WASHINGTON -- MAR 25: (9:22-10:25 a.m.) President Gerald R. Ford talks to U.S. Ambassador to South Vietnam Graham Martin, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Frederick Weyand, and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in the Oval Office the White House. March 25, 1975. President Ford dispatched Gen. Weyand on a mission to Vietnam to see if anything could be done to help the South Vietnamese government stem the tide of the advancing North Vietnamese Communists. Ambassador Martin, who was in the states for a medical problem, would return to Saigon with Weyand. (Photo by David Hume Kennerly/Getty Images).
The president told Gen. Weyand, “Fred, you are going with the ambassador. This is one of the most significant missions you ever had. You are not going over there to lose, but to be tough and see what we can do.” The president continued, “We want your recommendation for the things which can be tough and shocking to the North. I regret I don’t have the authority to do some of the things President Nixon could do.” (These quotes from notes taken in the meeting that were highly classified at the time). Secretary Kissinger asked, “What is the real situation and why? What can be done?” Weyand said, “We will bring back a general appraisal and give them a shot in the arm.”
Center for Creative Photography, The University of Arizona: David Hume Kennerly Archive.
In early 1971 United Press International assigned me to their Saigon bureau to replace photographer Kent Potter who was rotating out. On Feb. 10, 1971, Potter and three other photographers perished when their chopper was shot down over Laos during the Lam Son 719 operation. Larry Burrows of Life, Henri Huet of the AP, and Keisaburo Shimamoto of Newsweek were among those who died. I don’t know any of those great photographers, but Burrows was a personal hero, and his photos inspired my desire to cover the war. A few weeks later, and shortly after I turned 24, I was on a plane bound for Saigon. Vietnam became part of my DNA, and everything that has happened to me since has been informed by that experience. I was 24, and my first year as a combat photographer was so intense, and there were so many close calls, I never figured to see 25. When I celebrated that birthday in Saigon, I felt that every one after was a bonus. So far that windfall has added up to an extra 43 years! I have tried to use them well.
WASHINGTON — MAR 16: Deputy National Security Advisor Gen. Brent Scowcroft in his White House office reacts to the news that the South Vietnamese town of Ban Me Thuot has fallen to the North Vietnamese, March 16, 1975, Washington D.C. Ban Me Thout was a decisive battle of the Vietnam War and led to the complete destruction of South Vietnam’s II Corps Tactical Zone and exposed the incredible weaknesses in the South Vietnamese Army. This was the beginning of the end of South Vietnam. The defeat at Ban Me Thuot and the disastrous evacuation from the Central Highlands came about as a result of two major mistakes. In the days leading up to the assault, the S. Vietnamese high command ignored intelligence which showed the presence of several North Vietnamese combat divisions around the district, and then President Nguyen Van Thieu’s strategy to withdraw from the Central Highlands was poorly planned and implemented, resulting in a civilian catastrophe.
WASHINGTON — MAR 25: (9:22-10:25 a.m.) President Gerald R. Ford talks to U.S. Ambassador to South Vietnam Graham Martin, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Frederick Weyand, and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in the Oval Office the White House. March 25, 1975. President Ford dispatched Gen. Weyand on a mission to Vietnam to see if anything could be done to help the South Vietnamese government stem the tide of the advancing North Vietnamese Communists. Ambassador Martin, who was in the states for a medical problem, would return to Saigon with Weyand.
WASHINGTON — MAR 25: (9:22-10:25 a.m.) President Gerald R. Ford walks to the door with (L-R) Deputy National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft, U.S. Ambassador to South Vietnam Graham Martin, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Frederick Weyand, and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in the Oval Office the White House. March 25, 1975. President Ford dispatched Gen. Weyand on a mission to Vietnam to see if anything could be done to halt the advancing North Vietnamese Communists. Amb. Martin would fly with him.
WASHINGTON — MAR 25: (10:30 a.m.) President Gerald R. Ford after meeting with Deputy National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft, U.S. Ambassador to South Vietnam Graham Martin, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Frederick Weyand, Ford, and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in the Oval Office the White House. March 25, 1975. President Ford dispatched Gen. Weyand and Amb. Martin on a mission to Vietnam to see if anything could be done to stop the advancing North Vietnamese Communists.
OVER THE PACIFIC — MAR 26: U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Frederick Weyand looks at a map of Vietnam as he heads to that war torn country on a special mission for the President of the United States aboard a U.S. Air Force C-141, March 26, 1975.
SAIGON — MAR 27: U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Frederick Weyand talks to U.S. Ambassador Graham Martin shortly before landing in Saigon aboard a U.S. Air Force C-5A. Weyand was on a special mission for President Gerald R. Ford to give recommendations on how to save S. Vietnam from the advancing North Vietnamese Army. Saigon, Vietnam, March 27, 1975.
SAIGON — MAR 27: A pensive U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam Graham Martin shortly before landing in Saigon aboard a U.S. Air Force C-5A. In the background is Army Chief of Staff Gen. Frederick Weyand. Saigon, Vietnam, March 27, 1975.
Nha Trang — March 29: Frightened civilians flee the advancing Communist forces, Nha Trang, South Vietnam, March 29, 1975.
CAM RANH BAY — MAR 30: The Pioneer Commander, a U.S. ship carries thousands of Vietnamese soldiers who had hijacked the vessel from Da Nang in front of the advancing Communists, pulls into Cam Ranh Bay, South Vietnam, March 30, 1975. This photo was taken from a U.S. helicopter by President Gerald R. Ford’s official White House photographer David Hume Kennerly who was on a mission from the president to document the deteriorating situation, and to report back directly to him with his account. The frustrated fleeing troops fired on Kennerly’s chopper, but neither he or the U.S. Consul General Montcrieff Spear who was also aboard were hit.
CAM RANH BAY — MAR 30: U.S. Consul Al Francis waves from a tugboat after escaping from Da Nang in front of the advancing Communists, March 30, 1975, Cam Ranh Bay, South Vietnam. Francis was the U.S. Consul to DaNang, and boarded a ship there that had been taken over by fleeing S. Vietnamese soldiers and headed south to Cam Ranh Bay where he made it off to the smaller vessel.
PHNOM PENH — MAR 31: A wounded Cambodian woman is comforted by her husband in a hospital, and later died in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, March 31, 1975. The city was under attack by the Khmer Rouge, who took over the capital less than three weeks later.
PHNOM PENH — MAR 31: A little Cambodian refugee girl with a dog tag as a trinket in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, March 31, 1975. Cambodia was taken over by the Khmer Rouge a few weeks later, and her fate is unknown. This picture won a first prize in the 1976 World Press Photo contest.
PHNOM PENH — MAR 31: A Cambodian refugee child in a hospital, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, March 29, 1975. Cambodia was taken over by the Khmer Rouge a few weeks later, and her fate is unknown.
SAIGON — APR 3: South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu in his office at the Presidential Palace in Saigon, South Vietnam, April 3, 1975. Thieu was waiting for a meeting with U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Fredrick Weyand and U.S. Ambassador to South Vietnam Graham Martin who were there on orders from U.S. President Gerald R. Ford to see if anything could be done to slow down or halt the advancing North Vietnamese Communists.
SAIGON — APR 3: South Vietnamese President Ngyen Van Thieu in his office at the Presidential Palace in Saigon, South Vietnam, April 3, 1975 meets with U.S. Army Chief of Staff Gen. Fredrick Weyand and U.S. Ambassador to South Vietnam Graham Martin who were there on orders from U.S. President Gerald R. Ford to see if anything could be done to stop a Communist takeover.
PALM SPRINGS — APR 5: U.S. President Gerald R. Ford meets with Army Chief of Staff Gen. Frederick Weyand after his return from a fact finding mission to South Vietnam that was being attacked by the advancing North Vietnamese army. Weyand briefed the president on his trip in Palm Springs, California, April 5, 1975.
PALM SPRINGS — APR 5: 2:57-4:54 PM. President Gerald R. Ford meets with (L-R) Erich F. von Marbod, Comptroller and logistics expert, Department of Defense, Theodore G. Shackley, Chief, East Asia Division, Central Intelligence Agency, George A. Carver, Jr., Deputy to the Director of Central Intelligence for National Intelligence Officers, CIA, Army Chief of Staff Gen. Frederick Weyand, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger. Weyand led a group of CIA and Defense Department officials to Saigon to assess the deteriorating situation there, and reported back to the President in Palm Springs, California, April 5, 1975.
SAN FRANCISCO — APR 5: President Gerald R. Ford carries one of the first children evacuated from Vietnam during Operation Babylift at San Francisco Airport. The president was taking the child from a chartered Pan Am flight, San Francisco, California, April 5, 1975.Operation Babylift was the mass evacuation of children ordered by President Ford from South Vietnam to the United States and other countries at the end of the Vietnam War on April 3-26, 1975. By the final flight out of South Vietnam, over 3,300 infants and children had been evacuated. Along with Operation New Life, over 110,000 refugees were evacuated from South Vietnam at the end of the Vietnam War. Thousands of children were airlifted from Vietnam and adopted by families around the world.
SAN FRANCISCO — APR 5: President Gerald R. Ford on a bus with one of the first children evacuated from Vietnam during Operation Babylift, San Francisco Airport, April 5, 1975.Operation Babylift was the mass evacuation of children ordered by President Ford from South Vietnam to the United States and other countries at the request of the Vietnamese government and non governmental organizations who ran orphanages and relief agencies toward the end of the Vietnam War. The operation ran from April 3 through 26, 1975. By the final flight out of South Vietnam, over 3,300 infants and children had been evacuated. Along with Operation New Life, over 110,000 refugees were evacuated from South Vietnam at the end of the Vietnam War. Thousands of children were airlifted from Vietnam and adopted by families around the world. There was one tragedy associated with the airlift, an Air Force C-5A with orphans crashed killing 138 people, including 78 children.
PALM SPRINGS — APR 5: 2:05 PM. President Gerald R. Ford reads Gen. Frederick Weyand’s report about the deteriorating situation in Vietnam. Weyand wasn’t at all optimistic, but thought there was still a chance to prop up the S. Vietnamese government with more aid. Palm Springs, California, April 5, 1975.
SAN FRANCISCO — APR 5: An Amerasian child, one of the first children from Operation Babylift arrives at San Francisco Airport aboard a chartered Pan Am 747, April 5, 1975.
WASHINGTON — APR 9: CIA Director William Colby and Secretary of Defense James Schlesinger in the Cabinet Room at the White House next to a map of Vietnam before a meeting of the NSC regarding the Communist advances in Xuan Loc, S. Vietnam, Washington, D.C., April 9, 1975
WASHINGTON — APR 9: CIA Director William Colby points out Communist advances in Xuan Loc on a map of Vietnam in the Cabinet Room at the White House during a meeting of the NSC regarding the Communist advances in S. Vietnam, Washington, D.C., April 9, 1975. Colby said that long term prospects for the government of South Vietnam “were bleak.”
WASHINGTON — APR 11: U.S. President Gerald R. Ford is briefed by Secretary of State Henry Kissinger on the evacuation of Americans from Phnom Penh, Cambodia called, “Operation Eagle Pull,” in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Washington, D.C., April 11, 1975.
WASHINGTON — APR 24: 4:45 to 5:15 PM. President Gerald R. Ford meets with the National Security Council in the Cabinet Room at the White House and is briefed on how the evacuation of Americans from Saigon was going. (L-R) Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Vice President Nelson Rockefeller, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. George Brown. CIA Director William Colby, Deputy Secretary of State Robert Ingersoll, President Ford, Secretary of Defense James Schlesinger, April 24, 1975.
WASHINGTON DC – APRIL 28: 7:23-8:08 PM: At a meeting of the National Security Council in the Roosevelt Room, Ford makes the decision to continue to evacuate Americans and high risk Vietnamese from Vietnam from Saigon’s Tan Son Nhut Airport, April 28, 1975 in Washington DC. Also in the meeting, (from left), CIA Director William Colby, Deputy Secretary of State Robert Ingersoll, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Secretary of Defense James Schlesinger, Deputy Secretary of Defense Bill Clements, Vice President Nelson Rockefeller, and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General George Brown.
WASHINGTON DC – APRIL 28: 7:23-8:08 PM: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General George S. Brown at a meeting of the National Security Council in the Roosevelt Room as President Gerald R. Ford makes the decision to continue to evacuate Americans and high risk Vietnamese from Vietnam from Saigon’s Tan Son Nhut Airport, April 28, 1975 in Washington DC. Also in the meeting, (from left), CIA Director William Colby, Deputy Secretary of State Robert Ingersoll, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Secretary of Defense James Schlesinger, Deputy Secretary of Defense Bill Clements, Vice President Nelson Rockefeller.
WASHINGTON DC – APRIL 28: 7:23-8:08 PM: As a key member of the National Security Council, CIA Director William Colby is part of the discussion at a meeting of the NSC in the Roosevelt Room, President Gerald R. Ford makes the decision to continue to evacuate Americans and high risk Vietnamese from Vietnam from Saigon’s Tan Son Nhut Airport, April 28, 1975 in Washington DC.
WASHINGTON — APR 24: 4:45 to 5:15 PM. President Gerald R. Ford reacts during meeting with the National Security Council in the Cabinet Room of the White House after he was briefed on how the evacuation of Americans out of Saigon was going. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Vice President Nelson Rockefeller, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. George Brown, CIA Director William Colby, Deputy Secretary of State Robert Ingersoll, and Secretary of Defense James Schlesinger were in the meeting, April 24, 1975.
WASHINGTON — APR 28: 10:28 PM. President Gerald R. Ford meets with Kissinger to discuss the progress of the evacuation from Saigon in the 2nd floor family quarters of the White House, Washington, D.C., April 28, 1975.
WASHINGTON DC – APRIL 28: 7:23-8:08 PM: Secretary of State Henry Kissinger at a meeting of the National Security Council in the Roosevelt Room as President Gerald R. Ford makes the decision to continue to evacuate Americans and high risk Vietnamese from Vietnam from Saigon’s Tan Son Nhut Airport, April 28, 1975 in Washington DC.
WASHINGTON — APR 28: 10:33 PM. President Gerald R. Ford orders his Secretary of Defense James Schlesinger to trigger, “OPERATION FREQUENT WIND,” the final evacuation by helicopter from Saigon effectively ending the Vietnam War for America. April 28, 1975.
WASHINGTON — APR 28: 11:22 PM. White House Chief of Staff Donald Rumsfeld is briefed by Sec. of State Henry Kissinger in the NSC advisor’s office at the White House about the final evacuation of Americans from Saigon, April 28, 1975.
WASHINGTON — APR 28: 9:15 PM. President Gerald R. Ford and First Lady Betty Ford in the 2nd floor family quarters of the White House as he ponders his decision to order the final evacuation of Americans by helicopter from Saigon. Washington, D.C., April 28, 1975.
WASHINGTON — APR 29: 9:47 AM. President Gerald R. Ford meets with Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, Secretary of Defense James Schlesinger and the rest of his cabinet in the Cabinet Room at the White House to brief them on the progress of the final evacuation of Saigon that was rapidly drawing to a close. Washington, D.C. April 29, 1975.
WASHINGTON — APR 28: 11:22 PM. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in his office at the White House reacts to President Gerald R. Ford’s decision to commence the final evacuation of Americans from Saigon by helicopter, signifying the end of the Vietnam War, April 28, 1975.
WASHINGTON — APR 28: 11:25 PM. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in his White House Office reacts to President Gerald R. Ford’s decision to commence the final evacuation of Americans from Saigon by helicopter, signifying the end of the Vietnam War, April 28, 1975.
WASHINGTON — APR 29: 11:38 AM. President Gerald R. Ford and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger meet with Senator Robert Byrd, (D-WV), in the Cabinet Room at the White House just before Congressional leaders were briefed on the progress of the final evacuation of Saigon that was rapidly drawing to a close. Washington, D.C. April 29, 1975.
WASHINGTON — APR 29: 4:23 PM. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger interrupts a meeting with President Gerald R. Ford and his economic advisors in the oval office at the White House to update the president on the progress of the final evacuation of Saigon that is rapidly drawing to a close. (L-R) (back to camera) Administrator of the Federal Energy Administration Frank Zarb, the president, Deputy Chief of Staff Dick Cheney, Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors Alan Greenspan, Vice President Nelson Rockefeller, Chief of Staff Donald Rumsfeld, Kissinger, April 29, 1975.
WASHINGTON — APR 28: 11:22 PM. Deputy NSC Director Brent Scowcroft on the phone facilitating President Gerald R. Ford’s decision to commence the final evacuation of Americans from Saigon by helicopter, signifying the end of the Vietnam War, April 28, 1975.
WASHINGTON — APR 29: 5:18 PM. (L-R) Ambassador Robert Anderson, Secret Service Agent, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, unidentified staff, Press Secretary Ron Nessen, and Deputy NSC Advisor Brent Scowcroft head to the Old Executive Office Building where Kissinger will give a press conference announcing the successful conclusion of the helicopter evacuation of the last Americans from Saigon. Unfortunately he was a bit hasty in his proclamation, because after his press conference it was discovered that 11Marines were left stranded on the roof of the U.S. Embassy. They were ultimately rescued less than three hours later, but the war ended as untidily as it started. Washington, D.C., April 29, 1975.
WASHINGTON — APR 29: 6:11 PM. Deputy National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft tries to explain to his boss Secretary of State Henry Kissinger why 11 Marines were stranded on the roof of the U.S. Embassy. Fortunately they were rescued a few of hours later. Washington, D.C., April 29, 1975.
WASHINGTON — APR 29: 4:21 PM. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger heads toward the oval office in the West Wing of the White House to update President Gerald R. Ford on the progress of the final evacuation of Saigon that is rapidly drawing to a close. Washington, D.C., April 29, 1975.
WASHINGTON — APR 29: 6:31 PM. NSC staffers monitor progress of the rescue of 11 Marines who were stranded on the roof of the U.S. Embassy in Saigon after the helicopter evacuation had been completed. Fortunately they were rescued a couple of hours later. Washington, D.C., April 29, 1975.
WASHINGTON — APR 29: 6:13 PM. Deputy National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft, Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, and NSC staffer Robert “Bud” McFarlane in Kissinger’s office await word of the fate of 11 Marines who were stranded on the roof of the U.S. Embassy. Fortunately they were rescued a couple of hours later. Washington, D.C., April 29, 1975.
WASHINGTON — APR 29: 5:25 PM. U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger with White House Press Secretary behind him, announces the successful conclusion of the helicopter evacuation of the last Americans from Vietnam in the conference room at the Old Executive Office Building on the White House complex. The announcement was premature after it was learned later that 11 Marines were left stranded on the U.S. Embassy roof in Saigon. They were successfully rescued a few hours after, however, April 29, 1975, Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON — APR 29: 6:30 PM. Deputy National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger discuss when 11 Marines who were stranded on the roof of the U.S. Embassy will be rescued. Washington, D.C., April 29, 1975.
WASHINGTON — APR 29: 7:50 PM. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and his deputy NSC advisor Brent Scowcroft in their White House Office awaiting news that the last Marines in Saigon had been evacuated, by helicopter, signifying the end of the Vietnam War. Washington, D.C., April 29, 1975.
WASHINGTON — APR 29: 8:00 PM. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in his White House Office reacts to the news that the last Marines in Saigon had been evacuated, by helicopter, signifying the end of the Vietnam War. At left White House chief of staff Donald Rumsfeld, Richard Smyser, NSC staffer, and Deputy NSC advisor Brent Scowcroft, seated White House Press Secretary Ron Nessen, and White House Counselor Jack Marsh in foreground, Washington, DC, April 29, 1975.
WASHINGTON — APR 29: 8:01 PM. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in his White House Office reacts to the news that the last Marines in Saigon had been evacuated by helicopter, signifying the end of the Vietnam War. At right White House chief of staff Donald Rumsfeld, at left Richard Smyser, senior NSC staffer, Washington, D.C., April 29, 1975.
A few minutes after receiving word that the last Marines were finally rescued from the U.S. Embassy, and that the evacuation was this time really over, President Ford stepped back into the dinner with King Hussein. His relief was evident. It was now time for the toast. The president raised his glass and spoke to the close and important relationship with the Kingdom of Jordan. They clinked, had a sip, and everyone applauded. The name “Vietnam” was never mentioned. After a really long couple of days, I headed to my favorite bar to clink glasses of my own with friends who had also covered the war in Vietnam. And to shed a few tears.
WASHINGTON — APR 29: 8:11 PM. President Gerald R. Ford toasts His Majesty King Hussein of Jordan at an official dinner for the king in the State Dining Room at the White House. The president had learned minutes earlier that the evacuation of Vietnam was complete, and that all Americans who wanted to leave were safely out, including the U.S. Marines who had been left behind on the embassy roof, April 29, 1975.
WASHINGTON — APR 29: 6:15 PM. Deputy National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft and Secretary of State Henry Kissinger discuss why eleven Marines were stranded on the roof of the U.S. Embassy. They were rescued a couple of hours later. Washington, D.C., April 29, 1975.
WASHINGTON — APR 29: 8:01 PM. President Gerald R. Ford takes a call from Defense Secretary James Schlesinger in the White House usher’s office informing him that the evacuation of U.S. Marines from the American Embassy in Saigon has been completed, and that the evacuation of Vietnam is finally over. The president was took the call in the middle of a state dinner for His Majesty King Hussein of Jordan, April 29, 1975.
