United States Mission to the Republic of Vietnam

Once the Republic of Vietnam was formed, the United States resident leadership was called the United States Mission to the Republic of Vietnam. Legally, although not always in political reality, it was headed by the Ambassador. The senior U.S. military officer, however, sometimes had comparable power.

The Central Intelligence Agency station chief also was extremely influential. At a somewhat lower level of power, but still important, were the public affairs and nonmilitary aid chiefs, respectively, from the United States Information Agency and Agency for International Development.

Some individuals, with varying titles and authority, had unusual amounts of power, such as Robert Komer, officially Deputy Ambassador with responsibility for Revolutionary Development, but who also insisted on having the status of a full general.

Ambassadors

There were various ambassadors while Vietnam was a French proto-state, but the first true Ambassador at a national level was G. Frederick Reinhardt, accredited when the RVN became a nation. He was succeeded by Elbridge Dubrow and Frederick Nolting Jr.. During their terms, Ngo Dinh Diem was President of South Vietnam.

Henry Cabot Lodge was ambassador during the Buddhist crisis and military coup of 1963, which ended with the overthrow and killing of Diem, followed by a series of military governments. Maxwell Taylor replaced him, but Lodge returned when Taylor became Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Lodge and Taylor were the chiefs of mission during the major U.S. ground combat phase. Ellsworth Bunker presided over Vietnamization.

Graham Martin left just before the fall of the RVN.

Notable Deputy Ambassadors

• Robert Komer

Military Commanders

Before the commitment of U.S. combat trops, the senior officer was the commander of the Military Assistance Advisory Group.

The U.S. combat headquarters, Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MAC-V), was under generals William Westmoreland and Creighton Abrams.

CIA station chiefs

In 1962-1963, the station was under John Richardson. Richardson had developed an ability few had: communicating with Ngo Dinh Dhu. Lodge insisted Richardson be replaced, according to Neil Sheehan, not because he performed badly but to signal the U.S. rejection of Ngo.

• William Colby
• Lewis J. Lapham
• Thomas Polgar

Theodore Shackley held the job in 1968 through 1972. Tom Polgar was the last chief; Colby was then Director of Central Intelligence.