Nguyen Van Thieu Biography and Timeline

Coup

General Nguyen Van Thieu joins forces with Air Vice Marshall Nguyen Cao Ky in a coup against General Nguyen Khanhs Government that lasted for (260 days) from January 1964-October 1964, with the support of a neutralist coalition

Neutrality

General Nguyen Van Thieu joins forces with Air Vice Marshall Nguyen Cao Ky in a coup against General Nguyen Khanhs Government that lasted for (260 days) from January 1964-October 1964, with the support of a neutralist coalition

Head of State

Thieu becomes chief of state as South Vietnam's military leaders form a new ruling structure

Role range: 1965-1967

Ky Premiership

The National Leadership Committee under Thieu appoints Nguyen Cao Ky as premier

Role range: 1965-1967

Military Government

Thieu becomes chief of state in the new South Vietnamese military government

Role range: 1965-1967

Military Government

Thieu becomes head of state while Ky takes the stronger executive premiership

Role range: 1960-1975 – 1965-1967

National Leadership Committee

Thieu heads the National Leadership Committee after South Vietnam's generals reorganise the government

Role range: 1960-1975 – 1965-1967

Prime Minister Appointment

Thieu's military leadership group appoints Ky as premier of South Vietnam

Role range: 1960-1975 – 1965-1967

Presidential Election

Elected president of South Vietnam under the new constitution

Role range: 1960-1975 – 1967-1975

Tet Response

Leads the South Vietnamese government during the Tet Offensive

Role range: 1960-1975 – 1967-1975

Midway Meeting

Meets Nixon as the United States announces troop withdrawals

Role range: 1960-1975 – 1967-1975

Midway Meeting

Meets Richard Nixon as Vietnamization is announced

Role range: 1960-1975 – 1967-1975

Cambodia Incursion

Supports South Vietnamese operations into Cambodia against communist sanctuaries

Role range: 1960-1975 – 1967-1975

Lam Son 719

Orders South Vietnamese forces into Laos during Operation Lam Son 719

Role range: 1960-1975 – 1967-1975

Lam Son 719

Orders South Vietnamese forces into Laos to attack the Ho Chi Minh Trail

Role range: 1960-1975 – 1967-1975

Lam Son 719

South Vietnamese forces enter Laos in Operation Lam Son 719

Role range: 1960-1975 – 1967-1975

South Vietnamese Election

Wins re-election after opposition candidates withdraw or are excluded

Role range: 1960-1975 – 1967-1975

Resignation of Nguyen Van Thieu

Resigns as South Vietnam collapses under the final offensive

Role range: 1960-1975 – 1967-1975