Eisenhower Post Vietnam War
Vietnam: The Eisenhower and Kennedy Years
Post World War II
The years following World War II were a time of economic boon and prosperity for most Americans. At the same time, the Iron Curtain was firmly in place, the cold war was heating up, and the fear that communism would take over the world like a zombie apocalypse was almost palpable. In international politics during the post-war years the United States sought to establish itself as the leader of the free world. We no longer took the isolationism position that had been established as far back as George Washington and generally maintained until December 7, 1941.We began to consider ourselves the “world’s policemen”.
President Eisenhower
In 1953, after assuming the presidency, …show more content…
Eventually Eisenhower became the first U.S. president to be directly involved in Vietnam. Eisenhower felt that American forces had the wealth, weaponry and determination to help build and support a modern democratic state. It was decided at the Geneva accords that Vietnam should be divided at the 17th parallel, with North Vietnam controlled by the Viet Minh and South Vietnam becoming a non-communist nation. Eisenhower supported this initiative by providing resources to Ngo Dinh Diem, the President of South Vietnam. Diem, while entirely dependent on U.S. aid for his country’s continued existence, resented interference by American advisors. Nonetheless. Diem was allowed to continue with his own …show more content…
Kennedy was elected in a time of stagnant growth in America and he was determined to “get the country moving again” (Moss, 2010. p.87). Kennedy assumed office in 1961 and with it he inherited the growing unrest in Southeast Asia. After the Bay-of-Pigs disaster in Cuba, he could not afford to be soft and his administration sought to show strength against the Russians and communism in general. The president and his aides did a fair amount of chest pounding to prove U.S. power and dominance to Khrushchev and other world leaders. While he initially continued Eisenhower’s policies in Vietnam, eventually these factors led President Kennedy to enhance American presence and significantly increase the number of aircraft there. As turmoil escalated Kennedy reaffirmed our commitment to Vietnam. Shortly before his death in 1963 Kennedy spoke on Southeast Asia and the domino theory to CBS
Post World War II
The years following World War II were a time of economic boon and prosperity for most Americans. At the same time, the Iron Curtain was firmly in place, the cold war was heating up, and the fear that communism would take over the world like a zombie apocalypse was almost palpable. In international politics during the post-war years the United States sought to establish itself as the leader of the free world. We no longer took the isolationism position that had been established as far back as George Washington and generally maintained until December 7, 1941.We began to consider ourselves the “world’s policemen”.
President Eisenhower
In 1953, after assuming the presidency, …show more content…
Eventually Eisenhower became the first U.S. president to be directly involved in Vietnam. Eisenhower felt that American forces had the wealth, weaponry and determination to help build and support a modern democratic state. It was decided at the Geneva accords that Vietnam should be divided at the 17th parallel, with North Vietnam controlled by the Viet Minh and South Vietnam becoming a non-communist nation. Eisenhower supported this initiative by providing resources to Ngo Dinh Diem, the President of South Vietnam. Diem, while entirely dependent on U.S. aid for his country’s continued existence, resented interference by American advisors. Nonetheless. Diem was allowed to continue with his own …show more content…
Kennedy was elected in a time of stagnant growth in America and he was determined to “get the country moving again” (Moss, 2010. p.87). Kennedy assumed office in 1961 and with it he inherited the growing unrest in Southeast Asia. After the Bay-of-Pigs disaster in Cuba, he could not afford to be soft and his administration sought to show strength against the Russians and communism in general. The president and his aides did a fair amount of chest pounding to prove U.S. power and dominance to Khrushchev and other world leaders. While he initially continued Eisenhower’s policies in Vietnam, eventually these factors led President Kennedy to enhance American presence and significantly increase the number of aircraft there. As turmoil escalated Kennedy reaffirmed our commitment to Vietnam. Shortly before his death in 1963 Kennedy spoke on Southeast Asia and the domino theory to CBS