United States Ambassador to South Vietnam
Encyclopedia
After World War II
, France attempted to regain control of Vietnam
, which they had lost to Japan in 1940. Following the First Indochina War
, the country was split into two parts, the north and the south. The southern part was named The State of Vietnam under the leadership of Bảo Đại
. In 1950, the United States recognized the Bảo Đại government, established diplomatic relations, and sent its first ambassador to Saigon
in South Vietnam. The US was opposed to the Communist government of the North, led by Ho Chi Minh
, and did not recognize the northern regime.
Following the Vietnam War
, the US Embassy, Saigon was closed and all Embassy personnel evacuated on April 29, 1975, just prior to the surrender of South Vietnam to North Vietnamese forces.
Note: U. Alexis Johnson
arrived at Saigon on June 28, 1964, as the first of a series of Deputy Ambassadors to Vietnam. The Deputy Ambassadors and their periods of service in Vietnam are: U. Alexis Johnson (June 1964–September 1965), William J. Porter
(September 1965–May 1967), Eugene M. Locke
(May 1967–Jan 1968), Samuel D. Berger (March 1968–Mar 1972) Charles S. Whitehouse
(March 1972–August 1973).
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, France attempted to regain control of Vietnam
Vietnam
Vietnam – sometimes spelled Viet Nam , officially the Socialist Republic of Vietnam – is the easternmost country on the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia. It is bordered by China to the north, Laos to the northwest, Cambodia to the southwest, and the South China Sea –...
, which they had lost to Japan in 1940. Following the First Indochina War
First Indochina War
The First Indochina War was fought in French Indochina from December 19, 1946, until August 1, 1954, between the French Union's French Far East...
, the country was split into two parts, the north and the south. The southern part was named The State of Vietnam under the leadership of Bảo Đại
Bảo Đài
Bảo Đài is a commune and village in Lục Nam District, Bac Giang Province, in northeastern Vietnam.-References:...
. In 1950, the United States recognized the Bảo Đại government, established diplomatic relations, and sent its first ambassador to Saigon
Ho Chi Minh City
Ho Chi Minh City , formerly named Saigon is the largest city in Vietnam...
in South Vietnam. The US was opposed to the Communist government of the North, led by Ho Chi Minh
Ho Chi Minh
Hồ Chí Minh , born Nguyễn Sinh Cung and also known as Nguyễn Ái Quốc, was a Vietnamese Marxist-Leninist revolutionary leader who was prime minister and president of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam...
, and did not recognize the northern regime.
Following the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, the US Embassy, Saigon was closed and all Embassy personnel evacuated on April 29, 1975, just prior to the surrender of South Vietnam to North Vietnamese forces.
Ambassadors
- Donald R. HeathDonald R. HeathDonald Read Heath was a member of the United States Foreign Service for more than four decades including service as the Ambassador to Cambodia , Laos , Vietnam , Lebanon and Saudi Arabia...
– Career FSO- Title: Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: June 29, 1950
- Presented credentials: October 22, 1950
- Terminated mission: June 25, 1952 Promoted to Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Donald R. HeathDonald R. HeathDonald Read Heath was a member of the United States Foreign Service for more than four decades including service as the Ambassador to Cambodia , Laos , Vietnam , Lebanon and Saudi Arabia...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: June 25, 1952
- Presented credentials: July 11, 1952
- Terminated mission: Left post November 14, 1954
- G. Frederick ReinhardtG. Frederick ReinhardtGeorge Frederick "Fred" Reinhardt was an American diplomat during the middle third of the 20th century.He was born in Berkeley, California, and matriculated at the University of California, Berkeley, where he was admitted to the Zeta Psi fraternity, graduating in 1933. Reinhardt was the U.S...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: April 20, 1955
- Presented credentials: May 28, 1955
- Terminated mission: Left post February 10, 1957
- Elbridge DurbrowElbridge DurbrowElbridge Durbrow was an American Foreign Service officer and diplomat who served as the Counselor of Embassy and Deputy Chief of Mission in Moscow in the late 1940s and later the US ambassador to South Vietnam from March 1957 to April 1961.-Early life:Durbrow was born in San Francisco, California...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: March 14, 1957
- Presented credentials: April 16, 1957
- Terminated mission: Left post May 3, 1961
- Frederick NoltingFrederick NoltingFrederick Ernst Nolting , was a World War II naval officer and United States diplomat.-Early life and education:...
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: March 15, 1961
- Presented credentials: May 10, 1961
- Terminated mission: Left post August 15, 1963
- Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr.Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr.Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. was a Republican United States Senator from Massachusetts and a U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, South Vietnam, West Germany, and the Holy See . He was the Republican nominee for Vice President in the 1960 Presidential election.-Early life:Lodge was born in Nahant,...
– Political appointee- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: August 1, 1963
- Presented credentials: August 26, 1963
- Terminated mission: Left post June 28, 1964
- Maxwell D. TaylorMaxwell D. TaylorGeneral Maxwell Davenport "Max" Taylor was an United States Army four star general and diplomat of the mid-20th century, who served as the fifth Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff after having been appointed by the President of the United States John F...
– Political appointee- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: July 1, 1964
- Presented credentials: July 14, 1964
- Terminated mission: Left post July 30, 1965
Note: U. Alexis Johnson
U. Alexis Johnson
-Background:Ural Alexis Johnson was born in Falun, Kansas into a family of Swedish descent. His mother named him for the mountain range, of which she learned from a geography book. He had a rural upbringing and schooling until 1923, when the family moved to Glendale, California. He graduated...
arrived at Saigon on June 28, 1964, as the first of a series of Deputy Ambassadors to Vietnam. The Deputy Ambassadors and their periods of service in Vietnam are: U. Alexis Johnson (June 1964–September 1965), William J. Porter
William J. Porter
William James Porter was a United States diplomat who from 1971 to 1973 headed the U.S. delegation to the Paris Peace Talks to end the Vietnam War.-Biography:...
(September 1965–May 1967), Eugene M. Locke
Eugene M. Locke
Eugene Murphy Locke was an American lawyer from Dallas, Texas and ambassador.Locke was the son of the founder of the prominent Locke and Locke law firm in Dallas. Eugene received his law degree from Yale in 1940 and served in the Soloman Islands in the Navy during World War II, before becoming a...
(May 1967–Jan 1968), Samuel D. Berger (March 1968–Mar 1972) Charles S. Whitehouse
Charles S. Whitehouse
Charles Sheldon Whitehouse was an American career Foreign Service Officer. He was U.S. Ambassador to Laos and Thailand in the 1970s.-Early life:...
(March 1972–August 1973).
- Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr.Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr.Henry Cabot Lodge, Jr. was a Republican United States Senator from Massachusetts and a U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, South Vietnam, West Germany, and the Holy See . He was the Republican nominee for Vice President in the 1960 Presidential election.-Early life:Lodge was born in Nahant,...
– Political appointee- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: July 31, 1965
- Presented credentials: August 25, 1965
- Terminated mission: Left post April 25, 1967
- Ellsworth BunkerEllsworth BunkerEllsworth F. Bunker was an American businessman and diplomat...
– Political appointee- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: April 5, 1967
- Presented credentials: April 28, 1967
- Terminated mission: Left post May 11, 1973
- Graham A. MartinGraham MartinGraham Anderson Martin succeeded Ellsworth Bunker as United States Ambassador to South Vietnam in 1973. He would be the last person to hold that position. Martin previously served as ambassador to Thailand and as U.S. representative to SEATO....
– Career FSO- Title: Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
- Appointed: June 21, 1973
- Presented credentials: July 20, 1973
- Terminated mission: Left post, April 29, 1975