</s>157-10014-10227 2025 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992 JFK Assassination System Date: 77/77/2015 Identification Form Agency Information AGENCY: SCCIA RECORD NUMBER: 157-1001A-10277 Agency information RECORD SERIES: MISCELLANEOUS RECOROS OF THE CHURCH COMMITTEE AGENCY FILE NUMBER : 07-M-132 AGENCY FILENUMBER: 07-MI-132 AGENCY FILE NUMBER : SSCIA SCCIA Document Information ORIGINATOR : FROM: DAWSON, R. TO: TITLE: DIEM DATE: PAGES: 06/00/1975 157 SUBJECTS: CIA COLBY, WILLIAM VIETNAM KENNEDYN, JOHN DIEM, ASSASSINTATION DOCUMENT TYPE: SUMMARY CLASSIFICATION: Classification: RESTRICTIONS: IB: 1C CURRENT STATUS: Redect CURRENT REVIEW: 05/09/2000 DATE OF LAST REVIEW : OPENING CRITERIA : COMMENTS : CC Box 133 1 v1 NW 50955 DocId: 32423615 Page 1

Summary  
The documents detail U.S. government discussions and intelligence activities related to South Vietnam’s political instability during 1963, focusing on President Ngo Dinh Diem’s regime, Buddhist protests, and coup planning. Key topics include CIA assessments of Diem’s governance, internal White House meetings evaluating U.S. policy toward South Vietnam, and communications between U.S. officials (e.g., Henry Cabot Lodge, William Colby) and Vietnamese military leaders. The documents reference events such as the 1963 Buddhist crisis, military crackdowns on pagodas, and coup attempts by South Vietnamese generals like General Don and Nguyen Khanh. CIA involvement in rural governance programs (e.g., Standardham Program) and covert operations against North Vietnam are also noted. U.S. officials debated strategies to address Diem’s authoritarian rule, including potential support for military coups or removal of his brothers, Nhu and Can. The coup against Diem occurred on November 2, 1963, resulting in his assassination by South Vietnamese soldiers, with U.S. officials expressing concerns over the violence and its implications for American policy in Vietnam.  

Key People  
- **John F. Kennedy** (U.S. President)  
- **William Colby** (CIA Director)  
- **Henry Cabot Lodge** (U.S. Ambassador to South Vietnam)  
- **Ngo Dinh Diem** (South Vietnamese President)  
- **Ngo Dinh Nhu** (Diem’s brother, Prime Minister)  
- **General Don** (Vietnamese military officer involved in coup planning)  
- **Nguyen Khanh** (South Vietnamese general who later became president after the coup)  
- **James Jesus Angleton** (CIA operative, referred to as "CONEIN")  
- **Robert Komer** (CIA official)  
- **Roger Hilsman** (Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian Affairs)  
- **Dean Rusk** (U.S. Secretary of State)  

Key Locations  
- **Saigon** (Vietnam, political and military center)  
- **Hue** (site of 1963 Buddhist protests and military actions)  
- **Washington, D.C.** (U.S. government headquarters for diplomatic and intelligence decisions)  
- **JOS Headquarters** (Joint Operations Station in Saigon, where CIA operatives monitored coup activities)  
- **General Staff Headquarters** (Vietnamese military base where Diem’s body was temporarily held after his assassination)  

Key Events  
- **Buddhist Crisis (1963):** Military attacks on Buddhist pagodas led to widespread protests and U.S. intervention.  
- **CIA Assessments:** Internal evaluations of Diem’s regime, including risks of coups and potential support for anti-communist nationalist movements.  
- **Coup Planning (October–November 1963):** Coordination between South Vietnamese generals (e.g., General Don) and U.S. officials to destabilize Diem’s government.  
- **Diem’s Assassination (November 2, 1963):** Killed by South Vietnamese soldiers during the coup, with U.S. officials expressing concern over the violence.  
- **White House Meetings:** Discussions on U.S. policy toward Vietnam, including debates over supporting or destabilizing Diem’s regime.  
- **CIA Communications:** Reports from Saigon detailing military dynamics and potential actions by Vietnamese generals.  

Key Organizations  
- **Central Intelligence Agency (CIA):** Conducted assessments, coordinated with South Vietnamese military leaders, and managed covert operations in Vietnam.  
- **U.S. Department of State:** Directed diplomatic responses and policy decisions regarding South Vietnam.  
- **National Security Council (NSC):** Oversaw strategic discussions on U.S. involvement in Vietnam’s political instability.  
- **South Vietnamese Military:** Included generals like General Don and Nguyen Khanh, who played pivotal roles in the coup.  
- **U.S. Special Group:** Interagency body assessing risks and strategies related to Vietnamese coup planning.

JFK Declassified Files

157-10014-10227.pdf

Document Summary

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