Nguyen Van Thieu
Nguyen Van Thieu was born in 1923, in Tri Thuy, Vietnam. He graduated in 1948 at the Military Academy in Da Lat. He always dreamed about high positions in the army or in politics.
In 1963, he was involved in the coup d'état against Diem. He controlled the attack against the presidential palace. After the death of the president, he was promoted to be a brigadier, but wasn't satisfied with this since he wanted to be at a higher position in the government. In 1965, to the offer of the American government offices, Tran Van Huong Prime Minister took him to the cabinet and made him the second assistant. Thieu wanted extensive military operations against the Northern communists. As the USA raised the bombings in North Vietnam, he move higher on the hierarchy since he supported these actions. When he was named to be the Minister of War, he used it to strengthen himself in the South Vietnamese government. The army harassed his opponents who tried to corrupt the election in 1965, but lost it.
The Thieu-regime was a puppet government for the Americans. The internal conflicts and the rivalry between the leaders resulted the division of the government. Corruption and the lack of disciplines was regular at every duty. In spite of all these things, he was the leader from 1967 to 1975, when he was forced to leave. After the defeat, he emigrated to London and lived there till his death.
During the war, his opinion about the American involvement changed significantly. Before 1970, he said that they must help the USA and its people to reach their aims. Later in 1972, his view changed: "Vietnamizing was only a pretext for Washington to betray South Vietnam. It was the 'fair cease-fire'." On the other hand, he believed in his people even when they hadn't chance. "The army, the third, the half of the country have been defeated, but not the whole." - 1975.