At the approach of the June 30 fil- ing deadline for presidential candidates in South Viet Nam, the rivalry be tween Chief of State Nguyen Van Thieu and Premier Nguyen Cao Ky intensified. U.S. diplomats alerted Washington that trouble was imminent. Rumors of coup and counter-coup coursed through Saigon: Vietnamese marines loyal to Ky were said to be headed for the capital; 20 truckloads of pro-Thieu troops were reported en route to the city. Though the rumors proved false, the nation had good reason to be upset. A break between Ky and Thieu...
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