presidential visit united_states president state visit united_states main ally government received glowing welcome praise leader free country midst cold war visit large organized lobby group dedicated support included politicians major parties visit mainly celebratory ceremonial policy planning mission year travelling visit australia september fellow anti communist countries south_korea thailand prior visit government thorough preparations visit pleasant successfully lobbied media write favourable reports south vietnamese leader champion democracy mentions style election rigging avoided arrived plane washington personally greeted airport president honor accorded visiting head state greeted address congress policies endorsed sides politics time capital attended private meetings secretary state discuss american support meeting spoke continuously rendering way discussions impossible visited new_york_city given parade manhattan attended presented honors city council given civic reception attending functions business leaders marketing country favorable location foreign investment south vietnamese president stops city main roman catholic institution cathedral catholic helped power lobbying cardinal politicians returned stayed exile receive honorary doctorate later received honorary degree stayed exile earlier decade day dedicated honor south vietnamese president traveled westwards pacific coast returning vietnam visit high point relations washington later years government members increasingly disillusioned failure government enact changes democratic supportive media began report overlooking problems administration american support collapsed buddhist crisis washington concluded incapable offering solid alternative communists overthrown backed military coup executed captured background interior minister vietnam serving emperor resigned months french colonial authorities vietnam meaningful autonomy private citizen decade world war attacked control france defeated allies power vacuum emerged communist dominated proclaimed vietnam fought independence french attempted regain control colony created state vietnam associated free state staunch anti communist nationalist opposed attempted create movement little success french communists hostile felt unsafe went self imposed exile leaving vietnam time life communists sentenced death french refused protection claiming resources spent years united_states europe enlisting support particularly fellow catholic politicians america vatican officials success group helped fact elder brother leading catholic vietnam studied high ranking priests rome chance meeting political science professor america japan proponent force ideology opposed communism quickly befriended american academic organized contacts given audience acting secretary state little impression meeting continued meet lower ranking officials introduced younger brother cardinal politically powerful priest time classmate later given meeting pope early given audience secretary state success presentation prompted stay campaign basing seminary new_jersey travelled nation speaking universities given faculty position institution gained support supreme_court justice senators later senate majority leader democrat montana professor asian history entering politics result opinions vietnam influential held high regard fellow senators french lost geneva conference held determine future given control state vietnam controlled territory south 17th parallel geneva agreements state vietnam sign called elections held appointed prime minister hoping able attract american aid french withdrew southeast_asia returned vietnam june took post july series disagreements deposed fraudulent referendum october declared president newly proclaimed republic vietnam days later received support anti communist countries midst cold war refused hold national elections scheduled asserted rig ballots north meantime continued consolidate rule stabilize new nation preparation trip came years american attempts schedule state visit washington attempts organise trip prime minister busy opposition groups grip power took care crushing organised crime syndicate deposed proclaimed brother rigged referendum head state credited votes capital south vietnamese leader visit organized indicated interest february ambassador south vietnam administration prepared arrival great detail memorandum gave personnel detailed information ceremonial correct pronunciation went briefing staff procedure printed distributed manual detailing personal traits said south vietnamese leader lonely figure man sense mission held military parade honour ascension power barring public warned brutal pursuing applying policies decided violent temper contrast public announcements describing south vietnamese president freedom loving democrat manual explained authoritarian attitude exhibited ability legislation decree police state mechanisms run agents beaten voted instead manual said vietnam present situation given heritage ready democratic government known west shades opinion policy making process considered luxury vietnam afford advised public servants mention fact regularly killed jailed noting sensitive charges media campaign lead visit engaged promotional campaign encouraging newspapers cover visit south vietnamese president favourable coverage drafted speeches making sure events american history good impression american public decision makers purpose employed services political firm media prepared arrival writing praising south vietnamese leader great detail washington_post devoted pages profile titled symbol free new asia ran headline welcome champion described effective fighter communism new_york_times praised visiting president advancing cause freedom democracy asia boston_globe dubbed vietnam papers favourably commented overt opposition communism non aligned asian leaders india indonesia attempted steer clear led anti communist world soviet sought recruit countries movement newspapers compared beacon light dark sea communism visit arrived noon national airport washington aboard plane president iii silver plane landed personally received airport secretary state chairman second time presidency personally gone airport greet visiting head state given gun salute driven residence crowd estimated lined route taken vietnamese leader day arrival new_york_times president substantial partner going enterprise behalf free men country honor welcome account attempting positive spin south vietnamese leader lack emotion crowd informed readers air modest far impressive arm waving performance failure respond masses new arrived vietnam exile prime minister bother wave tan son airport washington day addressed joint sitting congress house_of_representatives senate attendance thanked ongoing support particularly government state went explain political platform sole legitimate object state protect fundamental rights human beings existence free development sic intellectual moral spiritual life democracy material happiness supremacy numbers democracy essentially permanent effort find right political means order assure citizens right free development maximum initiative responsibility spiritual life thanked americans efforts safeguard liberal democracy washington foreign policy compared million strong exodus refugees communist south pilgrims left british isles aboard sailed massachusetts escape religious persecution speech advisers flight north vietnamese refugees received great deal attention statements catholic activists received standing ovation speech interrupted loud applause legislators despite assertion weight numbers measure democracy american media widely praised attitude democracy major parties praise senator said chief credit holding communist aggression vietnam southeast_asia lies determination courage integrity president shown great ability accomplished tremendous odds praise given weight senators academic qualifications entering politics senator republican new_york dubbed real heroes free world said president stands highest qualities heroism president vietnam inspiring leadership opening vast new areas peaceful progress mankind nationally televised speech secretary said impressed prime minister true patriot dedicated independence referring defeat battle assistant secretary state far eastern affairs said asia given president great figure entire free world richer example determination moral time appeared working successfully decided attack south canceled planned elections glowing press coverage period contrasted later decades 1960s 1970s american media engaged investigative journalism undermined official line presented washington relation vietnam particularly true downfall journalists won pulitzer prizes work buddhist crisis mass protests erupted years discrimination buddhist majority day washington speaker guest lunch attacked asian leaders advocated saying communism neutral neutral impressed media prominently noted stance reports pulitzer prize winning said refreshing startling experience hear asian hero assert communism isn neutral neutral unique recent asian visitors publicly chose sides united_states communists critique criticized impact headline quote campaigns went answer question religious convictions declaring adherence catholicism saying found principles religion great inspiration achieved political career owe principles comments widely catholic newspapers cited reason able stop communist takeover visit largely ceremonial mainly focused mutual praise specific policy planning negotiations stayed capital days meeting high ranking members days meeting turned secretary state subordinates decided visit blair house notorious lasted hours talked result american diplomats unable raise issues wanted discuss meeting asked american commitment defense time communist begun low level campaign attempt vietnam rule response began widespread campaign crush communist remnants felt cloud cover difficult air bombings communist effective predicted communists try enter turned case trail came usage asked guarantee continuing aid time thirds budget came mainly abused urban elite buy consumer goods knew administration congress wanted budget savings refrain cutting expenditure fearing deterioration vietnamese economy said vietnamese security ensured remained anxious believing member states weak lacking resources stand defend country departure capital white_house released statement praising remarkable achievements leadership new_york_city leaving washington traveled new_york_city disembarked iii airport new_york large irish catholic population received greater reception capital taken seven car new_york_city delayed mass await south vietnamese president leading point honor cathedral sanctuary said delighted proud world acclaimed god fearing anti communist courageous statesman saved vietnam fellow catholics join hearts souls altar god visited seminary early 1950s political fortunes low gone self imposed exile stayed period engaging religious practice building political contacts catholics notably cardinal given strongly supportive reception went south orange new_jersey conferred honorary law degree grounds stopped communists hour partial conquest vietnam stayed hall period exile claimed partial credit creation university said new department help salvage salvaged values asia tornado large portion world day given parade city hall given reception mayor people parade wagner called man freedom breath life referred political miracle said principal credit president man history great figures twentieth century bestowed city medal honor distinguished exceptional service turn praised new_york_city lunch hosted wagner honor praised new_york_city successfully integrating large numbers immigrants different backgrounds describing city symbol human brotherhood advice compared recent events vietnam met promoted vietnamese interests touted country ideal place foreign investment described vietnamese people workers focused developing farmland building monuments palaces given dinner honor ambassador hotel organized formed member worked assisting mass evacuation north vietnamese refugees south partition vietnam given award commemorating polar explorer previously served honorary chairman board directors master ceremonies boss time magazine delivered speech dignitaries included senators kennedy thanked america generally media operations particular support vietnam dinner attended chairman read telegram exhibiting highest qualities heroism day attended mass guest honor business lunch hosted promoted business opportunity american saying populace pro american unlike countries welcomed foreign investment closing stages left new_york_city traveled stayed self imposed exile worked university helped secure position south vietnamese leader gave speech people received honorary degree governor decreed day day visited tennessee stopping los_angeles banquet hosted left mainland final stop hawaii guest admiral commander reason visit discuss concerns america reaction came communist attack reiterated washington opinions nuclear weapons defend anti communist country attacked communists accordance public statements said americans dropping nuclear weapons communist china aftermath visit high point relations primary sponsor americans began place increasing pressure carry democratic reforms political system particularly resisted calls base government continued rig elections support declined ongoing persistent complaints negative media depictions regime vietnamese leaders understand western governments control media pressure increased home communists intensified november discontent army prompted failed coup attempt eventually organized loyalists coup angered calls try negotiate settlement lack support zero tolerance policy betrayal mass civil broke discontent buddhist majority pro catholic discrimination sparked fatal people demonstrating ban buddhist flag began lose confidence ability run country effectively prevent growth communist concluded obstacle religious national stability time american press corps wrote stories south vietnamese government policies actions contrast supportive pieces 1950s attempt physically tried settle buddhist crisis launching synchronized raids buddhist temples country round monks leading protests americans began look alternative leadership sending cable embassy search replace november overthrown backed coup captured executed
Ngo Dinh Diem presidential visit to the United States