Turning Points: The Role of the State Department in Vietnam (19451975) [Hardcover]

...a valuable addition to Vietnam War historiography.  The VVA VeteranTen years after the end of the American involvement in the Vietnam War, a career Foreign Service officer, Thomas J. Corcoran, set down in writing his thoughts on the history of US State Department policy during Americas involvement with South Vietnam. Like many Americans of his generation, he was perplexed by the failure of America to achieve its goals in South Vietnam. As an ambassador and with over 30 years of diplomatic experiencebeginning in 1948 when he was assigned to Hanoi and involving other postings in Southeast Asiahe brought to his analysis a long and rich personal experience with events in Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam.The result is a thoughtful, objective and well-researched study that chronicles the key policy decisions made by the US State Department throughout the entire period from 1945 to 1975; decisions that ultimately led to the first war lost by the United States. In his extensive study, Corcoran does an excellent job of exposing many of the myths and falsehoods found in orthodox histories of U.S. involvement in Vietnam.A new appraisal of how key policy decisions made by the United States led to the loss of the Vietnam War.A valuable insight into the views of a career American diplomat with many years of working in Southeast Asia.Details how the U.S. State Department attempted, and failed, to save South Vietnam from North Vietnamese aggression and the powerful domestic political influences that ultimately led to Americas defeat.A cautionary tale worthy of careful consideration by anyone interested in U.S. foreign policy during the Vietnam War. ...a valuable addition to Vietnam War historiography. Introduction by Andrew R. Finlayson (COL, USMC, Ret)About the AuthorPart I. The Beginnings: 1945-1954Part II. Beginnings of United States Involvement (19551963)Part III. Deepening U.S. Involvement (19641968)Part IV. Conclusion of U.S. Involvement (19681975)NotesBibliographyUS