Interview with Edward Geary Lansdale, 1979 [Part 4 of 5]

Item Information

Title:
Interview with Edward Geary Lansdale, 1979 [Part 4 of 5]
Description:
General Edward Geary Lansdale was an advisor to French forces on special counter-guerrilla operations against the Viet Minh. From 1954 to 1957 he was in Saigon and served as an advisor to the American-backed government of South Vietnam. Lansdale recalls his experience fighting communist groups in the Philippines and credits that success for his being called to duty for Vietnam. Lansdale discusses the differences between fighting in the Philippines and Vietnam. He recalls that the Vietnamese had a strong distrust for foreigners and this resulted in a distrust of the government. However, Lansdale contends that it was not a mistake to support the French in Vietnam during 1950 as the French had been our allies in World War II and the United States had close cultural and economic ties with France. Lansdale also recalls his time as a special advisor to Ngo Dinh Diem. Lansdale explains at length the problems Ngo Dinh Diem had, such as being steeped in a Vietnamese Mandarin tradition that created his disengagement with the people and their needs. Lansdale also gives his opinion on Madame Nhu as a tragic figure who was extremely misunderstood.
Creator:
Ellison, Richard
Interviewer:
Karnow, Stanley
Interviewee:
Lansdale, Edward Geary, 1908-1987
Date:
January 31, 1979
Format:
Film/Video
Location:
WGBH
Collection (local):
WGBH Open Vault
Series:
Vietnam: A Television History
Subjects:
Vietnam--Politics and government
Propaganda, Communist
Vietnam--History--1945-1975
United States--Politics and government
Vietnam (Republic)
Presidents--Vietnam (Democratic Republic)
Counterinsurgency
United States. Military Assistance Advisory Group, Vietnam
Vietnam (Democratic Republic)
Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
United States--History--1945-
Lansdale, Edward Geary, 1908-1987
Ngo, Dinh Diem, 1901-1963
Places:
Virginia > Fairfax (county) > McLean
Extent:
00:43:27:12
Link to Item:
https://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_3FED4AF684924377B4303B4A22F22B6B
Terms of Use:
No materials may be re-used without references to appearance releases and WGBH/UMass Boston contract. 2) It is the liability of a production to investigate and re-clear all rights before re-use in any project. Rights Holder: WGBH Educational Foundation
Contact host institution for more information.
Publisher:
WGBH Educational Foundation
Identifier:
V_3FED4AF684924377B4303B4A22F22B6B