10/26/1955: Diem Declares Republic of Vietnam and Self as President in Rigged Election
On October 26th 1955, South Vietnamese Prime Minister Ngo Dinh Diem declared the creation of the Republic of Vietnam with himself as president. This declaration came three days after a referendum held on 23rd October to choose the form of South Vietnam’s government. The voters were asked to choose between a republic ruled by Diem [...]