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derivative filename/jpeg
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363-07048 to 363-07061.pdf
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Digital Object Identifier
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363-07048 to 363-07061
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Title
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Second article about Nguyẽ̂n Cao Kỳ
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Description
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Original title: "Ky", Keever's title: "Top South Vietnamese Generals Rival Each Other During Presidential Bid", Second of a two part series of articles about Nguyẽ̂n Cao Kỳ, for the Christian Science Monitor
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AI Usage Disclosure
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Draft transcripts were automatically generated via Google Document AI and are currently under review. Please report significant errors to Archives & Special Collections at archives@unl.edu.
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Transcript
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- Page 1
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Beverly Ann Deepe
64A Hong Thap Tu
July 21, 1967
Article 2 of two-part series
Ky-page 1
SAIGON-The political alliance between Presidential candia
candidate Conoral Nguyon Van Thiou and his running mate, Primo
Minister Nguyen Cao Ky, is still freakishly fragile.
If the military ticket is elected to the Presidency on Septab
September 3, observers here predict the rivalry between the two
generale will result in a significant, though sub-surface, power
struggle for the next four years.
One Vietnameses politician described the ourrent Thieu-Ky
rivalry in these mystical termos
"Never, nevor do two guns rise in the East in ono morning.
But, here politically, Ky and Thieu are operating against the laws
of nature--both of them trying to be hote sunsee. They'11
end up destroying each other."
The Vietnamese politician was alluding to the daily rumors
that one of the two generals would withdraw from the Presidential
ticket, sabotaging the other, and thus destroying both.
Though the two generals mond their fences well enough to iod o
fend off the maneuvers of the other ten civilian Presidential candidates,
there is still bitter in-fighting between their two camps.
(More)
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- Page 2
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Doope
Кур
2 article 2 of two-part series
shortly
fter Ky (2ood to stop dorn on a Promidential candidate and run as
Thiou's Vico prosidont, the Thiou supporters diccredited ky by
bombarding subore around town that Ky's formor running me to had
attempted to commit suicide by tkon taking an overdose of slooping
11. Thio infuriated the Ky camp and his running mate finally donied
the story to local noung porse
It is the relatively insignificant, almost invisible things, which
continuo to ozocorbato the rivalries among the two loaders.
asp
Thiou's & supporters poured more fuold on the moulders by
praising Thiou's former Vice Presidential running mato as a "national
horo" for stopping dorm from the ticket, instead of placing the
laurola a publically at Ky's foot fer withdrawing from the rooo.
Thon, there was the behind-the-scenes otruggle for the joint
Thiou-Ky campaign fund. Thiou had told friends and a few ostern
Journelists that ho was too poor to campaign and Ky had all the monoy.
Thieu's supporters montod Ky to fork over his osmpaign funds-totalling
city misty million paintree piastres, or h 1f million dollars,
oven
though Thiou me running for the top post. Ky's supporters refused,
arguing Thiou was not a poor men and could scrap up his own campaign
funds. Ky planned to use his funds to support candidates favorable
to him in the mixty-nan sonato, also to be elected on September 3.
By, the time the issue was ironed out, the woolthy contributors
to Ky's campaign fund withdrew their funds from the various banks in
mich left both Ky and Thiou holding a stock of worthless
blank: ohook:s.
(More)
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Ky-pago 3-article 2 of to-pert cories
Thieu and Ky were nover exceptionally 1 close, although for
two years Thiou servod as ooremonial ohief of state and chairman of
the military junts, while Ky served as Prime Minister through the
crucial period of the American military buildup hore.
For two years,
thoy maintained the public image of harmony, going so for as to
play wookly foursomes of mah-jong with their wives in order to
maintain somo, if only shallow, personal consultations.
Seldom have two Vietnamese generals boon moro unaliko in
personality or political methods, although both are connie considored
staunchily pro-American anti- and anti-Communist.
Ky, a 36-70oor year-old pilot, was a rassle-desalo general,
consistently popping off with flamboyant, if not sometimes nonsensical,
statements. Ho was opon, direct and spoke with frankness, a trait
that appealed to the American officialdom here. He gradually learned
politicking with the Vietnamese peasants in the style of an American
hand-choking campaignor. One could imagino him onsily boing transplanted
into a California constituency and holding his orm with housonives
in a supermarket or with the Borkeloy peace-niks. But, he would
have been a minority President; he was a Northern refugee leading the
southerners and Central Viotnemose in a country whore regional differences
are as important and bitter as they wore in America during the Civil War..
(Moro)
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- Page 4
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Deepe
xy--page 4-article 2 of two-part series
If elected, Thieu would also be a minority President. Regionally,
he was born in Contral Vietnam, but ho is a Roman Catholic, convosg
converted during marriage, in a non-Catholic country. His religion
is a serious disadvantage, for it raises the emotional ghosts of
another ara-when President Ngo Dinh Diom, a Catholic, ruled
Vietnam from 1955 to 1963. Buddhist priests loba a popular revolt
against him. Thiou, although a Chit Catholic, was commander
of the Vietnamese 5th Infantry Division, based near Saigon,
which, along with Vietnamese Marines, spearheaded the coup that
toppled Diom. Because of the enormous controversy about Dion,
the current Vatican line is to avoid supporting a Catholic President
during the Vietnamese elections. Thiou has all the disadvantages
of being a Catholic, yet none of the advantage of their bloo vote
during the election.
(More)
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Doope
Ky-pogo 5-article 2 of two-part series
Taciturn and meditative, Thiou, as a campaigner, would have th
the style and grace of a Viotmomono Calvin Coole Coolidge. One
Amorican who now both Ky and Thieu address now cadets observed:
"Thieu gave a good speech, nid all the right things and nobody cared.
Ky got up and said nothing logical, but all the Vietname do wore hooping
and holloring at it."
Machiavelli
Thiou is a master at intrigue-a Machov Machavelli with a
mandarin touch." Ho has, thus far, perfected the primary dictum of
Vietnamese politics-namely, to survive personally, whether the
country does or not. of the original hand-ful of conerals instrumet
instrumental in overthrowing ion in 1963, only Thiou romains in
power; many have soised power, but none except Thieu have hold it.
The French-educated Vietnamese salon politicano have but one
torm for Thiou-louvoyeur-moaning "he's the best sailor in any kind
of wind." If the wind is too strong, he'll go downwind in order to
go upstream later." Others call him "a politician who can walk in
four directions at one time." Fow, however, have over labelled
a favorite
him as trum ohang (hiding head under a blanket),
Vietnamese expression for the cowardly un-committed.
is neutral, Thiou is said to be actively neutral.
(Moro)
Even when ho
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Doope
Ky-page article 2 of two-part norios
Throughout the summor, the mah-jong games continued, but Thiu
Thiou and Ky moved further parat apart when each had announced their
condidecies for the Procidonoy. Then, U. . Ambassador Ellsworth
Bunker domandod one candidato withdrawn to preserve the unity of the
Vietnamese armed forces. Bunker said the Americans officially would
be neutral in the decision between the two candidates, which, in
effect, withdrow morionfo long-standing support from Ky.
American support is a vital political element hores that support
being measured in the most oddball, minuto and subjective ways by the
Vietnamoso. One examples was Ambassador Bunker's inviting a number
of Vietnamese civilian politicans to a light lunch to moot Assistant
D. B.
A
scoretary of State Nicholas Katzenbeck during the ront Mollamara visit.
Among the Vietnanemone Vietnamese civilian politicians were three
candidates for the Presidency-Phan Khao su, Ha Thus Ky and Tran
Von Huong. The other civilian candidatos-13 at the time--were ignored
by the Ambassador and immediately their political stock diminishodo
diminished to the point that they were labelled ung ou vien lan on
canh
(ornementation candidates).
(More)
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Dospe
Ky-page 7-article 2 of two-part series
American support is one of the only two sources of real
political power in the non-Communist arena, the second source being
darivod from the masses. Thus far, no candidate, civilian or military,
has demonstrated any over-helming, over-riding support from the
Vietnamoso population. The candidatos are not differentiated thus
for on the basis of party platforms, ideology or personal convictins
convictions of how the unr is to be magos or the ponce to be sought.
Though there are hundreds of political parties in name in Vietnam,
for
there are none in facts those in name have more leaders than followers.
The political impence faced by America in Vietnam in that no
non-Communist, nation-wide political, reglious or social a grouping
The
has any substantial support among the Vietnamone population, especially
thes among the rural peasants and the low-class urban workers.
Vietnamese army is the only structural apparatus running from the
contral government to the villages for administrative purpose-but
not for rousing political onthusiasm or establishing political policies.
before
Without any clear expression of the issues of the population,
the Vietnamese election thus thus odes the do form od of
democracy without insuring its au critical substance.
Hence, on June 28, tho Ky-Thiou confrontation before the
mooting of the generals revolved around the personalities of the two
mon and the loyalties of the other generals to them without reference
to the bloody relevancies of the war.
(More)
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Poope
Barticle 2 of two-part sc@ico
Sorly in the morning, the Vietnamese conerals funneled into
saigon from thoir division and corps commands in the provincos, at
leant one of them coming in by a special jet of the American Ambas
Ambonendor based in the northern provinces, others coming in by
their on private airor ft.
In all, 48 generals were present at the opening of the mech
meeting, the most majority being ray gonerols, as was thiou,
with only a handful of Air Force generalof sono represented
service commands,
such as the engineering corps, others wore
staff officers at the Vietnamese High Command,
wheretho mooting
ume taking place, but easily the most powerful moze the commande
commandere of combat unite, such as the Vietnamese Marines,
divisions and above them the four corps commenders. Their besie
of poor was the raw power of fange guns and mong which has lead
more than one oivilian politician to observe, "Those wich with big
those without guns
gune shoutş
koop rilent."
theso with little gums whisper
(More)
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Deopo
Ky-page article 2 of two-part series
The meeting had been called by Lt. Con. Cao Van Vietn
Viet Vien, chief of the Vietnamese High Command, for the
acoun announced-but largely diplomatic-purpose of discussing
how to improve leadership in the Vietnamese armed forces.
the political purpose of the meeting was mentioned--that leadersh
the Vietnamese armed forces could not improve in leadership as
long as both Ky and Thieu ran as separate candidates,
creating divisions among the troops.
Soong
thus oreathg
Maj. Gen. Lo Nguyon Khang, the commander of the Third Milite
Military Corps which surrounds Saigon, proposed nullifying the
constitution and arresting the "troublemakers," in the provial ond
provisional legislative assembly. Concurrently commandor of the
Vietnamese Marinos, the toughest unit in Vietnam, he was as
rambunctious against civilian politicians and against the Viet
Cong on the battlefield . Othere promptly disagreed and his
proposal got lost in the shuffle of conversation.
(More)
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Deepe
Ky page 9-article 2 of two-part series
Gen. Vinh Loo, commander of the corps just north of
Khang's and a relative to the former imperial family, proposed
only one military candidate should run in the election. Maj. Gon,
Nguyen Duc Thong super-minister in charge of the crucial
Revolutionary Development Program, told the other generals Ky and
Thieu could not compromise among themselves, so they must make the
decision as to which general should withdraw.
Geno
Maj. Gon.Nje Vy, no. 2 at staff general at the
A
High Commend, proposed both candidates withdraw and concentrate
on the military war, leaving the Armed Forces to arbitrate the
election among the civilians. Then, the meeting broke up for lun
ATE
lunch, with Ky eating ate with the other generals, while Thieu
went to his hono noarby.
Then Ky returned to his office.
In the afternoon, the meeting a resumed, with Thieu and Ky
both asked to attend. Thiou spoke first. Ho said he was sad that
the other generals had abandoned him. The This morning when he cap
came to the High Command, the other officers looked at him with
contempt; for, after all, most of his statements, even though he
was chief of state, had been consored by Ky's subordinates. While
he know he would lose in the election, he refused to withdraw
from the Presidential race because of his personal honor and lux
the honor of the Amrod Forcos.
Thiou then proceeded to woop, the tears rolling rolling down
hin checks. He didn't bother to wipe them off, and continued to
talk despite the sobs in his throat.
(More)
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Deepe
Ky-page 10-page 2 of two-article series
Ky, who is basically a sentimentalist,
volunteered to withdraw from the race.
mas moved and
Marine commander Khang,
one of Ky's friends and classmates, objected. Maj. Gen. Hoang
Xuan Lam, who had received his third ster only the day before
the meeting, also objected. The Two Corps Commander, Vinh Loc,
also objected. Others were silent. Marine commander Khang
proposed that Thiou should withdraw, since he was better in mility
military affairs than Ky. Thiou again refused.
Then the meeting
broke up.
econd
On the morning of the scono day--only 36 hours before the
final listing of Presidential candidates-the discussion centered
around the advisability of allowing aj. Son, Turo Duong Van Minh,
leader of the first junta that overthrew Dion, to return from
his exile in Thailand and run for the Presidency.
Ky opposed
violently. Thiou and one other general agreed. The other gonorab
gonerals rallied around Ky and they agreed to block the return
The
of Minh on the grounds of national securityl security.
afternoon was spet spent on trivial discussions of military
tactics and atrag atrag strategy, with no decision being ronchod
about the candidacy of the two Presidential hope-fuls.
(More)
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- Page 12
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Deepe
Ky page 11-article two of two-part series
Sixkeevi
On Friday morning-only nine hours before final filing timo-
the meeting again resumed. By this timo, most of the ton division
commanders had returned to thoir base areas, leaving only the corps
commanders, service and branch commanders and staff generals, numoring
numbering roughly a dozen.
SA
Thieu he spoke first and brought up the matter than
subordinates of Ky, and his police chief,
Brig. Gon. Nguyen Ngoo
Loan, were charged with being corrupt. He brought with him
dossiers, presumably dealing with these corrupt subordinates, but
did not refer to thom. Loan, Ky's closest supporter and his former
dopt deputy Air Force commander, slipped out of the room, grinning
sheepishly.
Maj. Gon. Lon, commander of the northernmost corps where
U. S. Marines are fighting, popped up and said everyone was talkig
talking too much while this tragedy existed in the Armed Forces.
He ripped off his three sters, one of them only three days old,
plopped the insignia on the table m and said he would refuse to
return to his corps until the dual deadlook was broken. Two other
corps commandere followed suit.
Thieu again spoke and again oried. He said he was moved by the
loyalty of the three corps commandors and that he would romain
in the Presidential recox because of his honor.
(More)
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peopo
Ky-page 12-article two of two-part serios
Ky then started crying and said he would withdraw. The other
generale clammered around, praising him for his personal sacrifice
to save the armed forces. But withdrawal wasn't enough. Others
suggested hu Ky run as Vice President with Thiou as President. Ky
again agreed.
Thieu then said that even though he and Ky would run on the
Presidential ticket, the armed forces would still be responsible
for running the country,
in the making.
continue to meet
of the Council.
even with a civilian legislative assembly
He proposed the Armed Forces Council of generals
and that Ky summomdhihony become head
Thiou proposed that all the generals present cign a
pledge to make Ky chairman of the military council in the future.
All agreed.
Then Thieu proponed that the name of the future
prime minister should be approved han by the military on council before
it be sent to the ftur future legislative assembly, and he further
proposed that military supporters should make a dash to the
election committee to file for the Senatorial campaign.
The meeting broke up at 10:30 a.m. Before Ky had time to
have second thoughts about the matter, Thiou supporters lonked the
nows to Western journalists.
(Horo)
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Deepe
Ky page 13-article 2 of 2-part series
In the afternoon, reliable sources report an American
intelligence officer saw Ky and handed him a cable from Washington
stating the U,
position was to support Ky after all. Ky
said he regretted he had withdrawn from the race.
"If that cable had come a few hours earlier, I'd never have
withdrawn," he told an aide.
To which another supporter exclaimed, "These damn Americans
are really Hollywood people. They're copying this whole election
from an Alfred Hitchcock suspense movie. Who knows what they'll do
next?"
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Date
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1967, Jul. 22
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Subject
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Vietnam War, 1961-1975; Nguyẽ̂n, Cao Kỳ; Vietnam (Republic)--Politics and government; Prime ministers; Elections
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Location
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Saigon, South Vietnam
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Coordinates
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10.8231; 106.6311
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Size
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20 x 26 cm
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Container
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B7, F5
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Format
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dispatches
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Collection Number
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MS 363
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Collection Title
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Beverly Deepe Keever, Journalism Papers
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Creator
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Keever, Beverly Deepe
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Collector
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Keever, Beverly Deepe
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Copyright Information
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These images are for educational use only. To inquire about usage or publication, please contact Archives & Special Collections.
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Publisher
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Archives & Special Collections, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries
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Language
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English
