John F. Kennedy was a member of the left, and an active cold warrior, strong in anticommunist sentiment.  These statements are rarely disputed.  Often disputed is the question of what Kennedy would have done in Vietnam had he survived to a second term of office.  Would he have continued down the course of escalation that brought Lyndon Johnson so deep into the quagmire that was Vietnam or would he have followed a different course, one that perhaps could have saved lives.  Did the bullets that killed Kennedy kill hundreds of thousands of US combat troops as well?

 Some look to Kennedy’s policies toward countries like China, Cuba, and the USSR to deny that Kennedy was indeed contemplating a withdrawal.  Indeed Kennedy  acted out against communists, more because the enemy was communist than because there was any real threat.  Although the Bay of Pigs scarred this young president’s first term in office, Kennedy felt there was a need to overthrow a communist country just 90 miles of the coast of the United States.  Kennedy was indeed a cold warrior who placed great emphasis of being anticommunist.  Kennedy did not want to be seen as being soft on communism, as part of his campaign had hinged itself on the relatively weak anti communist policies of the past administrations.

Those who would deny Kennedy’s intent to withdraw will quote  Kennedy’s speeches where he continually alludes to the merciless communists and their attempts to eradicate freedom around the globe.  Indeed during his Inaugural Address, Kennedy promises US action wherever freedom and liberty are being abridged. (New Generation) In his first State of the Union address, Kennedy described the Communist Chinese as “ a menace to the security of the entire area," (Kennedy state of the Union, 1961), and that the United States is interested only in seeing those countries free.  In several press conferences Kennedy stated that unilateral withdrawal from Vietnam would not be a positive move for the US to make in that region.  Indeed, when answering questions at a press conference in 1963 Kennedy stated that withdrawal of US aid was not a viable option at that time, and he referred the press back to China after World War II.  “A weak government became increasingly unable to control events.  We don’t want that,” (Kennedy Reaffirms the Domino Theory, Major Problems, p. 170).  

However, those that would contend such things leave out much of the evidence that supports the idea that Kennedy was ready to withdraw from Vietnam.  First, Kennedy was never an avid supporter of US aid to Vietnam.  In 1953 and 1954 he gave speeches before the senate asking for caution in the disbursement of aid to the French.  In 1953, Kennedy outlined a brief history of the French imperialist role in Indochina.  He quotes Premier Tran Van Huu, a French citizen, as saying “many people are dying every day because Vietnam is not given real independence.  If we had independence, the people would have no reason to fight; there would be no struggle between Vietnam and Vietminh,” (New Generation). In 1954 Kennedy is much clearer on the path the United States should follow.  “I am frankly of the belief that no amount of American military assistance in Indochina can conquer an enemy which is everywhere and at the same time nowhere, ‘an enemy of the people’ which has the sympathy and covert support of the people,” (New Generation). Kennedy describes the failed military operations of the French, with US support, in its recent attempts to tame the nationalist revolution.  Kennedy also chastises the French regime in Indochina.  He states that the war in Indochina must be a war against communist oppression and not a war for military or political gain.  If France’s intent is the latter, it then become the role of the United States to grant the freedom that is desired by the people.

            Secondly, National Security Action Memorandum (NSAM) 263 authorizes the withdrawl of 1000 US troops from Vietnam by December of 1963.  Former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara (has stated) that Kennedy had plans to remove all of the remaining 15000 troops by December of 1965.  Previously, NSAM 149 had authorized the withdrawal of US troops from the front lines of Laos without definite plans for replacement.  These two memorandums illustrate the Kennedy administration’s intent to withdraw US troops from the entire region.  McNamara believes that Kennedy was more sensitive to history and was unwilling to take the nation to war over what he called “a pile of junk”.

            Finally, and perhaps most importantly, was Kennedy's deep faith in people all around the world.  Kennedy truly believed that, if given the choice, people would choose democracy over communism.  Kennedy understood the history of Vietnam.  He understood that these people simply desired independence, no different from our own desire for independence in 1776.  Kennedy realized that the governments that had been put in place by the French and the United States were not meeting the needs of the people of Vietnam.  In an interview with Walter Cronkite in 1963, Kennedy severely criticized the Diem regime's failure to win popular support of its people.  "I don’t think the war can be won unless the people support the effort and, in my opinion, in the last two months, the government has gotten out of touch with the people". (Kennedy Criticizes the South Vietnamese Government, Major Problems, p. 169).  Kennedy understood that the people were not being given the choice between Communism and Democracy, they were being given the choice between Communism and Totalitarianism.  The Communists at least were nationalist instead of western puppets. 

            So the question remains, had Kennedy lived, would he have pulled the US out of Vietnam before the chaos that resulted from Johnson’s escalation?  Perhaps yes, but perhaps no.  The answer will never be known.  However, It is important to understand Kennedy’s decision making process.  It is important to note that Kennedy seemed more hesitant than Johnson did about committing troops.  Perhaps this is because of his deep understanding of the region’s history, or perhaps because of his military experience in World War II.  Perhaps history is important after all.

The Marked graves of Soldiers near Chu Lai, 1967

Photo Courtesy of Bettman / Corbis

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Presidency

 

 

 

Vietnamese children flee from

their homes Trang Bang June 8th, 1972

Photo Courtesy of Bettman / Corbis

 

 

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