America in Vietnam and The Domino Theory
The theory most discussed during the Vietnam era seems to have beenthe so-called domino theory. This theory held that if one small nationfell to Communism, then so would its neighbors. The theory was alinchpin of high-level government discussions as early as 1954, whenSecretary of State John Foster Dulles used it in a press conference on May11 of that year. It was still apparently thought to be a cogent argumentwhen President John F. Kennedy spoke about Cuba to the American Society ofNewspaper Editors on April 20, 1061. The theory lent support to thearguments, therefore, of both Republicans and Democrats. There is,moreover, some reason to believe that the theory is in fact a somewhatadequate explanation of events; its obverse-turning Communist states intostates with representative governments, happened all over eastern Europe In terms of Southeast Asia, however, the possibility of governmentsfalling like dominoes was sufficient excuse for U.S intervention. In hisMay 11, 1954 press conference, Secretary Dulles made clear that while nosingle one of the at-risk nations-Vietnam, Laos or Cambodia-could aloneinitiate the fall of Southeast Asia, neither wa
Vietnam had already successfully defeatedthe French: That would seem to suggest the people had some idea that theydesired independence enough to fight for it. especially since it was not a concept thesoutheast Asians had ever even experienced; their histories are filled withroyalty and warlords, not Magna Cartas and Founding Fathers. Kennedy was trying to dig out of thequagmire of the failed Bay of Pigs invasion of Cuba, the domino theory hadbeen the rule of thumb for U. doctrine was going to continueto support a stand against creeping Communism, whatever the cost. By the time President John F. Had the Matthews' opinion been current in the1950s and 1960s, perhaps Eisenhower would have understood that, without anall-consuming ideology similar to that of the Communists, it was unlikelythat democracy would win. Secretary of State Christian Herterwas apparently the voice of reason, suggesting that if the U. Itwas, in almost every sense (except that the U. Kennedy ended his speech by saying: . democratic men ofgood will (although this is not to say those men do not commit excesses andsometimes go politically or humanely astray), and proven wrong Kennedy'sconclusion.
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Acceptance Essays
