 The Domino theory was one of the most famous phrases of the Cold War.  The speech was given by the president Eisenhower when he suggested that the fall of the French Indochina to the communists would caused an effect in Southeast Asia.

 At the Battle of Dien Bien Phu, the Vietnamese Nationalist led by the communist Ho Chi Minh, were on the verge of winning a victory against the French forces.  U.S officials were concerned that the victory of Ho’s forces could leave a communist regime in control of Vietnam.

 President Eisenhower gave the conference on April 7,1954, in attempt to rally congressional and public support to increased U.S. aid to the French.  He explained the significance of Vietnam to the United States.

 First he explained the economic importance, like the value in its production of materials that the world needs.  He noted that they had considerations that might follow what they would know as falling domino.  He expanded that thought, by explaining that they had a row of dominos set up, they knock over the first one and what will happen to the last one is that it will go over very quickly.

 It would lead to disintegration in the Southeast Asia, with the loss of Indochina, Burma, Thailand and Indonesia.  He also suggested that Japan which is needed in Southeast Asia for trade is also in danger.

 Dien Bien Phu fell to the communists and an agreement was reached at the Geneva Conference which left Ho’s forces in control of northern Vietnam.  The announcement of the domino theory laid the foundation for U.S involvement in Vietnam.

 Both Kennedy and Johnson used the theory to justified their calls for the increased of the U.S economy and their military assistance to non-communist South Vietnam.  When John F. Kennedy became president he intended to contin- ued Eisenhower’s policy to support Ngo Dinh Diem and his South Vietnamese government.

 He said that if South Vietnam became a communist, the whole of the non- communist world would be at risk.  If South Vietnam fell other countries would follow.

 Laos  Cambodia  Burma  Philippines  New Zealand  Australia

 It was the cause that the United States enter the Vietnam War.  It became engraved as part of the US policy in  After the election of Richard Nixon, the context of the war changed radically.

 The relationship of North Vietnam with China had cooled.  The United States had improved relation with China and the Soviet Union.

 People argued that it was just propaganda scare tactic which was used to justify unwanted intervention policies.  Proponents of the policy argue that it was due in part to the effects of both the Korean and the Vietnam conflicts.

 The communist took over three Southeast Asian countries.  China supplied the North Vietnamese Army with troops and supplies.  The Soviet Union supplied them with tanks and heavy weapons.

 Opponents argued that the Domino theory misrepresented the real nature of the widespread human right abuses in North Vietnam.  The U.S backed regimes in the countries generated because of official corruption.