Between Two Ambassadors

In the volatile aftermath of the 1954 Geneva Accords, the survival of the newly partitioned State of Vietnam was anything but assured. In Between Two Ambassadors, Ronald B. Frankum delivers a meticulous diplomatic and political history of the critical window from late 1954 through the spring of 1955, a period that fundamentally shaped the trajectory of the Vietnam War. The book's primary scholarly intervention lies in its granular, transnational analysis of the tripartite tensions between Saigon, Paris, and Washington during Ngo Dinh Diem's precarious consolidation of power. While traditional historiography often glosses over this transitional era as a steady march toward American escalation, Frankum reveals a highly contingent landscape fraught with policy reversals, deep internal divisions, and shifting loyalties. Drawing on extensive archival research, Between Two Ambassadors traces the intricate web of debates that defined this era. Frankum expertly navigates the complexities of the refugee crisis, the looming exit of the French, and the existential threat posed by the armed politico-religious sects of the United Front. By closely examining the period leading up to the pivotal "Sect Crisis" and the bloody Battle for Saigon, the book details how close the United States actually came to turning away from Diem, particularly during the critical absence of Special Representative J. Lawton Collins. Beyond high-level diplomacy, Frankum integrates the crucial on-the-ground realities shaped by figures like General John O'Daniel, Colonel Edward Lansdale, and key Vietnamese military and political leaders. The result is a comprehensive, multi-layered account that bridges the gap between Washington's policy offices and the streets of Saigon.