Vietnam and November 22, 1963

JFK was assassinated on November 22, 1963. At that time, there were 16,000 American troops in Vietnam. This number would increase rapidly in the years following JFK’s death, as the United States became more deeply involved in the Vietnam War.

JFK was a very controversial president, and his decisions regarding the Vietnam War were no exception. Some people believe that he didn’t do enough to support the war effort, while others think that he should have pulled out of Vietnam altogether.

JFK’s assassination marked a turning point

JFK’s assassination marked a turning point in the Vietnam War, as Lyndon Johnson became president and escalated American involvement in the conflict.

It’s impossible to know for sure what JFK would have done if he had lived, but it’s clear that his death had a significant impact on the course of the Vietnam War. 16,000 American troops were in Vietnam at the time of JFK’s death.

This number would increase rapidly in the years following JFK’s death, as the United States became more deeply involved in the Vietnam War.

It’s impossible to know for sure what JFK would have done if he had lived, but it’s clear that his death had a significant impact on the course of this devastating conflict.

Vintage Voices: What Did They Say?

JFK speaks on the war in 1961

“the people of Vietnam have a right to determine their own destiny”

President John F. Kennedy

“The president, as you know, has been briefed today in some detail on the situation which obtains in Vietnam. I am not going to talk about that today except to say this: that the people of Vietnam have a right to determine their own destiny and we should do everything within our power to help them achieve that goal.”

YouTube Rewind: Watch Now

Listen into JFK history

President Kennedy records a personal memo about the death of South Vietnam President Ngo Dinh Diem, only to be interrupted by his son, John F. Kennedy, Jr. The light tone he strikes with his son stands in stark contrast to his words about the overthrow of Diem and his brother, which clearly upset him.