Eisenhower's War

What was President Dwight Eisenhower's involvement in Vietnam?

Eisenhower was one of 5 US Presidents to get involved in Vietnam. While he did not want to commit actual US boots on the ground, ie soldiers, he wanted to support the ARVN and contain communism in Vietnam.

When was Eisenhower involved in Vietnam?

Eisenhower was involved in Vietnam throughout much of his presidency. In July 1953 he took steps to end the fighting in Korea, but in January 1955 he sent the first shipment of military support to Saigon, the capital of South Vietnam.

Why did Eisenhower get involved in Vietnam?

There were 4 main reasons Eisenhower increased financial and military support and sent military advisers to South Vietnam:

• ❖ It was Eisenhower who first coined the term 'Domino Theory'. He was incredibly concerned about the spread of communism in Asia.
• ❖ He was further convinced of the need for greater involvement when China and the USSR backed Ho Chi Minh's communist North Vietnam.
• ❖ He saw Vietnam as an escalation of the Cold War.
• ❖ There was growing support from the American public for increasing involvement in Vietnam due to the Red Scare, or fear of communism.

What influenced Eisenhower's policy in Vietnam?

Whilst Eisenhower wanted to prevent the spread of communism in Asia, equally he did not want to spend too much money on military overseas rather than investing in domestic policies at home.

What were the key events in Eisenhower's involvement in Vietnam?

EIsenhower's involvement in Vietnam involved political, military and financial measures. There were 9 key events between 1953 - 1961:

• ❖ Eisenhower refused to aid the French at the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, which resulted in France's defeat by the Vietminh and surrender in the war.
• ❖ He played a role in negotiating the Geneva Accords in 1954.
• ❖ In January 1955 he sent the first shipment of aid to the newly created South Vietnam.
• ❖ He allowed South Vietnam to join SEATO (Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation). The organisation's purpose was to co-ordinate efforts to stop the spread of communism in Southeast Asia. It was created in September 1954 and other members included Britain, France, Australia, New Zealand and Pakistan.
• ❖ He began sending military advisors to train the ARVN in 1954.
• ❖ In 1954 he sent CIA spies to Saigon, in South Vietnam, to gather intelligence.
• ❖ He did not follow the agreements made at the Geneva conference by allowing Diem to hold elections in South Vietnam in 1956.
• ❖ He gave Diem's regime money, supplies and military equipment to fight the National Liberation Front in the civil war.
• ❖ He tried to encourage Diem to carry out land reform in South Vietnam in an effort to boost his popularity amongst the South Vietnamese people.

What was the significance of Eisenhower's involvement in Vietnam?

Eisenhower's involvement in Vietnam was significant because it marked a turning point in US policy. While he did not commit troops to fighting in Vietnam, he did become more involved - making it difficult to pull back.