Nguyễn Văn Thiệu

Nguyễn Văn Thiệu

1923–2001 → Died in exile

General who was president of South Vietnam from 1967 to 1975, opposed the Paris Peace Accords and resigned days before the fall of Saigon

Nguyễn Văn Thiệu headed South Vietnam’s military regime from 1965 and became president in 1967, serving until 1975. He resigned on 21 April 1975, denounced the United States for betraying South Vietnam, and left the country.

Born in Phan Rang, he joined the Viet Minh in 1945 but left after a year for the army of the State of Vietnam. He joined the November 1963 coup against Diệm, was made a general and in 1965 became the junta’s nominal head of state. He won the presidency in a rigged election in 1967 and was re-elected unopposed in 1971 after rivals were barred or withdrew. He opposed the 1973 Paris Peace Accords but signed them. On 21 April 1975 he resigned, declaring that the United States had betrayed South Vietnam, and left for Taiwan; he later lived near Boston and died in 2001.