Declassified per Executive Order 13526, Section 3.3
NND Project Number: NND 63316. By: NWD Date: 2011
TOP SECRET – Sensitive
KEY AMERICAN PERSONALITIES: 1954–1956
| 20 Jan 53 – 20 Jan 61 | President: Dwight D. Eisenhower Secretary of State: John Foster Dulles Secretary of Defense: Charles E. Wilson Ambassador to Vietnam: Donald R. Heath (25 Jun 52–20 Apr 55); Gen. J. Lawton Collins, Special Mission (8 Nov 54–6 May 55); G. Frederick Reinhart (20 Apr 55–14 Mar 57) Chairman, JCS: Arthur W. Radford, Adm., USN (14 Aug 53–15 Aug 57 Chief MAAG, Indochina: John W. O'Daniel, Lt. Gen., USA (31 Mar 54–23 Oct. 55); Samuel T. Williams, Lt. Gen., was 1st Chief of MAAG to Vietnam (24 Oct 55–31 Aug 60) |
KEY FRENCH PERSONALITIES: 1954–1956
| Jun 54 – Feb 55 | Prime Minister: Pierre Mendes-France Foreign Minister: Georges Bidault Minister for Associated States: Guy La Chambre Minister for National Defense: Rene Pleven High Commissioner, Vietnam: General Paul Ely |
| 23 Feb 55 – 31 Jan 56 | Prime Minister: Edgar Faure Foreign Minister: Antoine Pinay Minister for Associated States: M. La Forest Minister for National Defense: General Pierre Koenig High Commissioner, Vietnam: General Ely's post abolished after his departure, June 1955. (Gen. Jacquot assumed military responsibilities until April, 1956) Ambassador, Vietnam: Henri Hoppenot (July, 1955) |
| 31 Jan 56 – 16 Apr 57 | Prime Minister: Guy Mollet Foreign Minister: Christian Pineau Minister for National Defense: Maurice Bourges-Maunouvy High Commissioner, Vietnam: (General Jacquot — military responsibilities until April 1956) Ambassador, Vietnam: M. Payart (November, 1956) |
KEY SOUTH VIETNAMESE PERSONALITIES: 1954–1956
| Mar 49 – 26 Oct 55 | Head of State: Bao Dai, Emperor |
| 12 Jan 54 – 16 Jun 54 | Head of State: Bao Dai Premier: Prince Buu Loc Minister for Foreign Affairs: Nguyen Quoc Dinh |
| 7 Jul 54 – 1 Nov 63 | Head of State: Ngo Dinh Diem (President: 23 Oct 55) Premier: Ngo Dinh Diem Minister for Foreign Affairs: Tran Van Do (Jul 54 – May 55) Vu Van Mau (Jul 55 – Nov 63) Minister for National Defense: Ngo Dinh Diem (General Minh served temporarily, early 1955) |
xv
TOP SECRET – Sensitive
