William Trueheart
Encyclopedia
William Trueheart was a diplomat in the service of the United States. Serving as the U.S. ambassador to Nigeria
from 1969–1971, he is better known for being the acting U.S. Ambassador and chargé d'affaires
of South Vietnam
from May–July 1963.
Born on December 18, 1918, in Chester, Virginia
, Trueheart earned a bachelor's degree (1939) and a master's degree in philosophy (1941) from the University of Virginia
.
Trueheart was a civilian intelligence analyst in the United States Department of the Navy
1942–43. He then served in the Army, rising to the rank of captain. In 1949 he joined the United States Department of State
as an intelligence officer.
In Vietnam, Trueheart was notable for being the American deputy chief of mission from 1961–1964, in the final years of President Ngô Ðình Diệm
's rule, and prior to the American military escalation. During this time, Trueheart served as deputy to the ambassador, Frederick Nolting
. The spring and summer of 1963 marked the reversal of Nolting's appeasement of the autocratic regime of Diem, largely as a consequence of the widely-reported Buddhist crisis
. These events occurred while Trueheart was in charge of the American embassy due to the absence of the vacationing ambassador. As a result, he was one of the first American diplomats to raise the concern of the possible liability of Diem's government in South Vietnam
, noted as "let[ting] loose the floodgates of doubt".
in which Diem had secured 98.2% of the vote, the Republic of Vietnam was established (known generally known as South Vietnam
) in which Diem declared himself President
. Stemming from this impossibility, Trueheart was shown to have little or no faith in the autocracy of the Diem government in South Vietnam, noted variously as to have been part of a "get Diem faction", and rebuking Diem with the fact that he would lose American support if the oppression of the Buddhist monks continued. At this stage, during the mid 1960s, the media had become an integral part of the reporting of news in the Vietnam War
with most infractions and incidents highlighted in national news
. Polarisation between Diem and the Buddhists grew worse on June 11, 1963 when Thích Quảng Đức set himself alight in the process of self-immolation
.
of Emperor Bảo Đại
in 1955. He did not start in the area until May 1963 when Nolting was on a resting period from the position. Diem's assassination later in November 1963, just before that of the President John F. Kennedy
, was favoured by Trueheart but he had admitted there were no better alternatives within the Vietnamese theatre whilst also indicating that it was possible that "half [the peasants] don't know who Diem is". However, this was immediately contradicted by his superior, Nolting stating emphatically that [Diem's] picture was "everywhere".
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
from 1969–1971, he is better known for being the acting U.S. Ambassador and chargé d'affaires
Chargé d'affaires
In diplomacy, chargé d’affaires , often shortened to simply chargé, is the title of two classes of diplomatic agents who head a diplomatic mission, either on a temporary basis or when no more senior diplomat has been accredited.-Chargés d’affaires:Chargés d’affaires , who were...
of South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
from May–July 1963.
Born on December 18, 1918, in Chester, Virginia
Chester, Virginia
Chester is a census-designated place in Chesterfield County, Virginia, United States. The population was 20,987 at the 2010 census.-History:...
, Trueheart earned a bachelor's degree (1939) and a master's degree in philosophy (1941) from the University of Virginia
University of Virginia
The University of Virginia is a public research university located in Charlottesville, Virginia, United States, founded by Thomas Jefferson...
.
Trueheart was a civilian intelligence analyst in the United States Department of the Navy
United States Department of the Navy
The Department of the Navy of the United States of America was established by an Act of Congress on 30 April 1798, to provide a government organizational structure to the United States Navy and, from 1834 onwards, for the United States Marine Corps, and when directed by the President, of the...
1942–43. He then served in the Army, rising to the rank of captain. In 1949 he joined the United States Department of State
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
as an intelligence officer.
In Vietnam, Trueheart was notable for being the American deputy chief of mission from 1961–1964, in the final years of President Ngô Ðình Diệm
Ngo Dinh Diem
Ngô Đình Diệm was the first president of South Vietnam . In the wake of the French withdrawal from Indochina as a result of the 1954 Geneva Accords, Diệm led the effort to create the Republic of Vietnam. Accruing considerable U.S. support due to his staunch anti-Communism, he achieved victory in a...
's rule, and prior to the American military escalation. During this time, Trueheart served as deputy to the ambassador, Frederick Nolting
Frederick Nolting
Frederick Ernst Nolting , was a World War II naval officer and United States diplomat.-Early life and education:...
. The spring and summer of 1963 marked the reversal of Nolting's appeasement of the autocratic regime of Diem, largely as a consequence of the widely-reported Buddhist crisis
Buddhist crisis
The Buddhist crisis was a period of political and religious tension in South Vietnam from May 1963 to November 1963 characterized by a series of repressive acts by the South Vietnamese government and a campaign of civil resistance, led mainly by Buddhist monks....
. These events occurred while Trueheart was in charge of the American embassy due to the absence of the vacationing ambassador. As a result, he was one of the first American diplomats to raise the concern of the possible liability of Diem's government in South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
, noted as "let[ting] loose the floodgates of doubt".
Historical context
In October 1955, following a fraudulent referendumState of Vietnam referendum, 1955
The State of Vietnam referendum of 1955 determined the future form of government of the State of Vietnam, the nation that was to become the Republic of Vietnam . It was contested by Prime Minister Ngô Đình Diệm, who proposed a republic, and former emperor Bảo Đại...
in which Diem had secured 98.2% of the vote, the Republic of Vietnam was established (known generally known as South Vietnam
South Vietnam
South Vietnam was a state which governed southern Vietnam until 1975. It received international recognition in 1950 as the "State of Vietnam" and later as the "Republic of Vietnam" . Its capital was Saigon...
) in which Diem declared himself President
Leaders of South Vietnam
This is a list of leaders of South Vietnam, since the establishment of the Autonomous Republic of Cochinchina in 1946 until the fall of the Republic of Vietnam in 1975.-Autonomous Republic of Cochinchina :-Republic of South Vietnam :...
. Stemming from this impossibility, Trueheart was shown to have little or no faith in the autocracy of the Diem government in South Vietnam, noted variously as to have been part of a "get Diem faction", and rebuking Diem with the fact that he would lose American support if the oppression of the Buddhist monks continued. At this stage, during the mid 1960s, the media had become an integral part of the reporting of news in 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...
with most infractions and incidents highlighted in national news
News media and the Vietnam War
-Ap Bac:In January 1963, South Vietnamese forces engaged the communists at the Battle of Ap Bac. The reporting of what became a debacle for the South Vietnamese military and the condemnation heaped upon it by the Western press became a cause celebre at the time. Both the U.S. mission and Washington...
. Polarisation between Diem and the Buddhists grew worse on June 11, 1963 when Thích Quảng Đức set himself alight in the process of self-immolation
Self-immolation
Self-immolation refers to setting oneself on fire, often as a form of protest or for the purposes of martyrdom or suicide. It has centuries-long traditions in some cultures, while in modern times it has become a type of radical political protest...
.
Political career
Trueheart's position as the deputy chief of mission for the United States, was to involve himself in the political turmoil which South Vietnam had had to embrace after the forced coup d'étatCoup d'état
A coup d'état state, literally: strike/blow of state)—also known as a coup, putsch, and overthrow—is the sudden, extrajudicial deposition of a government, usually by a small group of the existing state establishment—typically the military—to replace the deposed government with another body; either...
of Emperor Bảo Đại
Bảo Đài
Bảo Đài is a commune and village in Lục Nam District, Bac Giang Province, in northeastern Vietnam.-References:...
in 1955. He did not start in the area until May 1963 when Nolting was on a resting period from the position. Diem's assassination later in November 1963, just before that of the President John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy
John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy , often referred to by his initials JFK, was the 35th President of the United States, serving from 1961 until his assassination in 1963....
, was favoured by Trueheart but he had admitted there were no better alternatives within the Vietnamese theatre whilst also indicating that it was possible that "half [the peasants] don't know who Diem is". However, this was immediately contradicted by his superior, Nolting stating emphatically that [Diem's] picture was "everywhere".