20. Took Its Time

President Eisenhower contemplated aiding the French in Vietnam, even considering the drastic measure of nuclear weapons. However, he stipulated that American intervention would be contingent upon British participation, which was not forthcoming.

Consequently, the U.S. initially restricted involvement to CIA operatives engaging in psychological warfare. The Navy played a humanitarian role, evacuating refugees fleeing the communist north. These modest beginnings underscore the complex geopolitical landscape preceding U.S. escalation in Vietnam.