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Vice President Ky spoke to TIME in the small study of his fortified mansion inside Saigon's Tan Son Nhut airbase. On a small end table was an autographed photo of Spiro Agnew. Only when the interview was over and he was showing his visitors out did Ky make his most disturbing statement: "In South Viet Nam, you know, the use of force is constitutional." He was pointing out that President Thieu had resorted to force in 1963 as part of the conspiracy that overthrew Ngo Dinh Diem. A repeat of this episode, Ky suggested, would not be impossible if Thieu continued to run for election unopposed.
Q. Do you foresee an upheaval in the country if President Thieu is re-elected in the election that is planned?
A. In the present situation, I think so. But if he is elected in a fair and honest election, then even with a minority of 30% or 35% we would accept him.
Q. Do you believe that you could not have conducted a fair campaign as things were organized?
A, You know exactly what happened when they put me on the ballot a second time. Mr. Thieu had used all kinds of maneuvers to eliminate me from the race, hoping first that Minh would stay in the campaign. You know, one general told me recently that he was upset by the Thieu maneuvers. So he came down to Saigon and asked Mr. Thieu why he was doing this. And the President told the general he was afraid he would be a loser in a three-way race. That's what Thieu told his closest friend.
Q. Two weeks ago you reportedly said you would make an effort to get Mr. Thieu out of office. Was this a misinterpretation?
A. I recognize that a coup is possible. Until now I have always been against a coup. My statement was in answer to a correspondent's asking what I would do if Thieu tried to arrest me. If he did, I would have no choice.
Q. Do you get along with the President on a personal basis?
A. As you know, there are differences in our two personalities. I want to go very fast, but he wants to go very slow. The problem with him is he doesn't want competition. He is a kind of blind man who sees nothing after four years of power.
Q. Did Ambassador Bunker offer you a great deal of American money to stay in the presidential race?
A. I consider that those conversations I had with Ambassador Bunker are confidential. Many things about Viet Nam are unknown. Some day someone will tell the whole truth.
Q. Are you satisfied with Vietnamization to date and that ARVN has the ability to fight alone?
A. In some ways, yes, but we have to wait until the final confrontation with the Communists to see what the results will be. There is no doubt that we will have this when the Americans are gone. The Communists are waiting for that now.
Q. In mid-November President Nixon will announce the next phase of withdrawal. How would you like to see it accomplished?