on fire in protest ?barbecues.? The Kennedy

administration had a lot to do with the overthrow of the regime although

they did not have much to do with Diem?s assasination.

The Kennedy administration was the main influence in overthrowing

the Diem regime.The State Department wanted to give Diem a chance to rid

himself of Nhu and replace him with the best military and political

personalities available. Ambassador Lodge said that the possibility of Diem

meeting are demands are virtually nil. The only way to get rid of Nhu is to get rid of the

entire Diem regime. In a cablegram from Ambassador Lodge to Secretary Rusk, Lodge

said; ?We are launched on a course from which there is no turning back: the overthrow of

the Diem government.? Lodge also stated that there is no turning back because the U.S. is

publicly committed to the end of the Diem regime. In a cablegram transmitted from

President Kennedy to Ambassador Lodge, Kennedy said that the U.S. should not actively

help the coup, but be ready to make good relations with the group that overthrows the

Diem regime. In a later cablegram from the whitehouse they said that the U.S. does not

wish to leave an impression that they are opposed to a new regime. When the U.S. says

this they are basically telling the coup that they are backing them.

Because of the Kennedy administrations responsibility in the

overthrow of the Diem regime it also leads to the eventual assasination of

Diem.The U.S. was not as involved with his assasination as they were with

the overthrow of Diem?s regime. Diem was told by Ambassador Lodge that if he

resigned, him and his brother would be allowed to leave the country

safely. Diem, however, was not told by the U.S. that they sided with the

coup. Diem believed he was doing the right thing and the U.S. was not

opposed to him. If he had known that the U.S was against him he would have probably

resigned, but he was denied that information from ambassador

Lodge.