Connect the Dots

Event

The 1961 decision to defoliate Vietnam

On 30 November 1961 President Kennedy approved a limited program of defoliant operations in South Vietnam.

6 links, 6 backed by primary records

Play the story Explore connections

Dates
30 Nov 1961

Connections 6

interventions

  • Roswell Gilpatric 1961 sent the Defense Department’s memorandum to the President Primary record 1
  • Dean Rusk 24 Nov 1961 recommended approval to President Kennedy Primary record 1

involved

  • John F. Kennedy approved the program on 30 November 1961 Primary record 2
  • Dean Rusk as Secretary of State, recommended approval on 24 November 1961 Primary record 1
  • Roswell Gilpatric as Deputy Secretary of Defense, sent the Defense Department memorandum Rusk endorsed Primary record 1

led to

Timeline 3 dates
  1. 1961 Roswell Gilpatric intervened in The 1961 decision to defoliate Vietnam
  2. 24 Nov 1961 Dean Rusk intervened in The 1961 decision to defoliate Vietnam
  3. 30 Nov 1961 The 1961 decision to defoliate Vietnam
Proof 3 sources
  1. Memorandum From the Secretary of State to the President, 24 November 1961 (Foreign Relations of the United States, 1961–1963, Volume I, Vietnam, 1961, Document 275), Office of the Historian, U.S. Department of State, 24 Nov 1961. Primary record
    I concur with the attached memorandum from Mr. Gilpatric on the foregoing subject.
    I recommend that you approve the undertaking of such operations
    We must also stay away from the term ‘chemical warfare’ and any connection with the Chemical Corps, and rather talk about ‘weed killers’.
  2. Operation Ranch Hand: The Air Force and Herbicides in Southeast Asia, 1961-1971, Office of Air Force History, U.S. Air Force, 1982. Primary record
    President Kennedy accepted the joint recommendation of the Departments of State and Defense on November 30, 1961.
    At last, in November 1961, President Kennedy approved the use of herbicides, but only as a limited experiment requiring South Vietnamese participation and the mission-by-mission approval of the United States Embassy, the Military Assistance Command Vietnam, and South Vietnam's government.
  3. In re Agent Orange Product Liability Litigation, 597 F. Supp. 740 (E.D.N.Y. 1984), MDL No. 381, decided 25 September 1984, U.S. District Court, Eastern District of New York (Chief Judge Jack B. Weinstein), 25 Sep 1984. Primary record Archived copy
    Use of herbicides in Vietnam began as early as 1961 at the request of the South Vietnamese government.
Page history 1 change
  1. Add 55 stories, each checked against its sourcesAlibek96e92fe6

Something wrong or missing? Tell us, with a source, or edit this page.