August 20

This Day in History

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Lead Story
First around-the-world telegram sent, 66 years before Voyager II launch, 1911
American Revolution
Battle of Fallen Timbers, 1794
Automotive
Record-setting tow-truck parade held in Washington State, 2004
Civil War
Horace Greeley's "The Prayer of Twenty Millions" is published, 1862
Cold War
Soviet Union intervenes in Czechoslovakia, 1968
Crime
The Menendez brothers murder their parents, 1989
Disaster
Trains collide and explode in India, 1995
General Interest
Trotsky assassinated in Mexico, 1940
Soviets Invade Czechoslovakia, 1968
Viking 1 launched to Mars, 1975
U.S. Marines deployed to Lebanon, 1982
Hollywood
Valley of the Dolls author Jacqueline Susann born, 1918
Literary
Jacqueline Susann born, 1921
Music
"Best of My Love," by the Emotions, hits the top of the U.S. pop charts, 1977
Old West
Corps of Discovery suffers its only death, 1804
Presidential
Benjamin Harrison is born, 1833
Sports
Professional football is born, 1920
Vietnam War
United States decides to support Diem, 1954
Minh and Ky withdraw from presidential race, 1971
Military aid to Saigon slashed, 1974
World War I
German artist unveils monument honoring soldiers killed in World War I, 1932
World War II
Brits launch Operation Wallace and aid French Resistance, 1944

Vietnam War

Aug 20, 1954:

United States decides to support Diem

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President Eisenhower approves a National Security Council paper titled "Review of U.S. Policy in the Far East." This paper supported Secretary of State Dulles' view that the United States should support Diem, while encouraging him to broaden his government and establish more democratic institutions. Ultimately, however, Diem would refuse to make any meaningful concessions or institute any significant new reforms and U.S. support was withdrawn. Diem was subsequently assassinated during a coup by opposition generals on November 2, 1963.

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This Week in History, Aug 20 - Aug 26

Aug 20, 1954
United States decides to support Diem
Aug 20, 1971
Minh and Ky withdraw from presidential race
Aug 20, 1974
Military aid to Saigon slashed
Aug 21, 1963
Nhu's Special Forces attack the Buddhists
Aug 21, 1965
U.S. pilots given green light to go after anti-aircraft missiles in the North
Aug 21, 1969
Nixon meets with South Korean President
Aug 21, 1971
Antiwar protestors raid draft offices
Aug 22, 1962
Kennedy reports stalemate in Vietnam
Aug 22, 1967
Graduated bombing policy condemned
Aug 22, 1968
VC repudiates Johnson's peace overture
Aug 22, 1972
Demonstrators disrupt Republican National Convention in Miami Beach
Aug 23, 1966
U.S. cargo ship strikes a mine near Saigon
Aug 23, 1968
Communist forces renew offensive
Aug 24, 1963
Washington changes policy on support for President Diem
Aug 24, 1969
U.S. unit refuses commander's order
Aug 24, 1970
B-52s conduct heavy raids along the DMZ
Aug 25, 1967
McNamara concedes that bombing is less than effective
Aug 25, 1971
173rd Airborne Brigade departs Vietnam
Aug 26, 1964
Johnson receives Democratic nomination for president
Aug 26, 1967
Major George E. Day shot down over North Vietnam
Aug 26, 1968
Democratic National Convention opens in Chicago

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