Political Career
Forrestal had a reputation as a high-ranking mediator within the U.S.; he frequently served as an intermediary seeking to improve relations between the United States and the Soviet Union.
His early role in the gradual transformation of attitudes in the United States toward South Vietnam eventually led to the extraction of U.S. troops on April 30, 1975. It had changed its stance on South Vietnam late in the 1960s, owing to what it felt was the increasing liability of its vehemently anticommunist leader, Diệm.
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Famous quotes containing the words political and/or career:
“The real grounds of difference upon important political questions no longer correspond with party lines.... Politics is no longer the topic of this country. Its important questions are settled... Great minds hereafter are to be employed on other matters.... Government no longer has its ancient importance.... The people’s progress, progress of every sort, no longer depends on government. But enough of politics. Henceforth I am out more than ever.”
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“It is a great many years since at the outset of my career I had to think seriously what life had to offer that was worth having. I came to the conclusion that the chief good for me was freedom to learn, think, and say what I pleased, when I pleased. I have acted on that conviction... and though strongly, and perhaps wisely, warned that I should probably come to grief, I am entirely satisfied with the results of the line of action I have adopted.”
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