South Bend, April 6, 1975
The End Is in Sight
Since it was definite that the United States would not interfere militarily in Vietnam, it has virtually been an invitation to the North and the Viet Cong to go now all out. It came as a surprise to everyone how little preparedness for defense there was in South Vietnam, which led to a hurried collapse of the South Vietnamese army. In today’s televised interview on “Face the Nation,” U.S. Secretary of Defense James R. Schlesinger bluntly admitted that the situation in South Vietnam is regarded as being hopeless. The American strategy is at this time already planning on what to do after the fall of Saigon. All efforts are presently concentrated on how to evacuate the American embassy personnel and other persons. The American public follows the events in South East Asia with indifference.
South Bend, April 18, 1975
Meeting Saul Bellow
At a reception in the residence of the Austrian Consul General in Chicago, given in honor of the Austrian writers Beatrice Ferolli and Peter von Tramin, I met Saul Bellow. Bellow is one of the leading novelists of present-day American literature. He is physically of a small stature, but his delicate facial feature and vivacious eyes speak of a scintillating intellect. By character he is more withdrawn. It was not easy to engage Saul Bellow in a conversation.
[Saul Bellow was born 1915 in Lachine near Montreal, but he grew up in Chicago, which in many ways serves as background for his novels. He studied at the University of Chicago and at Northwestern University anthropology. Among his significant works are The Adventures of Augie March (1953), Henderson the Rain King (1959), Herzog (1964), Mr. Sammler’s Planet (1970), Humboldt’s Gift (1975). Saul Bellow received the Nobel Prize for Literature 1976.]
South Bend, April 19, 1975
A Prelude to the Bicentennial
Today’s reenactment of the skirmish at the Bridge of Concord in Massachusetts set in motion the beginning of the Bicentennial Celebrations of the American Declaration of Independence on the Fourth of July, 1776. At the Concord Bridge on April 19, 1775, the shots were fired which started the War of Independence. Last night, swinging lanterns from the North Church in Boston gave the signal for reenacting “Paul Revere’s Ride.” On the night of April 18, 1775, the silversmith Paul Revere rode on horseback the ten miles from Boston to Lexington warning with a loud voice that the British were coming. General Thomas Gage, the Governor of Massachusetts at the time, had planned a surprise maneuver during that night. He dispatched a troop contingent to capture and arrest Samuel Adams and John Hancock, the leaders of the rebellion, who were hiding in Lexington. Also, the troops had orders to dismantle weapons depots in Concord. When the British troops reached Lexington at dawn, Adams and Hancock had long before fled, and the surroundings were alarmed. A group of “minutemen” confronted the redcoats at Concord Bridge. Soon the British troops were attacked from all sides. Suffering heavy losses, they had to retreat to Boston. From then on, the War of Independence took its inexorable course. Two hundred years after the events at Concord and Lexington, America is now beginning the extensive preparations for the Bicentennial in 1976.
[The legendary “minutemen” were volunteers in the War of Independence, who at any time would be available at a minute’s notice.]
South Bend, April 20, 1975
At a Loss
America is completely at a loss, facing the coming catastrophe in Saigon. Should those South Vietnamese, who were employed by the Americans - about 200,000 to half a million people - , be evacuated together with the American citizens? What should happen with about two million Catholics and Christians of other denominations who fled from the North to the South? How many refugees can America realistically take in?
April 21, 1975
Under the pressure of the ongoing events, President Nguyen Van Thieu resigned. This means the end of a free South Vietnam.
April 29, 1975
A Horrifying End
Today Saigon offered its unconditional surrender. Only a few hours later, the city was turned over to North Vietnam and the Viet Cong. What had occurred before the capitulation was a horrifying end. The last televised pictures showed how people, in a last minute attempt, tried to rescue themselves into the American Embassy. Only a fraction among them could be flown out by helicopters. Then everything collapsed, total chaos broke out. The Embassy was looted by an unrestrained mob.
April 30, 1975
Ho Chi Minh City
The victorious North Vietnam did not waste any time. The advancing armored vehicles had barely reached the seat of the government and accepted the capitulation, when Saigon was forthwith renamed Ho Chi Minh City. Also, to demonstrate their triumph, the name of the rival city should be deleted from memory.