Pentagon Papers

by Neil Sheehan

  Appendix 3

  Biographies of Key Figures

  Biographies of Key Figures in the Vietnam Study

  McGEORGE BUNDY

  Special assistant to Presidents Kennedy and Johnson for national security affairs, 1961-66 . . . since 1966, president of the Ford Foundation. Born Boston March 30, 1919 . . . graduated from Yale, 1940, majoring in classics and mathematics . . . ran as a Republican for seat on Boston City Council, 1941 . . . served as aide to Adm. Alan G. Kirk, World War II . . . foreign-policy adviser to Thomas E. Dewey, Republican Presidential candidate, 1948 . . . joined Harvard faculty, 1949 . . . became dean of Faculty of Arts and Sciences, 1953 . . . named by President Kennedy to White House post . . . often described as principal architect of U.S. Vietnam policy . . . was recalled briefly by President Johnson during the Arab-Israeli crisis in summer of 1967 . . . often seen as a potential Secretary of State . . . just as visible—and controversial—as foundation head as when directing foreign policy from White House basement office . . . now lives in New York.

  WILLIAM PUTNAM BUNDY

  From 1951 to end of Johnson Administration, “the other Bundy” held sensitive positions in government departments, from the Central Intelligence Agency to State Department . . . now a senior research associate at Center for International Studies of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and will assume editorship of Foreign Affairs, the quarterly, after October, 1972. Born in Washington, Sept. 24, 1917 . . . earned, bachelor’s degree from Yale, 1939; master’s from Harvard, 1940; law degree from Harvard, 1947 . . . married to a daughter of Dean Acheson, former Secretary of State . . . practiced law, Washington, 1947-51 . . . a Democrat . . . with the C.I.A., 1951-61 . . . served consecutively as Assistant and Deputy Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, 1961-64 . . . Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, 1964-69 . . . always, compared with younger brother McGeorge, an anonymous figure . . . lives in Cambridge, Mass.

  NGO DINH DIEM

  Premier, South Vietnam, 1954-55; President, 1955-63; until death during overthrow Nov. 1, 1963. Born Quangbinh, near Hue, Jan. 3, 1901 . . . graduated from School of Administration, Hue . . . entered civil service . . . rose to district administrator . . . Minister of Interior in Cabinet of Emperor Bao Dai, 1933 . . . resigned on learning Government was controlled by French . . . declared subversive by French in 1942, he fled to Saigon, 1944 . . . refused Japanese offer to head puppet government, March, 1945 . . . refused offer to work with Hanoi regime, 1945 . . . began seeking some autonomy for Vietnam . . . fled country, 1950 . . . during exile, 1951-52, lived at Maryknoll Seminary, Lakewood, N. J., 1951-52 . . . returned Saigon as Premier in Bao Dai Government, 1954 . . . elected President in referendum making Vietnam a republic, 1955 . . . won second five-year term 1961 . . . survived several coup attempts . . . shot to death after accepting safe-conduct offer.

  PHAM VAN DONG

  Led Vietminh delegation to Geneva, 1954; in North Vietnam hierarchy thereafter and Premier since 1955 . . . born Quangngai, coastal region in South, 1906 . . . entered University of Hanoi, 1925 . . . led student strike, fled to China . . . joined Vietnamese political émigrés, including Ho Chi Minh, in Canton . . . sent back to Vietnam by Ho Chi Minh on secret mission . . . arrested, imprisoned on island of Poulo Condore, 1929-36 . . . worked to establish Communist movement in North and South . . . fled to south China, 1939 . . . with Ho Chi Minh and Vo Nguyen Giap, founded Vietminh, 1941; finance minister, 1945, in first Ho Chi Minh government . . . named chief negotiator with French at Fontainebleau, 1946 . . . premier, 1949 . . . guerrilla commander in Quangngai, 1951 . . . chief Geneva negotiator, 1954 . . . regarded as “the best nephew” of “Uncle” Ho Chi Minh, called “my other self” by Ho . . . formulator of North Vietnam’s “four points” for peace . . . sophisticated, articulate, a skilled diplomat.

  LE DUAN

  Vietcong organizer, nineteen-fifties; Secretary, Lao Dong (Communist) party Central Committee for the Southern Region, 1956; Secretary General Lao Dong party, 1959; since 1960, First Secretary of party . . . born into peasant family, Quangtri province in central Vietnam, 1908 . . . worked as secretary with railways, Hanoi . . . given 20-year prison term for subversive activities, 1930 . . . released 1936, resumed political work for Indochinese Communist Party . . . given 10-year sentence, 1940 . . . released on Vietminh take-over 1945 . . . led guerrillas against French in South starting 1946 . . . commissioner at Vietminh’s military headquarters in South, 1952 . . . rose in party, named First Secretary, September, 1960 . . . led Hanoi delegation to 1967 50th-anniversary celebrations in Moscow . . . since Ho Chi Minh’s death, has emerged as “first among equals” in collective leadership . . . has sponsored popular economic reforms . . . advocates “protracted war” strategy . . . said to be self-effacing, pragmatic . . .

  MICHAEL VINCENT FORRESTAL

  White House specialist on Vietnam 1962-65 . . . in private law practice New York now . . . newly elected chairman of board, Metropolitan Opera Guild. Born Nov. 26, 1927, in New York . . . graduated from Phillips Exeter Academy . . . studies at Princeton interrupted to serve on staff of W. Averell Harriman at Paris headquarters of Economic Cooperation Administration, 1948-50 . . . his father, late James V. Forrestal, was the first Secretary of Defense . . . received law degree from Harvard, 1953 and practiced in New York till 1960 . . . returned to firm of Shearman & Sterling, where he is partner, in 1965 . . . as Kennedy and Johnson aide, served on National Security Council . . . in July, 1964, appointed chairman White House interdepartmental Vietnam coordinating committee . . . accompanied Mrs. John F. Kennedy on 1967 visit to Cambodia . . . early supporter of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy’s Presidential bid . . . member Council on Foreign Relations . . . lives in New York.

  PAUL DONAL HARKINS

  United States commander, Vietnam, 1962-64; now adviser to American Security Council, private “research” group, Boston. Born Boston, May 15, 1904 . . . graduated U.S. Military Academy, 1929 . . . deputy chief of staff, Western Task Force, North African invasion, 1942 . . . deputy chief of staff, Third Army then 15th Army . . . a protégé of Gen. George S. Patton Jr. . . . commandant of cadets, West Point, 1948-51 . . . chief of staff, Eighth Army, Korea, 1951-53 . . . commander, 45th and 24th Infantry Divisions, Korea, December, 1953-54 . . . Pentagon service, 1954-57 . . . deputy commander, chief of staff U.S. Army Forces, Pacific, 1960-62 . . . first commander, Military Assistance Command, Saigon, 1962-64 . . . consistently optimistic in his assessment of war . . . strong support of Ngo Dinh Diem . . . has said “biggest” U.S. mistake in Vietnam “was when we stopped backing Diem” . . . during his tenure, had sharp differences with Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge . . . retired 1964 . . . moved to Dallas, 1965.

  ROGER HILSMAN JR.

  Director of State Department bureau of intelligence and research, 1961-63, Assistant Secretary of State for Far Eastern Affairs, 1963-64; . . . since 1964, professor of government, Columbia University. Born Waco, Tex., Nov. 23, 1919 . . . graduated U.S. Military Academy, 1943 . . . master’s degree, Yale, 1950 . . . Ph.D., Yale, 1951 . . . served with Merrill’s Marauders, Burma, 1944 . . . commanded O.S.S. guerilla group, Burma, 1944-45 . . . assistant chief Far East Intelligence, O.S.S., Washington, 1945-46 . . . assistant to executive officer, C.I.A., 1946-47 . . . State Department, NATO affairs, 1950-53 . . . Center for International Studies, Princeton, 1953-55 . . . deputy director, Legislative Reference Service, Library of Congress, Washington, 1956-58 . . . research associate, Washington Center for Foreign Policy Research, international-affairs lecturer, Johns Hopkins. School of Advanced International Studies, 1957-61 . . . director, Bureau of Intelligence and Research, State Department, 1961-63 . . . Assistant Secretary of State, 1963-64 . . . resigned, 1964 . . . author of “To Move a Nation,” 1967, others . . . said after resignation he thought U.S. could not win “a total victory” in South Vietnam . . . now lives New York City, and Lyme, Conn.

  NGUYEN KHANH

  South Vietnam’s Premier—on and off�
�from February, 1964, through Mid-February, 1965 . . . since 1968 in exile in Paris. Born in Travinh, South Vietnam, Nov. 8, 1927 . . . educated military academy at Dalat, 1950, also in France, at U.S. Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kan. . . . fought as guerrilla against French . . . sent to Saigon on mission . . . joined French colonial forces . . . paratrooper, reached rank of major . . . helped foil 1960 coup against Ngo Dinh Diem . . . stayed on sidelines during 1963 coup . . . ousted Gen. Duong Van Minh Jan. 30, 1964 . . . in August, assumed dictatorial powers . . . forced out . . . remained Army chief . . . led coup against incumbent . . . survived coup attempt February . . . deposed as commander in chief by military . . . sent abroad as roving ambassador . . . a Buddhist, but not popular with Buddhists . . . short, jaunty, goateed . . . liked to wear paratrooper’s red beret . . . fond of saying: “I am a fighter.”

  VICTOR HAROLD KRULAK

  Pentagon counterinsurgency expert, 1961-64; since July, 1968, president of Copley News Service, San Diego, Calif. . . . born Denver, Jan. 7, 1913 . . . graduate of Annapolis, 1934 . . . nicknamed “the Brute” because of short stature, unbrutish appearance . . . served with Fleet Marine Corps, 1935-39 . . . battalion and regimental commander, World War II . . . chief of staff, First Marine Division, Korean conflict . . . commanding general, Marine Corps Recruit Depot, San Diego . . . special assistant to director, Joint Staff Counterinsurgency and Special Activities Office, Joint Chiefs of Staff, 1961-64 . . . commanding general, Fleet Marine Force, Pacific, 1964 till May, 1968, when he retired as lieutenant general . . . known as corps theoretician and leading strategic planner, had been considered prime contender for commandant in late 1967 . . . awarded Navy Cross, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star, Vietnam’s Medal of Merit and Cross of Gallantry, among others . . . living in San Diego.

  EDWARD LANSDALE

  United States Air Force officer, 1947-63; political adviser, South Vietnam, 1954-56; special assistant to Ambassador Henry Cabot Lodge, 1965-68. Born Detroit, Feb. 6, 1908 . . . studied at University of California, Los Angeles . . . in late nineten-forties, was adviser to President Ramon Magsaysay of Philippines . . . helped put down Communist-led Hukbalahap rebellion there . . . developed basic concept that Communist revolution best opposed by democratic revolution . . . went to South Vietnam, as Central Intelligence Agency operative, 1954 . . . helped establish Ngo Dinh Diem regime . . . believed to be model for “Colonel Hillandale” in the novel “The Ugly American” and for “Pyle” in “The Quiet American” . . . urged creation of Vietnam counterinsurgency force instead of conventional army . . . reassigned to Pentagon, 1956 . . . reportedly helped develop Special Forces . . . retired 1963 with rank of major general . . . returned Saigon, 1965, as special assistant for pacification under Mr. Lodge . . . his known activities included supervising “rural reconstruction” . . . serving as liaison between embassy and Vietnamese . . . well known but mysterious . . . described as irreplaceable . . . reticent about his own role . . . returned United States 1968 . . . in private life, still does magazine writing on Vietnam and counterinsurgency . . . lives in Alexandria, Va.

  HENRY CABOT LODGE

  Ambassador to South Vietnam, 1963-64 and 1965-67 . . . now, since June, 1970, President Nixon’s special envoy to the Vatican . . . born July 5, 1902, Nahant, Mass. . . . graduated from Harvard, 1924 . . . worked for The Boston Transcript and The New York Herald Tribune . . . two terms in Massachusetts Legislature, 1933-36 . . . defeated James M. Curley for Senate seat, 1936 . . . took leave of absence to serve in Army during World War II . . . won re-election, then resigned from Senate to return to Army duty . . . won Bronze Star, Croix de Guerre, others . . . elected to Senate again, 1946 . . . influential in persuading Eisenhower to seek Presidency and served as his campaign manager . . . lost Senate seat, 1952, to John F. Kennedy . . . appointed U.S. representative at the U.N., 1953 . . . G.O.P. vice-presidential candidate, 1960 . . . U.S. Ambassador, Saigon, August, 1963-July 1964, August, 1965-67 . . . Ambassador at Large, 1967-68 . . . Ambassador to Germany, 1968-69 . . . chief U.S. negotiator, Paris peace talks, January-December, 1969.

  JOHN T. McNAUGHTON

  Mr. McNaughton a close and trusted associate of Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara from 1961 to 1967, and his wife and their younger son died in plane collision near Asheville, N.C., July 19, 1967, a week before he was to be sworn in as Secretary of Navy. Born Nov. 21, 1921, in Bicknell, Ind. . . . graduated from DePauw University, 1942 . . . served four years in Navy during World War II . . . graduated from Harvard Law School, 1948 . . . studied at Oxford as Rhodes scholar, working with European Cooperation Administration in Paris during vacations . . . also wrote for Pekin (111.) Times, owned by father . . . two years as editor of that paper . . . returned to Harvard as assistant professor, 1953, professor, 1956 . . . chosen by Mr. McNamara in 1961 to serve as Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Security Affairs . . . general counsel to Defense Department, 1962 . . . Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, 1964-67, heading Pentagon’s foreign-affairs planning staff.

  NGO DINH NHU

  Headed secret apparatus of Ngo Dinh Diem Government, 1954-63 until his death during overthrow of Diem, his brother, on Nov. 1. Born about 1911 near Hue into distinguished Roman Catholic family . . . one of five brothers in Ngo family . . . was chief archivist; Indochina library, early forties . . . married, 1943 . . . separated from family during war . . . he and wife organized support for return from exile of Ngo Dinh Diem . . . Nhu ran a newspaper, developed philosophy of “personalism”—blend of religions and autocracy—that was said to be pervasive influence on Diem’s rule . . . when Diem assumed power, Nhu became known as an “Oriental Richelieu” . . . controlled secret police . . . he and wife were said to be strong anti-Buddhist influence on Diem . . . Mr. Nhu was quiet, persuasive . . . Nhus prime target for discontent that led to overthrow of Diem regime . . . Mr. Nhu shot to death with brother as they were leaving the country under safe-conduct.

  TRAN LE XUAN NHU

  Sister-in-law of President Diem and, with her husband, in charge of secret police . . . was considered one of most powerful figures in South Vietnam during ’50s and until husband and brother-in-law were killed in November, 1963 . . . has since lived in enforced exile, first in Rome, now in Paris . . . grants occasional interviews for which current rates are $3,000 for first 30 minutes and $2,000 for each succeeding half hour . . . born “about” 46 years ago into wealthy, aristocratic Buddhist family . . . name means “tears of spring” . . . educated at Lycée Marie Curie in Saigon and Albert Sarraut Lycée in Hanoi . . . married Ngo Dinh Nhu at 18 and converted to Catholicism and her husband’s militant anti-Communism . . . when Diem, a bachelor, became President in 1954, she became official first lady . . . also was elected to Constituent Assembly . . . was responsible for legislation abolishing polygamy, concubinage, divorce . . . founded and led Vietnamese Women’s Solidarity Movement, a women’s paramilitary force . . . said after self-immolation of several Buddhist monks: “I would clap hands at seeing another monk barbecue show . . .” was noted for her beauty, imperiousness and fierce intolerance of dissent, nicknamed the “Dragon Lady” by some, compared to Joan of Arc—or Lucretia Borgia—by others . . . after coup lived in villa outside Rome for several years with her four children . . . eldest daughter was killed in automobile crash in 1967.

  JAMES BLAIR SEABORN

  Served as secret envoy to Hanoi for United States Government in 1964 while Canada’s representative on International Control Commission; now Assistant Deputy Minister in Canadian Consumer Affairs Department. Born 1924 . . . received bachelor’s and master’s degrees in political economics from University of Toronto . . . served in Canadian Embassy in The Hague, then as First Secretary at Paris embassy, 1957-59 . . . as Counselor in Moscow embassy, 1959-62 . . . in 1962-64 in Ottawa as the head of Eastern European section of Department of External Affairs . . . Canadian Commissioner, International Commission for Supervision and Control, Vietnam, 1964-65 . . . returned to Department of Ex
ternal Affairs as head of Eastern European section, 1966-67, then as head Far Eastern section, 1967-70 . . . lived in Ottawa.

  WALT WHITMAN ROSTOW

  As President Johnson’s national security adviser, was ardent supporter—some say master planner—of Administration’s Vietnam policy . . . since spring of 1969 has been professor of economics and history at University of Texas . . . born Oct., 1916, graduated from Yale and spent two years at Oxford on Rhodes scholarship, getting Yale doctorate in 1940 . . . began teaching career as economics instructor at Columbia . . . during World War II, served in Office of Strategic Services; post-war, taught history at Oxford and Cambridge and was professor of economic history at M.I.T., 1950-1960 . . . became deputy special assistant to President Kennedy for national security affairs in 1961; counselor to State Department’s Policy Planning Council, 1961-66, President Johnson’s special assistant for national security, 1966-69 . . . now lives in Austin, Tex.

  ULYSSES S. GRANT SHARP JR.

  Commander in chief, Pacific forces, 1964-68; since 1968, business consultant. Born Fort Benton, Mont., April 2, 1906 . . . graduated from United States Naval Academy, 1927 . . . destroyer commander, Casablanca landings and Pacific, World War II . . . fleet planning officer for Inchon invasion, Korean war . . . promoted to admiral, 1963 . . . succeeded Adm. Harry D. Felt as commander in chief, all U.S. forces, Pacific, 1964 . . . urged U.S. to “increase our pressures” on North Vietnam, 1967 . . . said bombing limitation “would just prolong the war,” 1968 . . . retired July, 1968 . . . succeeded by Adm. John S. McCain . . . awarded two Silver Stars, two Bronze Stars among others . . . a Rotarian, eager golfer . . . lives in San Diego.