Draft Letter from President Kennedy to President Diem

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Description

Kennedy pledged a dramatic increase in American military support in response to a letter President Ngo Dinh Diem of the Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam) sent requesting aid. The White House believed that North Vietnam’s aggression—demonstrated by its direction and support of the insurgency in South Vietnam—was a violation of the Geneva Accords. Therefore, Kennedy was willing to respond in kind.

Citation

This primary source comes from the Collection JFK-4: Papers of John F. Kennedy: Presidential Papers: National Security Files.

Full Citation: Letter From President John F. Kennedy to President Diem; 12/14/1962; National Security Files: Countries: Vietnam: General, 12/11/61 to 12/13/61; Country Files, 1/20/1961 – 11/22/1963; Collection JFK-4: Papers of John F. Kennedy: Presidential Papers: National Security Files,; John F. Kennedy Library, Boston, MA. [Online Version, https://docsteach.org/document/jfk-diem-letter/, March 3, 2026]

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