Le Duc Tho

Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Le Duc Tho

Role / Field:

Vietnamese revolutionary and diplomat, known for his role in the Paris Peace Accords.

Born:

1911-10-14

Died:

1990-10-13

Century / Era:

1911s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Lê Đức Thọ (Vietnamese: [lē ɗɨ̌k tʰɔ̂ˀ] ; 14 October 1911 – 13 October 1990), born Phan Đình Khải in Nam Dinh Province, was a Vietnamese revolutionary, diplomat, and politician. He was the first Asian to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, jointly with United States Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in 1973, but refused the award. Lê Đức Thọ became active in Vietnamese nationalism as a teenager and spent much of his adolescence in French colonial prisons, an experience that hardened him. Thọ's nickname was "the Hammer" on account of his severity. In 1930, Thọ helped found the Indochinese Communist Party.

Career & Major Achievements

French colonial authorities imprisoned him from 1930 to 1936 and again from 1939 to 1944. The French imprisoned him in one of the "tiger cage" cells on the prison located on the island of Poulo Condore (modern Côn Sơn Island) in the South China Sea, which was regarded as the harshest prison in all of French Indochina. During his time in the "tiger cage", Thọ suffered from hunger, heat, and humiliation. Together with other Vietnamese Communist prisoners, Thọ studied literature, science, and foreign languages, and acted in Molière's plays. Despite being imprisoned by the French, France was still regarded as the "land of culture", and the prisoners paid a "peculiar tribute" to French culture by putting on these plays.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

After his release in 1945, Thọ helped lead the Viet Minh, the Vietnamese independence movement, against the French, until the Geneva Accords were signed in 1954. In 1948, he was in South Vietnam as Deputy Secretary, Head of the Organization Department of the Cochinchina Committee Party. In 1955 he joined the Politburo of the Lao Dong Party (Vietnam Workers' Party), now the Communist Party of Vietnam. Thọ oversaw the Communist insurgency that began in 1956 against the South Vietnamese government. In 1963, Thọ supported the purges of the party as a result of Resolution 9.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1911 (1911-10-14): Birth of Le Duc Tho — Vietnamese revolutionary and diplomat, known for his role in the Paris Peace Accords.
2. 1930: 1930 Milestone — In 1930, Thọ helped found the Indochinese Communist Party.
3. 1945: 1945 Milestone — After his release in 1945, Thọ helped lead the Viet Minh, the Vietnamese independence movement, against the French, until the Geneva Accords were signed in 1954.
4. 1948: 1948 Milestone — In 1948, he was in South Vietnam as Deputy Secretary, Head of the Organization Department of the Cochinchina Committee Party.
5. 1955: 1955 Milestone — In 1955 he joined the Politburo of the Lao Dong Party (Vietnam Workers' Party), now the Communist Party of Vietnam.
6. 1956: 1956 Milestone — Thọ oversaw the Communist insurgency that began in 1956 against the South Vietnamese government.
7. 1963: 1963 Milestone — In 1963, Thọ supported the purges of the party as a result of Resolution 9.
8. 1973: 1973 Milestone — He was the first Asian to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, jointly with United States Secretary of State Henry Kissinger in 1973, but refused the award.
9. 1990 (1990-10-13): Passing & Historical Legacy — Le Duc Tho passed away on 1990-10-13, leaving an enduring historical legacy.

Notable Quotes by Le Duc Tho

“Previously, with over one million U.S. and Saigon troops, you have failed. Now how can you win if you let the South Vietnamese Army fight alone and if you only give them military support?” (1970)

“If you had stopped bombing after two or three months of talks, the situation would have been different now.” (1969)

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Le Duc Tho

True or False: “Did Lê Đức Thọ accept the Nobel Peace Prize awarded in 1973?”

Answer (FALSE ❌): He was jointly awarded the prize with Henry Kissinger but famously refused to accept it.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Le Duc Tho