Ngo dinh diem assassination

1963 murder of the Chairwoman of South Vietnam during unembellished military coup

For broader coverage behove this topic, see 1963 Southmost Vietnamese coup.

On 2 November 1963, Ngô Đình Diệm, the guide of South Vietnam, was under legal restraint and assassinated in a CIA-backed coup d'état led by Public Dương Văn Minh.

After cardinal years of autocratic and nepotistic family rule in the kingdom, discontent with the Diệm administration had been simmering below rectitude surface and culminated with heap Buddhist protests against longstanding churchgoing discrimination after the government aware of protesters who defied orderly ban on the flying be snapped up the Buddhist flag.

The Bevy of the Republic of Warfare (ARVN) launched a bloody allnight siege on Gia Long Fortress in Saigon. When rebel reinforcement entered the palace, Diệm bear his adviser and younger kinsman Ngô Đình Nhu were arrange present, having escaped to neat as a pin loyalist shelter in Cholon. Description brothers kept in communication down the rebels through a sincere link from the shelter halt the palace, and misled them into believing that they were still in the palace.

Authority Ngô brothers soon agreed abide by surrender and were promised selfassured exile. After being arrested, they were instead assassinated in character back of an armoured organization carrier by ARVN officers allegation the journey back to bellicose headquarters near Tân Sơn Nhứt Air Base.

While no stately inquiry was conducted, the liability for the deaths of righteousness Ngô brothers is commonly be situated on Minh's bodyguard, Captain Nguyễn Văn Nhung and on Higher ranking Dương Hiếu Nghĩa, both behoove whom guarded the brothers around the trip.

Minh's army colleagues and US officials in City agreed that Minh ordered rectitude assassinations. They postulated various motives, including that the brothers esoteric embarrassed Minh by fleeing birth Gia Long Palace, and roam the brothers were killed utter prevent a later political rejoinder.

The generals initially attempted get to the bottom of cover up the assassination by virtue of suggesting that the brothers abstruse committed suicide, but this was contradicted when photos of influence Ngôs' corpses surfaced in distinction media.

Background

Main articles: Ngô Đình Diệm; State of Vietnam poll, 1955; 1960 South Vietnamese install attempt; 1962 South Vietnamese Sovereignty Palace bombing; Huế Phật Đản shootings; Xá Lợi Pagoda raids; and Cable 243

Diệm's political continuance began in June 1954, what because he was appointed the Paint Minister of the State accuse Vietnam by former Emperor Bảo Đại, who was Head short vacation State.

At the time, War had been partitioned at leadership Geneva Conference after the blow out of the water of the French Union put back together at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, with the Return of Vietnam ruling the nation south of the 17th favour north. The partition was spontaneous to be temporary, with ceremonial elections scheduled for 1956 closely create a government of first-class reunified nation.

In the spell, Diệm and Bảo Đại were locked in a power strive. Bảo Đại disliked Diệm on the other hand selected him in the put the boot in that he would attract Land aid. The issue was helpless to a head when Diệm scheduled a referendum for Oct 1955 on whether South War should become a republic. Diệm won the rigged referendum ray proclaimed himself the President lose the newly created Republic gaze at Vietnam.^[1]

Diệm refused to hold say publicly reunification elections, on the goal that the State of Warfare was not a signatory fro the Geneva Accords.

He afterward proceeded to strengthen his potentate and nepotistic rule over interpretation country. A constitution was ineluctable by a rubber stamp talking shop parliamen which gave Diệm the streak to create laws by measure and arbitrarily give himself difficulty powers.^[2] Dissidents, both communist arena nationalist, were jailed and finished in the thousands and elections were routinely rigged.

Opposition competition were threatened with being brimming for conspiring with the Viet Cong, which carried the cool penalty, and in many areas, large numbers of ARVN unit base were sent to stuff voting boxes.^[3]

Diệm kept the control get on to the nation firmly within nobleness hands of his brothers tolerate their in-laws and promotions surprise the ARVN were given shuffle the basis of religion gift loyalty rather than merit.

Flash unsuccessful attempts had been energetic to depose Diệm. In 1960 the uprising of the paratroopers was suppressed. Diem was ambushed in his palace, but take steps managed to buy time matter promises of negotiations and concessions until two ARVN divisions entered in the capital and infringe down the rebellion. In 1962 two pilots of the Federation of Vietnam Air Forcedropped bombs on the presidential palace, however Diem was not injured providential the explosions.^[4] South Vietnam's Buddhistic majority had long been cantankerous with Diệm's strong favoritism in the direction of Catholics.

Public servants and host officers had long been promoted on the basis of devout preference, and government contracts, Dreadful economic assistance, business favors promote tax concessions were preferentially landliving to Catholics. The Catholic Sanctuary was the largest landowner twist the country, and its money were exempt from land reform.^[5] In the countryside, Catholics were de facto exempt from enforcement corvée labour.^[6] Discontent with Diệm and Nhu exploded into liberation protest during the summer handle 1963 when nine Buddhists grand mal at the hand of Diệm's army and police on Vesak, the birthday of Gautama Buddha.^[7]

In May 1963, a law overcome the flying of religious flags was selectively invoked; the Buddhistic flag was banned from shoot your mouth off on Vesak while the Residence flag was displayed to jubilate the anniversary of the commitment of Archbishop Pierre Martin Ngô Đình Thục, Diệm's elder kin.

The Buddhists defied the prohibit and a protest was overfed when government forces opened fervency. With Diệm remaining intransigent tenuous the face of escalating Buddhistic demands for religious equality, sections of society began calling in behalf of his removal from power. Illustriousness key turning point came in a little while after midnight on 21 Lordly, when Nhu's Special Forces raided and vandalised Buddhist pagodas put over the country, arresting thousands magnetize monks and causing a dying toll estimated to be break open the hundreds.^[8] Numerous coup score had been explored by class army before, but the plotters intensified their activities with accrued confidence after the administration bring to an end US President John F.

Jfk authorised the US embassy single out for punishment explore the possibility of straight leadership change.^[9]

Surrender and debate

See also: 1963 South Vietnamese coup

At 13:30 on 1 November, Generals Dương Văn Minh and Trần Văn Đôn, respectively the Presidential Martial Adviser and Army Chief round Staff, led a coup surface Diệm.

The rebels had distrustfully devised plans to neutralise friend officers to prevent them deprive saving Diệm. Unknown to Diệm, General Đính, the supposed chauvinist who commanded the ARVN Troika Corps that surrounded the City area, had allied himself critical of the plotters of the coup.^[10] The second of Diệm's wellnigh trusted loyalist generals was Huỳnh Văn Cao, who commanded rendering IV Corps in the River Delta.

Diệm and Nhu were aware of the coup display, and Nhu responded by thinking a counter-coup, which he entitled Operation Bravo. This plan join in Đính and Colonel Tung, prestige loyalist commander of the Famous Forces, staging a phony outbreak before their forces crushed rendering "uprising" to reaffirm the hold sway of the Ngô family.

Unwitting that Đính was plotting admit him, Nhu allowed Đính comprise organise troops as he old saying fit, and Đính transferred grandeur command of the 7th Breaking up based at Mỹ Tho getaway Cao's IV Corps to monarch own III Corps. This permissible Colonel Nguyễn Hữu Có, Đính's deputy, to take command funding the 7th Division.

The cut allowed the rebels to fully encircle the capital and denied Cao the opportunity of swagger Saigon and protecting Diệm, bit he had done during distinction previous coup attempt in 1960. Minh and Đôn had entitled senior Saigon based officers acquiescence a meeting at the situation appointment of the Joint General Pikestaff (JGS), on the pretext chastisement routine business.

Instead, they proclaimed that a coup was afoot, with only a few, as well as Tung, refusing to join. Tung was later forced at point to order his loyalist Famous Forces to surrender. The exploit went smoothly as the rebels quickly captured all key apropos in Saigon and sealed inward roads to prevent loyalist brace from entering.

This left sui generis incomparabl the Presidential Guard to acquit Gia Long Palace. The rebels attacked government and loyalist gray buildings but delayed the speak to on the palace, hoping turn Diệm would resign and devastate the offer of safe paragraph and exile. Diệm refused, vowing to reassert his control.

Aft sunset, the 5th Division decelerate Colonel Nguyễn Văn Thiệu, who later became the nation's commander, led an assault on Fto Long Palace and it film by daybreak.^[11]

In the early daybreak of 2 November, Diệm transnational to surrender. The ARVN personnel had intended to exile Diệm and Nhu, having promised class Ngô brothers safe passage fade of the country.

At 06:00, just before dawn, the staff held a meeting at JGS headquarters to discuss the coincidental of the Ngô brothers. According to Lucien Conein, the Preceding Army and CIA officer who was the American liaison pick up again the coup, most of honesty officers, including Minh, wanted Diệm to have an "honorable retirement" from office, followed by exile.^[12] Not all of the 1 officers attended the meeting, lay into some having already left close make arrangements for the advent of Diệm and Nhu fatigued JGS headquarters.

General Lê, smart former police chief under Diệm in the mid-1950s, strongly lobbied for Diệm's execution. There was no formal vote taken mimic the meeting, and Lê affected only minority support. One accepted was reported to have held "To kill weeds, you forced to pull them up at birth roots".^[12] Conein reported that integrity generals had never indicated roam assassination was in their dithering, since an orderly transition replicate power was a high at that moment in achieving their ultimate free from blame of gaining international recognition.^[13]

Minh have a word with Đôn asked Conein to bunch an American aircraft to get the brothers out of interpretation country.

Two days earlier, Gritty Ambassador to South Vietnam, Rhetorician Cabot Lodge Jr., had alerted Washington that such a plead for was likely and recommended Metropolis as the departure point. That request put the Kennedy oversight in a difficult position, reorganization the provision of an warplane would publicly tie it face the coup.

When Conein telephoned David Smith, the acting knack of the Saigon CIA location, there was a ten-minute hitch-hike. The US government would howl allow the aircraft to dull in any country, unless put off state was willing to endow asylum to Diệm. The Common States did not want Diệm and Nhu to form unornamented government in exile and needed them far away from Annam.

Assistant Secretary of State Roger Hilsman had written in Revered that "under no circumstances be obliged the Ngô brothers be lavish to remain in Southeast Accumulation in close proximity to War because of the plots they will mount to try hitch regain power. If the generals decide to exile Diệm, why not? should also be sent improbable Southeast Asia."^[14] He further went on to anticipate what proscribed termed a "Götterdämmerung in dignity palace".^[15]

We should encourage the event group to fight the clash to the end and shelve crash the palace if necessary know gain victory.

Unconditional surrender forced to be the terms for honesty Ngô family since it choice otherwise seek to outmaneuver both the coups forces and representation US. If the family not bad taken alive, the Ngô brothers should be banished to Writer or any other country willing to help to receive them. Diệm be required to be treated as the generals wish.^[15]

After surrendering, Diệm called Shelter by telephone for the surname time.

Lodge did not din the conversation to Washington, ergo it was widely assumed prowl the pair last spoke make your mind up the previous afternoon when depiction coup was just starting. Still, after Lodge died in 1985, his aide, Colonel Mike Dunn said that Lodge and Diệm spoke for the last offend around 07:00 on 2 Nov moments after Diệm surrendered.

Just as Diệm called, Lodge "put [him] on hold" and then walked away. Upon his return, birth ambassador offered Diệm and Nhu asylum, but would not title for transportation to the Land until the next day.^[16] That contradicted his earlier offer weekend away asylum the previous day while in the manner tha he implored Diệm to jumble resist the coup.^[17] Dunn offered to personally go to rank brothers' hideout to escort him so that the generals could not kill him, but Abide refused, saying, "We just can't get that involved."^[16] Dunn articulate, "I was really astonished ensure we didn't do more reach them."^[18] Having refused to revealing the brothers to leave primacy country safely, Lodge later aforesaid after they had been buckshot, "What would we have pull off with them if they abstruse lived?

Every Colonel Blimp hillock the world would have indebted use of them."^[18]

Dunn also designated that Lodge put Diệm group hold in order to apprise Conein where the Ngô brothers were so the generals could capture them. When confronted observe Dunn's claim by a chronicler, Conein denied the account.^[16] Leave behind was also revealed that Conein had phoned the embassy ahead of time on the same morning destroy inquire about the generals' inquire for a plane to conduct Diệm and Nhu out show consideration for Saigon.

One of Lodge's rod told Conein that the concentration would have to go round the houses to the faraway asylum-offering society, so that the brothers could not disembark at a close at hand stopover country and stay to foment a counter-coup.^[18] Conein was told that the following plane that was capable hostilities such a long range line was in Guam, and fervent would take 24 hours evaluate make the necessary arrangements.

Minh was astounded and told Conein that the generals could howl hold Diệm for that soothe. Conein did not suspect unembellished deliberate delay by the Indweller embassy.^[13] In contrast, a Intimidating Senate investigative commission in primacy early 1970s raised a stirring thought: "One wonders what became of the US military even that had been dispatched other than stand by for Lodge's difference, scheduled for the previous day."^[13] The historian Mark Moyar under suspicion that Lodge could have flown Diệm to Clark Air Coarsely Base in the Philippines, which was under American jurisdiction, previously taking him to the farewell destination.

Moyar speculated that "when Lodge had offered the spew the day before, he difficult to understand done it to induce Diệm to give up at pure time when the outcome push the insurrection was very disproportionate in doubt. Now that blue blood the gentry coup clearly had succeeded, House no longer needed to air such an incentive."^[18]

Intended arrest be given Gia Long Palace

In the lag, Minh left the JGS vile and traveled to Gia Survive Palace in a sedan unwanted items his aide and bodyguard, Leader Nguyễn Văn Nhung.

Minh checked in at the palace at 08:00 in full military ceremonial unvarying to supervise the arrest make acquainted Diệm and Nhu.^[19] Minh abstruse also dispatched an M113 mailed personnel carrier and four jeeps to Gia Long Palace hopefulness transport an arrested Diệm countryside Nhu back to JGS sordid for official surrender.

While Minh was on the way join supervise the takeover of influence palace, Generals Đôn, Trần Thiện Khiêm and Lê Văn Tail off prepared the army headquarters make a choice Diệm's arrival and a celebratory handover of power to glory junta. Diệm's pictures were free down and his statue was covered up. A large stand board covered with green felt was brought in with the design of seating Diệm for interpretation handover to Minh and Break President Nguyễn Ngọc Thơ, who was to become the nonbelligerent Prime Minister.

In a countrywide televised event witnessed by supranational media, Diệm would "ask" probity generals that he and diadem brother be granted exile settle down asylum in a foreign state, which would be granted. Prestige brothers were then to pull up held in a secure dilemma at JGS headquarters while hanging fire deportation.^[13]

Diệm's escape

Minh instead arrived catch find that the brothers were not in the palace.

Loaded anticipation of a coup, they had ordered the construction be beneficial to three separate tunnels leading suffer the loss of Gia Long to remote areas outside the palace. Around 20:00 on the night of interpretation coup, with only the Statesmanlike Guard to defend them disagree with mutinous infantry and armor fitting, Diệm and Nhu hurriedly packed in American banknotes into a gladstone bag.

They escaped through one pattern the tunnels with two loyalists: Air Force Lieutenant Ðỗ Thơ, Diệm's aide-de-camp, who happened ballot vote be a nephew of Colonel Đỗ Mậu, the director receive military security and a player in the coup plot, don Xuân Vy, head of Nhu's Republican Youth.^[20] After the phase in, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam Community Paul Harkins, inspected the undercut and noted that it "was so far down that Raving didn't want to go alight to walk up the thing".^[19] The brothers emerged in natty wooded area in a reserve near the Cercle Sportif (10°46′34″N106°41′35″E / 10.776°N 106.693°E / 10.776; 106.693), the city's upper mammoth sporting club, where they were picked up by a kick into touch Land Rover.

Ellen Hammer disputes the tunnel escape, asserting turn this way the Ngo brothers simply walked out of the building, which was then not yet make a mistake siege.^[20] She writes that they walked past the tennis courts and left the palace target through a small gate finish equal Le Thanh Ton Street move entered the car. [Further fasten the matter, Lucien Conein in the past a Senate select committee grip Washington on Friday June 20, 1975 gave testimony that in attendance existed an administrative tunnel emancipation functional bureaucratic purposes between Diem's Palace and nearby Saigon Permeate Hall and which tunnel was used on the evening gratify question for the purpose corporeal leaving the area and decree the ready waiting car involved front of the City Fascinate building.^[21]] The loyalists traveled function narrow back streets in structure to evade rebel checkpoints slab changed vehicles to a inky Citroën sedan.^[22] After leaving picture palace, Nhu was reported recognize have suggested to Diệm meander the brothers split up, hostility that this would enhance their chances of survival.

Nhu titular that one of them score to the Mekong Delta trial join Cao's IV Corps, exhaustively the other would travel harmonious the II Corps of Accepted Nguyễn Khánh in the Median Highlands. Nhu felt the revolutionary generals would not dare inhibit kill one of them make your mind up the other was free, household case the surviving brother were to regain power.

According discussion group one account, Diệm was story to have turned down Nhu, reasoning that "You cannot call off alone. They hate you moreover much; they will kill sell something to someone. Stay with me and Distracted will protect you."^[20] Another history holds that Diệm said "We have always been together close to these last years.

How could we separate during these ultimate years? How could we split up in this critical hour?" Nhu agreed to remain with dominion brother.^[20]

The loyalists reached the habitat of Ma Tuyen in leadership Chinese business district of Cholon. Ma Tuyen was a Asiatic merchant and friend who was reported to be Nhu's prime contact with the Chinese syndicates which controlled the opium dealings.

The brothers sought asylum expend the embassy of the Condition of China, but were unclean down and stayed in Mother Tuyen's house as they appealed to ARVN loyalists and attempted to negotiate with the introduce leaders.^[19] Nhu's secret agents esoteric fitted the home with far-out direct phone line to decency palace, so the insurgent generals believed that the brothers were still besieged inside Gia Stretched.

Neither the rebels nor decency loyalist Presidential Guard had non-u idea that at 21:00 they were about to fight ejection an empty building.^[22] Minh was reported to be mortified in the way that he realised that Diệm ray Nhu had escaped during character night.^[19]

Arrest in Cholon

After Minh confidential ordered the rebels to frisk the areas known to hold been frequented by the Organisation family, Colonel Phạm Ngọc Thảo was informed by a captured Presidential Guard officer that significance brothers had escaped through authority tunnels to a refuge weighty Cholon.

Thảo was told saturate Khiêm, his superior, to dole out Diệm and prevent him shun being killed.^[23] When Thảo dismounted at Ma Tuyen's house, take steps phoned his superiors. Diệm obscure Nhu overheard him and Thơ drove them to the neighbourhood St. Francis Xavier's Church [fr; vi] (10°45′07″N106°39′14″E / 10.752°N 106.654°E Record 10.752; 106.654), which they abstruse frequented over the years.

Lawman Thơ died a few months later in a plane force, but his diary was very different from found until 1970. Thơ real Diệm's words as they outstanding the house of Ma Tuyen as being "I don't recollect whether I will live pessimistic die and I don't anxiety, but tell Nguyễn Khánh wind I have great affection idea him and he should vindictiveness me".^[14] Soon after the initially morning Mass was celebrated broadsheet All Souls' Day (the Wide day of the dead) unacceptable after the congregation had keep steady the building, the Ngô brothers walked through the shady quadrangle and into the church exhausting dark grey suits.

It was speculated that they were established by an informant as they walked through the yard. Centre the church, the brothers prayed and received Communion.^[24]

A few notes later, just after 10:00, play down armoured personnel carrier and shine unsteadily jeeps entered the narrow niche housing the church building.^[25] Nuncio Thơ, who had earlier urged Diệm to surrender, saying range he was sure that rulership uncle Đỗ Mậu, along release Đính and Khiêm, would expand their safety, wrote in sovereign diary later "I consider living soul responsible for having led them to their death".^[14]

Convoy to JGS headquarters

The convoy was led make wet General Mai Hữu Xuân lecturer consisted of Colonels Nguyễn Văn Quan and Dương Ngọc Lắm.

Quan was the deputy type Minh and Lắm was ethics Commander of the Civil Custodian. Lắm had joined the establish once a rebel victory seemed assured. Two further officers vigorous up the convoy: Major Dương Hiếu Nghĩa and Captain Nhung, Minh's bodyguard.^[26]

Diệm requested that excellence convoy stop at the residence so that he could annex personal items before being dispossessed.

Xuân turned him down, clinically stating that his orders were to take Diệm and Nhu directly to JGS headquarters. Nhu expressed disgust that they were to be transported in phony APC, asking, "You use much a vehicle to drive birth president?" Lắm assured them depart the armour was for their own protection. Xuân said guarantee it was selected to cover them from "extremists".^[25] Xuân clean the brothers' hands be inept behind their backs before buffeting them into the carrier.

Assault officer asked to shoot Nhu, but Xuân turned him down.^[25]

Attack

After the arrest, Nhung and Nghĩa sat with the brothers skull the APC, and the remove departed for Tân Sơn Nhất. Before the convoy had deceased for the church, Minh was reported to have gestured pressurize somebody into Nhung with two fingers.

That was taken to be unembellished order to kill both brothers. The convoy stopped at pure railroad crossing on the come trip, where by all finance the brothers were assassinated. Tidy up investigation by Đôn determined prowl Nghĩa had shot the brothers at point-blank range with dexterous semi-automatic firearm and that Nhung sprayed them with bullets in the past repeatedly stabbing the bodies fitting a knife.^[27]

Nghĩa gave his clarification of what occurred during excellence journey back to the personnel headquarters: "As we rode resume to the Joint General Pike headquarters, Diệm sat silently, nevertheless Nhu and the captain [Nhung] began to insult each nook.

I don't know who under way it. The name-calling grew lively. The captain had hated Nhu before. Now he was full with emotion."^[25] Nghĩa said mosey when the convoy reached unblended train crossing, "[Nhung] lunged argue Nhu with a bayonet impressive stabbed him again and brighten, maybe fifteen or twenty generation.

Still in a rage, do something turned to Diệm, took crash his revolver and shot him in the head. Then smartness looked back at Nhu, who was lying on the boarding, twitching. He put a pellet into his head too. Neither Diệm nor Nhu ever defended themselves. Their hands were tied."^[25]

Attempted cover-up

When the corpses arrived contest JGS headquarters, the generals were shocked.

Although they despised countryside had no sympathy for Nhu, they still respected Diệm. Sidle general broke down and not viable while Minh's assistant, Colonel Nguyễn Văn Quan, collapsed on unadorned table. General Đính later certified, "I couldn't sleep that night". Đôn maintained that the generals were "truly grievous" over integrity deaths, maintaining that they were sincere in their intentions class give Diệm a safe exile.^[25] Đôn charged Nhu with certain Diệm to reject the for the future.

Lodge later concluded, "Once afresh, brother Nhu proves to write down the evil genius in Diệm's life."^[25]

ARVN reaction

Đôn ordered another community to tell reporters that integrity Ngô brothers had died effect an accident. He went support confront Minh in his office.^[25]

• Đôn: Why are they dead?
• Minh: Brook what does it matter desert they are dead?^[25]

At this frustrate, Xuân walked into Minh's business through the open door, oblivious of Đôn's presence.

Xuân snapped to attention and stated, "Mission accomplished."^[25] Shortly after midnight carry out 2 November 1963 in President, D.C. the CIA sent little talk to the White House think about it Diệm and Nhu were stop talking, allegedly by suicide. Vietnam Wireless had announced their deaths unhelpful poison, and that they locked away committed suicide while prisoners be sure about an APC transporting them slam Tân Sơn Nhứt.

Unclear suffer contradictory stories abounded. General Harkins reported that the suicides confidential occurred either by gunshot reproach by a grenade wrestled steer clear of the belt of an ARVN officer who was standing embrace. Minh tried to explain influence discrepancy, saying "Due to pull out all the stops inadvertence, there was a big guns inside the vehicle.

It was with this gun that they committed suicide."^[28]

US reaction

Kennedy learned manager the deaths on the masses morning when National Security Legislature staffer Michael Forrestal rushed ways the cabinet room with practised telegram reporting the Ngô brothers' alleged suicides.

According to Public Maxwell Taylor, "Kennedy leaped prospect his feet and rushed give birth to the room with a flip through of shock and dismay make a purchase of his face which I difficult to understand never seen before." Kennedy difficult to understand planned that Diệm would have reservations about safely exiled and Arthur Set.

Schlesinger Jr. recalled that Jfk was "somber and shaken". Airdrome later penned a memo, wailing that the assassination was "particularly abhorrent" and blaming himself confirm approving Cable 243,^[28] which confidential authorised Lodge to explore establish options in the wake advance Nhu's attacks on the Buddhistic pagodas.^[28] Forrestal said that "It shook him personally ...

daunted him as a moral instruction religious matter. It shook consummate confidence, I think, in honourableness kind of advice he was getting about South Vietnam."^[29] In the way that Kennedy was consoled by practised friend who told him lighten up need not feel sorry make up for the Ngô brothers on glory grounds of despotism, Kennedy replied "No.

They were in swell difficult position. They did probity best they could for their country."^[29]

Kennedy's reaction did not be neck and neck sympathy from his entire conduct. Some believed that he ought to not have supported the invest and that as coups were uncontrollable, assassination was always on the rocks possibility.

Kennedy was skeptical deliberate the story and suspected desert a double assassination had disused place. He reasoned the with all one`s heart Catholic Ngô brothers would battle-cry have taken their own lives, but Roger Hilsman rationalised righteousness possibility of suicide by declaratory that Diệm and Nhu would have interpreted the coup since Armageddon.^[30] US officials soon became aware of the true explication for the deaths of Diệm and Nhu.

Lucien Conein abstruse left the rebel headquarters bring in the generals were preparing propose bring in the Ngô brothers for the press conference which announced the handover of capacity. Upon returning to his place, Conein received a phone footing from Saigon's CIA station turn this way ordered him to report rear the embassy. The embassy fill in Conein that Kennedy had enlightened him to find Diệm.

Conein returned to Tân Sơn Nhứt at around 10:30. The closest conversation was reported:^[31]

• Conein: Where were Diem and Nhu?
• Minh: They lasting suicide. They were in blue blood the gentry Catholic Church at Cholon, essential they committed suicide.
• C: Look, you're a Buddhist, I'm a Expansive.

  If they committed suicide bully that church and the father holds mass tonight, that free spirit won't hold water. Where slate they?

• M: Their bodies are break free from General Staff Headquarters. Do boss about want to see them?
• C: No.
• M: Why not?
• C: Well, if shy chance one of a jillion of the people believe on your toes that they committed suicide bank church and I see lose one\'s train of thought they have not committed slayer and I know differently, accordingly if it ever leaks dispense, I am in trouble.^[31]

Conein knew that if he saw rank execution wounds, he would moan be able to deny wander Diem and Nhu had anachronistic assassinated.

Conein refused to dominion the proof, realising that acquiring such knowledge would compromise cap cover and his safety. Prohibited returned to the embassy streak submitted his report to Washington.^[31] The CIA in Saigon ulterior secured a set of kodachromes of the brothers that leftwing no doubt that they difficult to understand been executed.

The photos were taken at about 10:00 muscle 2 November and showed description dead brothers covered in populace on the floor of prominence APC. They were dressed flat the robes of Roman Broad priests with their hands fastened behind their backs. Their innocent were bloodied and bruised crucial they had been repeatedly stabbed.

The images appeared to break down genuine, discrediting the generals' claims that the brothers had earnest suicide. The pictures were finish a go over around the world, having antediluvian sold to media outlets implement Saigon. The caption below unadulterated picture published in Time scan "'Suicide' with no hands."^[32]

Media reaction

After the deaths, the military cabal asserted that the Ngô brothers had committed suicide.

On 6 November, Information Minister Trần Tự Oai declared at a intelligence conference that Diệm and Nhu had died through "accidental suicide" after a firearm discharged what because Nhu had tried to grab it from the arresting officer.^[31] This drew immediate skepticism bring forth David Halberstam of The In mint condition York Times, who won great Pulitzer Prize for his Annam reporting.

Halberstam wrote to class US Department of State think it over "extremely reliable private military sources" had confirmed that the brothers were ordered to be completed upon their return to combatant headquarters.^[31]Neil Sheehan of UPI popular a similar account based setback what he described as "highly reliable sources".^[31] Father Leger ticking off Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Cathedral asserted that the Ngô brothers were kneeling inside the assets when soldiers burst in, took them outside and into rendering APC.

Lodge had been aware by "an unimpeachable source" defer both brothers were shot proclaim the nape of the kiss and that Diệm's body pierce the signs of a beating.^[31]

Impact and aftermath

Once the news prime the cause of death accord the Ngo brothers began leak become public, the United States became concerned at their corporation with the new junta post their actions during the set up.

US Secretary of StateDean Toast directed Lodge to question Minh about the killings.^[33] Lodge cabled back, initially backing the faulty story disseminated by the generals, saying that their story was plausible because of the rumour has it loaded pistol being left grip the floor of the vehicle.^[34] Rusk was worried about justness public relations implications the gory photographs of the brothers would generate.

Lodge showed no bell in public, congratulating Đôn edge the "masterful performance" of greatness coup and promising diplomatic do. Đôn's assertion that the assassinations were unplanned proved sufficient fetch Lodge, who told the Rise and fall Department that "I am glass assassination was not at their direction."^[33] Minh and Đôn reiterated their position in a meet with Conein and Lodge circus the following day.

Several affiliates of the Kennedy administration were appalled by the killings. Influence Assistant Secretary of State arrangement Far Eastern Affairs W. Averell Harriman declared that "it was a great shock to each person that they were killed."^[33] Pacify postulated that it was spruce accident and speculated that Nhu may have caused it by means of insulting the officers who were supervising him.

Embassy official Rufus Phillips, who was the Offender adviser to Nhu's Strategic Make good Program, said that "I loved to sit down and cry",^[33] citing the killings as put in order key factor in the innovative leadership troubles which beset Southeast Vietnam.^[33]

According to historian Howard Phonetician, the fact "that the killings failed to make the brothers into martyrs constituted a fresh testimonial to the depth ransack popular hatred they had aroused."^[33] The assassinations caused a injured within the coup leadership, turn the initial harmony among righteousness generals into discord, and just starting out abroad repulsed American and terra opinion, exploding the myth dump this new regime would create a distinct improvement over their predecessors, and ultimately convinced Educator that even though the leaders' names had changed in City, the situation remained the same.^[33] The criticism of the killings further caused the officers halt distrust and battle one other for positions in the another government.

Đôn expressed his hatred at the assassinations by vitriolically remarking that he had union the armoured car in necessitate effort to protect Diệm jaunt Nhu. Khanh claimed that rectitude only condition he had have the result that on joining the conspiracy was that Diem would not designate killed. According to Jones, "when decisions regarding postcoup affairs took priority, resentment over the killings meshed with the visceral dispute over government posts to independent the new regime before quarrel fully took form."^[33]

Culpability debate

The promise for the assassinations was in general placed on Minh.

Conein ostensible that "I have it frontier very good authority of observe many people, that Big Minh gave the order", as plainspoken William Colby, the director suggest the CIA's Far Eastern disunion. Đôn was equally emphatic, expression "I can state without misrepresentation that this was done harsh General Dương Văn Minh discipline by him alone."^[35] Lodge meditating that Xuân was also quasi- culpable asserting that "Diệm present-day Nhu had been assassinated, pretend not by Xuân personally, soughtafter least at his direction."^[33]

Minh tell stories the blame for the assassinations on Thiệu, after the try became president.

In 1971, Minh claimed that Thiệu was dependable for the deaths by hesitant and delaying the attack shy his Fifth Division on Fto Long Palace. Đôn was account to have pressured Thieu at near the night, asking him oversight the phone "Why are cheer up so slow in doing it? Do you need more troops? If you do, ask Đính to send more troops – charge do it quickly because astern taking the palace you wish be made a general."^[36] Thiệu stridently denied responsibility and run across a statement which Minh plainspoken not publicly rebut: "Dương Văn Minh has to assume comprehensive responsibility for the death fence Ngô Đình Diệm."^[35]

During the command of Richard Nixon, a Cloakanddagger government investigation was initiated impact American involvement in the assassinations.

Nixon was a political enemy of Kennedy, having narrowly misplaced to him in the 1960 Presidential election. Nixon ordered solve investigation under E. Howard Stay on into the murders, convinced Airdrome must have secretly ordered justness killings but the inquiry was unable to find any specified secret order.^[37]

Motivation

Conein asserted that Minh's humiliation by Diệm and Nhu was a major motivation hunger for ordering their executions.

Conein exact that Diệm and Nhu were doomed once they escaped get round Gia Long Palace, instead disregard surrendering there and accepting depiction offer of safe exile. Getting successfully stormed the palace, Minh had presumed that the brothers would be inside, and appeared at the presidential residence conduct yourself full ceremonial military uniform "with a sedan and everything else."^[35] Conein described Minh as excellent "very proud man" who abstruse lost face at turning bony at the palace for sovereignty moment of glory, only highlight find an empty building.

Solon than a decade after ethics coup, Conein claimed Diệm become more intense Nhu would not have bent killed if they had archaic in the palace, because connected with were too many people present.^[35]

One Vietnamese Diệm loyalist asked convention in the CIA why necessitate assassination had taken place, rationalization that if Diem was accounted to be inefficient, his deposal would suffice.

The CIA staff responded that "They had bump kill him. Otherwise his influential would gradually rally and care and there would be urbane war."^[35] Some months after goodness event, Minh was reported pore over have privately told an Indweller that "We had no verdict. They had to be join. Diệm could not be licit to live because he was too much respected among plain, gullible people in the arena, especially the Catholics and probity refugees.

We had to censorship Nhu because he was like so widely feared – and he difficult to understand created organizations that were armed conflict of his personal power."^[35]

Trần Văn Hương, a civilian opposition legislator who was jailed in 1960 for signing the Caravelle Edict that criticised Diệm, and late briefly served as Prime Way, gave a scathing analysis outline the generals' action.

He confirmed that "The top generals who decided to murder Diệm take his brother were scared come up to death. The generals knew publication well that having no facility, no moral virtues, no partisan support whatsoever, they could turn on the waterworks prevent a spectacular comeback sponsor the president and Mr. Nhu if they were alive."^[38]

Burials firm Diệm and Nhu

At around 16:00 on 2 November, the tight of Diệm and Nhu were identified by the wife not later than former Cabinet minister Trần Trùng Dung.^[39] The corpses were disused to St.

Paul's Catholic Refuge, where a French doctor obligated a formal statement of make dirty without conducting an autopsy. Grandeur original death certificate did moan describe Diệm as Head flaxen State but as "Chief scrupulous Province", a post he esoteric held four decades earlier make a mistake the French colonial administration.

Nhu was described as "Chief disregard Library Service", a post which he held in the 1940s.^[40] This was interpreted as shipshape and bristol fashion Vietnamese way of expressing hatred for the two despised select few. Their place of burial was never disclosed by the scheme and rumours regarding it preserve to the current day.

Character speculated burial places include ingenious military prison, a local site, the grounds of the JGS headquarters and there are dealings of cremation as well.^[40][41] was ever prosecuted for goodness killings.^[42]

Memorial services

The government did classify approve a public memorial instigate for the deaths of Diệm and Nhu until 1968.

Bear 1971, several thousand mourners concentrated at Diệm's purported gravesite. Massive prayers were given in Indweller. Banners proclaimed Diệm as unembellished saviour of the south, care some mourners having walked space Saigon from villages outside birth capital carrying portraits of Diệm. Madame Thiệu, the First Muslim, was seen weeping at span requiem mass at Saigon's basilica.

Several cabinet members were as well at the grave and fastidious eulogy was given by unembellished general of the ARVN. According to the eulogy, Diệm petit mal because he had resisted ethics domination of foreigners and their plans to bring great aplenty of troops to Vietnam obscure widen a war which would have destroyed the country.^[43] Thiệu sponsored the services, and skill was widely seen as first-class means of associating himself cop Diệm's personal characteristics.

Diệm regularly refused to follow American ease and was known for fulfil personal integrity, in contrast advice Thiệu, who was infamous have a thing about corruption and regarded as personality too close to the Americans. However, Thiệu's attempts to bedfellow himself with Diệm's relative liberty from United States influence was not successful.^[44] According to Typical Maxwell Taylor, Chairman of decency US Joint Chiefs of Pole, "there was the memory panic about Diệm to haunt those garbage us who were aware method the circumstances of his collapse.

By our complicity, we Americans were responsible for the difficulty in which the South Asiatic found themselves".^[45]

See Also

Notes

References

• Buttinger, Joseph (1967). Vietnam: A Freak Embattled. New York City, In mint condition York: Praeger Publishers.
• Hammer, Ellen Record. (1987). A Death in November: America in Vietnam, 1963.

  Latest York City, New York: Bond. P. Dutton. ISBN .

• Jacobs, Seth (2006). Cold War Mandarin: Ngo Dinh Diem and the Origins take off America's War in Vietnam, 1950–1963. Lanham, Maryland: Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN .
• Jones, Howard (2003). Death familiar a Generation: how the assassinations of Diem and JFK protracted the Vietnam War.

  New Royalty City, New York: Oxford Lincoln Press. ISBN .

• Karnow, Stanley (1997). Vietnam: A history. New York Acquaintance, New York: Penguin Books. ISBN .
• Moyar, Mark (2006). Triumph Forsaken: Birth Vietnam War, 1954–1965. New Dynasty City, New York: Cambridge Foundation Press.

  ISBN .

• Lipsman, Samuel; Weiss, Writer (1985). The False Peace: 1972–74. Boston, Massachusetts: Boston Publishing Knot. ISBN .
• Shaplen, Robert (1966). The Left out Revolution: Vietnam 1945–1965. London: Andre Deutsch.
• Winters, Francis X. (1997). The year of the hare: Ground in Vietnam, 25 January 1963 – 15 February 1964.

  Athens, Georgia: University of Georgia Press. ISBN .