Nguyen Cao Ky
Nguyen Cao Ky (Nguyễn Cao Kỳ) (born
1930) is a
Vietnamese politician, who served as
Prime Minister of
South Vietnam from
1965 to
1967, and then as
Vice President until his retirement from politics in
1971.
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Nguyen Cao Ky |
A career soldier who eventually became commander of the South Vietnamese
Air force, Ky had little political experience or ambition. Under the regime of
Duong Van Minh, whose coup Ky had supported, he was made an
air marshal/general.
In
1965 Ky was appointed
Prime Minister by a special joint meeting of military leaders following the voluntary resignation of civilian President
Phan Khac Suu and Prime Minister
Phan Huy Quat. South Vietnam's system of government shifted to that of a strong
prime minister, with General
Nguyen Van Thieu, becoming a figurehead
president. Ky proved to be a strong leader and was able to unite the military, thus ending the cycle of
coups that plagued South Vietnam following the
CIA led murder of President
Ngo Dinh Diem.
Ky's primary agenda while in power was to eliminate the massive
corruption that had existed at all levels of Vietnamese society, especially government and the military. He sanctioned the execution of several high profile business leaders accused of corruption. During his reign, he made many foreign
state visits to bolster South Vietnam's legitimacy as a sovereign nation. Ky's greatest struggle came in
1966, when a
Buddhist Uprising and a military revolt in the government of
Da Nang threatened to escalate into widespread chaos.
The country's first, and debatably only, free Presidential elections was held in
1967 . The military government council, which Ky chaired, intended to only endorse one candidate for the presidency. Ky intended to run, but at the last minute changed his mind and backed Thieu, a move he now calls "the biggest mistake of my life." Thieu nominated Ky as his
running mate and the two were elected with 38% of the vote.
1967-1971 he served as
Vice President to President Nguyen Van Thieu, although behind the scenes there was a fierce rivalry between the two men that left Ky marginalized. He considered running against Thieu when he ran for re-election in 1971, but instead retired from politics, convinced that the Thieu-dominated administration would never allow anything close to a fair election.
Ky's withdrawal from the race left Thieu running unopposed. According to some sources, the "sham election" of 1971 was the main reason why many - including U.S. Secretary of State
Henry Kissinger - lost any remaining illusions that credible democratic institutions could be established in South Vietnam.
For three years Ky retired from politics and lived on a farm
commune in the countryside. He returned as a military commander in
1975 as the military forces of Communist
North Vietnam closed in on the South. Many military leaders hoped he would be re-appointed as Prime Minister in this time of crisis, but President Thieu, still distrustful of Ky, refused. In his autobiographies,
How We Lost the Vietnam War and
Buddha's Child: My Fight to Save Vietnam, Ky recounted his last-minute attempts at bolstering the troops and establishing an effective defense. He also had support from the French government, which was looking to reenter Vietnam and supplant the US. Ultimately he was unsuccessful.
After the defeat of South Vietnam by
North Vietnam in 1975, Ky fled to the
United States, and settled in
California where he ran a
grocery store.
He made headlines in
2004 by being the first South Vietnamese leader to visit
Vietnam since the war. He returned there again in early 2005, this time accompanied by his current wife. They attended a formal reception given by Vietnam's leaders to representatives of overseas Vietnamese and announced his decision to move back to Vietnam to live permanently. Ky also declared he would try to help bring more investments to Vietnam.
Ky was well-known for his flamboyant and colorful personality and dress during his younger days. His trademark fashion accessory was a purple scarf (while he was in uniform in the 1960's and 70's) and he was rarely seen without a cigarette. A purported "ladies man," Ky was married three times and fathered at least six children.
Ky's daughter,
Nguyen Cao Ky Duyen, is a well-known personality in the overseas Vietnamese entertainment industry (usually in the role of MC for musical programs).
* "Americans are big boys. You can talk them into almost anything. Just sit with them for half an hour over a bottle of whiskey and be a nice guy."
*
VNAF The South Vietnamese Air Force - Không Quân Việt Nam Cộng Hòa*
Vietnam welcomes former enemy*
Vietnam's wartime 'cowboy' softens his act*
Speech by General Nguyen Cao Ky*
"Buddha's Child My Fight to Save Vietnam" by General Nguyen Cao Ky*
Photos of General Nguyen Cao Ky during the Vietnam War*
Book Review "Buddha's Child: My Fight to Save Vietnam" by the
Washington Post
