Vietnam War

1954-1975

The Vietnam War was a civil war in that country, which had been divided into North and South regions following the defeat of the French in 1954.

US Presidents during the US involvement there were:
 

1. Dwight Eisenhower (sent advisors 1955-61)
2. John F. Kennedy (increased involvement of CIA and US ambassadors)
3. Lyndon Johnson (after Tonkin Gulf incident, sent US combat troops 1965)
4. Richard Nixon (negotiated treaty 1973, withdrew troops, allowing collapse of the South)

John F. Kennedy increased U.S. aid to South Vietnam in 1961, though he stopped short of committing to a large-scale military intervention. By 1962, the U.S. military presence in South Vietnam had reached some 9,000 troops, compared with fewer than 800 during the 1950s. United States under the leadership of Lyndon B. Johnson sent combat forces into Vietnam in 1965.  President Richard M. Nixon ordered the withdrawal of U.S. forces in January of 1973.