With Friends Like Us...

THE WHITE HOUSE

MEMORANDUM OF CONVERSATION

Monday, April 14, 1975 / 3:30 p.m.

PARTICIPANTS:

The President

Senate Foreign Relations Committee (of which Senator Biden was present)

Dr. Henry A. Kissinger, Secretary of State and Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs

Dr. James R. Schlesinger, Secretary of Defense

Lieutenant General Brent Scowcroft, Deputy Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs

With Friends Like Us…

The United States has a long history of forming alliances and treaties with countries around the world, often with the promise of providing support and protection. However, there have been instances where the U.S. has failed to uphold these commitments, leading to dire consequences for the people of those nations. One notable example is the fall of South Vietnam in 1975.

As the North Vietnamese forces advanced, the U.S. had pledged to support its South Vietnamese allies. However, the U.S. ultimately failed to provide the necessary military assistance, leading to the collapse of the South Vietnamese government. This failure resulted in the loss of countless lives, with many South Vietnamese facing violence, oppression, and the need to flee their homeland as refugees.

It is worth noting that then-Senator Joe Biden was present in a meeting discussing the deteriorating situation in Vietnam in 1975. The U.S. government's decision to withdraw support, despite its promises, had far-reaching consequences for the people of South Vietnam and the region as a whole.

Each time the United States fails to honor its commitments to its allies, it erodes the trust and credibility that are essential for maintaining strong international relationships. When people in allied nations suffer from violence, oppression, and human rights abuses due to a lack of U.S. support, it damages the reputation of the United States on the global stage. This loss of international clout can have long-lasting effects on the ability of the U.S. to form future alliances and exert influence in international affairs.