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Ngo Dinh Diem

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World Leader

The Resume

    (January 3, 1901-November 2, 1963)
    Born in Hue, Viet Nam
    President of South Vietnam (1955-63)
    Shot to death during a US-supported coup

Why he might be annoying:

    He joined a monastery but dropped out.
    In the election to decide if South Vietnam should be a monarchy under Emperor Bao Dai or a republic under Diem, he won 98% of the vote, including 605,000 votes in Saigon, where there were only 400,000 registered voters (1955).
    His rule was marked by nepotism and corruption.
    His blatant favoritism towards the Catholic church alienated the 80% of the country that was Buddhist.
    When students joined monks in protesting against the government, he ordered mass arrests and sent children as young as five to re-education camps.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He graduated from the School of Public Administration and Law at the head of his class.
    His hatred of Communism was driven partly by the fact that his brother Khoi had been burned alive by the Vietminh.
    He successfully cracked down on the crime syndicate that had run Saigon's brothels and gambling dens.
    The coup leaders offered him and his brother safe passage out of the country if they surrendered; instead they were executed in the back of an army personnel carrier.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 82 Votes: 57.32% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 5 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 14 Votes: 85.71% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 9 Votes: 55.56% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 34 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 27 Votes: 48.15% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 6 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 15 Votes: 46.67% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 32 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 22 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 23 Votes: 60.87% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 26 Votes: 61.54% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 28 Votes: 60.71% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 20 Votes: 75.00% Annoying