Radio Hanoi announces the death of Ho Chi Minh, proclaiming that the National Liberation Front will halt military operations in the South for three days, September 8-11, in mourning for Ho. He had been the spiritual leader of the communists in Vietnam since the earliest days of the struggle against the French and, later, the United States and its ally in Saigon. Chinese Premier Chou En-Lai and a delegation from China held talks with First Secretary Le Duan and other members of the North Vietnamese Politburo. The Chinese leaders assured the North Vietnamese of their continued support in the war against the United States. This support was absolutely essential if the North Vietnamese wished to continue the war. Many in the United States hoped the death of Ho Chi Minh would provide a new opportunity to achieve a negotiated settlement to the war in Vietnam, but this did not materialize.
Also on This Day
- Lead Story
- Geronimo surrenders, 1886
- American Revolution
- Bravery of Swamp Fox wins recruits at Blue Savannah, 1780
- Automotive
- Edsel arrives in showrooms at last, 1957
- Civil War
- Confederate cavalry leader John Hunt Morgan is killed, 1864
- Cold War
- Little Rock becomes a Cold War hotspot, 1957
- Crime
- Colombian guerrilla organization attacks military base, 1996
- Disaster
- Tsunami pounds Japanese islands, 1596
- General Interest
- Western Roman Empire falls, 476
- Arkansas troops prevent desegregation, 1957
- Hollywood
- Kelly Clarkson wins first American Idol, 2002
- Literary
- Historical novelist Mary Renault is born, 1905
- Music
- "Valley Girl," becomes a top-40 hit for Frank and Moon Unit Zappa, 1982
- Old West
- The last American Indian warrior surrenders, 1886
- Presidential
- President Truman makes first transcontinental television broadcast, 1951
- Sports
- Spitz wins 7th gold medal, 1972
- Vietnam War
- Marines in heavy fighting, 1967
- Radio Hanoi announces the death of Ho Chi Minh, 1969
- World War I
- American troops land at Archangel , 1918
- World War II
- The USS Greer is fired upon, 1940
- Japanese surrender on Wake Island, 1945
Radio Hanoi announces the death of Ho Chi Minh
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This Week in History, Sep 4 - Sep 10
- Sep 04, 1967
- Marines in heavy fighting
- Sep 04, 1969
- Radio Hanoi announces the death of Ho Chi Minh
- Sep 05, 1969
- Calley charged for My Lai massacre
- Sep 05, 1970
- U.S. forces launch last major American operation of the war
- Sep 06, 1969
- Ho Chi Minh to be succeeded by committee
- Sep 06, 1972
- Thieu abolishes popular elections
- Sep 07, 1965
- Marines launch Operation Piranha
- Sep 07, 1967
- McNamara Line announced
- Sep 08, 1954
- SEATO established
- Sep 08, 1968
- ARVN general killed
- Sep 09, 1967
- Hackney receives Medal of Honor
- Sep 09, 1969
- Ho Chi Minh buried in Hanoi
- Sep 09, 1972
- DeBellevue becomes leading American Ace
- Sep 10, 1963
- President Kennedy gets mixed signals
- Sep 10, 1964
- President Johnson sends signal to both North and South Vietnamese
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