The Kennedy administration was responsible for the overthrow of the
             Diem regime and Diem's assasination.The U.S. did not have a problem with
             Diem, the real problem was with Diem's brother Nhu.Nhu was responsible
             for many protests by Bhuddist monks where Mrs. Nhu would call the monks
             who set themselves on fire in protest "barbecues." The Kennedy
             administration had a lot to do with the overthrow of the regime although
             they did not have much to do with Diem's assasination.
             The Kennedy administration was the main influence in overthrowing
             the Diem regime.The State Department wanted to give Diem a chance to rid
             himself of Nhu and replace him with the best military and political
             personalities available. Ambassador Lodge said that the possibility of Diem
             meeting are demands are virtually nil. The only way to get rid of Nhu is to get rid of the
             entire Diem regime. In a cablegram from Ambassador Lodge to Secretary Rusk, Lodge
             said; "We are launched on a course from which there is no turning back: the overthrow of
             the Diem government." Lodge also stated that there is no turning back because the U.S. is
             publicly committed to the end of the Diem regime. In a cablegram transmitted from
             President Kennedy to Ambassador Lodge, Kennedy said that the U.S. should not actively
             help the coup, but be ready to make good relations with the group that overthrows the
             Diem regime. In a later cablegram from the whitehouse they said that the U.S. does not
             wish to leave an impression that they are opposed to a new regime. When the U.S. says
             this they are basically telling the coup that they are backing them.
             Because of the Kennedy administrations responsibility in the
             overthrow of the Diem regime it also leads to the eventual assasination of
             Diem.The U.S. was not as involved with his assasination as they were with
             the overthrow of Diem's regime. Diem was told by Ambassador Lodge that i...