Nguyễn Văn Thiệu
Nguyen Van Thieu (Nguyễn Văn Thiệu) (April 5, 1923 - September 29, 2001) briefly joined the Communist forces before abandoning them and serving in the French-controlled Vietnamese army. He served as South Vietnam's ceremonial head of state in Prime Minister Nguyen Cao Ky's government from 1965 - 67. In September 3, 1967, he ran successfully for the new executive presidency of South Vietnam earning 38% of the vote and held that position until the fall of Saigon, South Vietnam's capital, became imminent in 1975.
Thieu's regime was accused of being far more corrupt than his predecessor. Unlike Ky, Thieu created a political party and greatly centralized political power in the executive branch at the expense of the elected congress. Close allies were placed in key ministerial and military posts in order to prevent threats to the president's leadership from emerging. In 1971 Thieu ran for re-election, but his reputation for corruption made his political opponents believe the race would be fixed, and declined to run. As the only candidate Thieu was thus easily re-elected.
Just prior to the Communist victory, Thieu emigrated to Taiwan, then Surrey in the United Kingdom. He later took up residence in Boston, Massachusetts, where he died in 2001.
Notable ARVN Generals
- Nguyen Cao Ky
- Tran Van Minh
- Nguyen Khanh
- Ngo Quang Truong
- Nguyen Van Hieu
- Nguyen Ngoc Loan
- Nguyen Viet Thanh
- Tran Van Huong
- Nguyen Khoa Nam
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See also:South Vietnam -- Vietnam War -- Richard Nixon