Nguyen Van Thieu

Nguyen Van Thieu, (Vietnamese: Phêro Nguyễn Văn Thiệu) (April 5, 1923, Ninh Thuan province, Vietnam — September 29, 2001, Massachusetts, U.S.), President of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) from 1967 until the Republic fell to the forces of North Vietnam in 1975[1].

The son of a small landowner, Thieu joined the Viet Minh in 1945 but later fought for the French colonial regime against the Viet Minh when he became disenchanted at the Communist extremism. In 1954 he was put in charge of the Vietnamese National Military Academy and, after 1956, continued to serve under President Ngo Dinh Diem in South Vietnam. Colonel Thieu survived the political crisis following the successful coup against President Diem in 1963. In 1965 he became Chief of State in a military government headed by Premier Nguyen Cao Ky. Favored by the United States over other other candidates due to his good nature and trustworthiness, he was elected President under a new constitution in 1967. A new, Second Republic was born. President Thieu routed out many corruptions that spawned out of the political chaos after the fall of the First Republic[2]. He was reelected without opposition in 1971.

Thieu’s emergence coincided with the beginning of renewed major U.S. intervention in the war against the Viet Cong insurgents and North Vietnam during President Johnson's Administration. Despite criticism of the authoritarian nature of his regime, he retained the support of the United States throughout the administrations of the U.S. presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Richard M. Nixon. He continued to consolidate his power after the Peace Agreements of 1973 and the Withdrawal of U.S. troops and aids from South Vietnam.

Communist gains in South Vietnam’s northern provinces early in 1975 prompted Thieu to recall troops to defend the capital city, Saigon. Badly equiped and miscommunicated, the retreat turned into a rout, allowing communist forces to surround the capital. After resisting for several days, Thieu was persuaded that his resignation might permit a negotiated settlement of the war. On April 21, 1975, in his final Presidential speech, he vowed to stay with South Vietnam and resigned in favor of his vice president, Tran Van Huong. Shortly afterward, Thieu was whisked out of the country by the U.S. Secret Service to a waiting U.S. carrier, thus, officially becoming the first, stateless refugee out of South Vietnam. He went first to Taiwan and later to England, taking up residence in Surrey, before settling in the United States.

Former President Thieu passed away in Boston, bequeathing that his remains to be brought back to Vietnam when it became truly free.

REFERENCES:

1) Britannica Encyclopedia

2) Thieu Voices Appeal for Unity and Sacrifice. Christian Science Monitor - Nov 1967.