1954 - Senator John F. Kennedy speaking against American involvement in Indochina

[observer9670]

According to Kenny O'Donnell's book, JFK was ready to get out of Vietnam after the Diem coup in November 1963.  But he told O'Donnell that he'd have to wait until after the 1964 U.S. election; if he pulled U.S. troops out before that, the Republicans would accuse him of being "soft on Communism" - in 1964 that would have been devastating for his re-election if it stuck.

[marcostar57]

Kennedy's words were rather prophetic. 

[redviper2GAMER]

Excellent Speach. The biggest failure of Kennedy was Mafia, Jimmy Hoffa and Union works. Public issues like that he refered to as a secret society. He could have been a great president but at the time Mafia and organized representation work or rights of all public was less of his effort. His response was ask not what you can do for your country but what you can do for it. A mistake was asking Vietnahm to do low end manual labor jobs. Black Americans was provided rights vietnam had less.

[DoBrigh]

Eisenhower also said that he couldn't imagine land troops in vietnam.

nixon, on the other hand, wanted to nuke Ho Chih Minh in the 50s.

(see Burn Before Reading by Stansfield Turner)

[MaggieHiatt]

yay he is adorably awesome

[MaggieHiatt]

yay

[MrLovenow]

There is, in fact, overwheming evidence that JFK felt the U.S. Could not win a land war in SE Asia.

[JohnnyMac2237]

JFK is talking in a purposely deeper voice during this interview. I have never witnessed this from him. I suppose he is attempting to sound more authoritative.

[MeghanRileyNeedham]

loveeee him <3

[marcostar57]

Pretty prescient statement... "winning their hearts & minds" -- the same can be said for any major world power trying to occupy an underdeveloped land -- like in US in Afganistan.

[rodni7777]

Wanted to Add that JFK was a real champion as Senator and President for independence and human rights of former Colonial Countries. Very Courageous for that time.

[rodni7777]

I read the book JFK and the Unspeakable by Douglas and he has a great story that in 68, RFK was asked how he and JFK were so right about Vietnam (it was obvious in 68 the war was a mistake). RFK slammed his fist on his desk and screamed 'BECAUSE WE WERE THERE!'. Referring to his and JFK's trip in the 50s where they saw the French getting routed by the Vietnamese. JFK knew we would be just replacing the French if we stayed there (same outcome). He was ready to get out in 65 after the election.

[maccagirl56]

@rodni7777

I just got finished reading that book myself-it is a heartbreaking read.

[gweijai]

@rodni7777 Right about what ? Sending 20,000 American 'advisors' over there ? Having Diem knocked off ?

[rodni7777]

@gweijai

see observer9670 recent comments, that will answer your questions

[norr4636]

@rodni7777 So true..Jack Kennedy was hawkish and anti-communist..but he knew that Vietnam was a BIG MISTAKE...

[Nominay]

@norr4636 actually, yeah. the main turning point in that whole cold war thing was the Cuban Missile Crisis. After that, Kennedy established detente with Khrushchev. This led to a more optimistic and less fearful vision with JFK's American University speech.

[Gunnarsguns]

This is a clip for posterity...the record...they cant lie about it. He really didnt want to be there but the military industrial complex criminals had other ideas.They didnt just Kill JFK that day but thousands more americans in a foolish war that didnt have to be and the end result was rich men got richer just as it is today.

[AlternativeViewTV]

@Gunnarsguns USA FUNDED INDOCHINA WAR!

[Steenville]

A short but very important clip. And JFK was pulling out of Vietnam. Didn´t get so far unfortunately before Dealey Plaza happened and LBJ reversed JFK´s policy..

[BamaChris]

@Steenville Pure fiction

[Steenville]

@BamaChris Keep dreaming, coincidence theorist.

[BamaChris]

@Steenville There is absolutely no evidence that JFK intended to pull out of Vietnam.  Any suggestion to such is pure fiction, which is what most of JFK has become

[wunderdoggy]

@BamaChris If this clip isn`t èvident` enough try looking at NSAM 263 or the last press conference he held where he said he was pulling out of Vietnam and that troops were coming home for Xmas 63. Or count the myriad of number of times he used the word peace in speeches or public address.Or look at his non-interventionist attitudes towards Cuba, Argentina and Indonesia in keeping with the constitution.