Eisenhower, the Catalyst

Though Eisenhower is often more associated with World War II or Korea, his involvement in
Vietnam, or Indochina it was called at the time, was a catalyst for the events to come in the next 20 of
American involvement. He was a president from 1953 to 1961, serving a total of two four year terms.
One year into his first term in 1954, he stated that he had no intention of getting involved in the First
Indochina War behind France, citing, I cannot conceive of a greater tragedy for America than to get
heavily involved now in an all-out war in any of those regions. However, by April, he decided to provide
military aid to France, supplying arms and vehicles. In addition, he backed up support for Ngo Dinh
Diem. This marks the beginning of Americas involvement in Vietnam, and is the catalyst dfor what
would happen in the war for the next 20 years.