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{{Short description|Former Chief of State of the Republic of Vietnam}}
{{Short description|South Vietnamese politician (1893–1970)}}
{{family name hatnote|Phan|Sửu|lang=Vietnamese}}{{Infobox officeholder
{{family name hatnote|Phan|Sửu|Phan|lang=Vietnamese}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Phan Khắc Sửu
| name = Phan Khắc Sửu<br>潘克丑
| image = Mr._Phan_Khac_Suu,_Chmn._&_Speaker_of_the_Constituent_Assembly.jpg
| image = Portrait of Phan Khắc Sửu, Chief of State.jpg
| caption = Sửu speaking at the [[National Assembly of the Republic of Vietnam|National Assembly]]
| caption = Sửu in 1964
| office = [[Leaders_of_South_Vietnam#Heads_of_state_2|Chief of State of the Republic of Vietnam]]
| office = [[Leaders of South Vietnam#Heads of state 2|Chief of State of South Vietnam]]
| termstart = 26 October 1964
| termstart = 26 October 1964
| termend = 12 June 1965
| termend = 12 June 1965
| primeminister = [[Trần Văn Hương]]<br>[[Nguyễn Xuân Oánh]] {{small|''Acting''}}<br>[[Phan Huy Quát]]
| primeminister = {{list collapsed|title=''See list''| Himself (26/10–03/11 1964; Acting)|[[Trần Văn Hương]] (04/11 1964–01/1965)|[[Nguyễn Xuân Oánh]] (01–02/1965; Acting)|[[Phan Huy Quát]] (02–06/1965)}}
| predecessor = [[Dương Văn Minh]]
| predecessor = [[Dương Văn Minh]]<br />(as Chairman of the Military Revolutionary Council)
| successor = [[Nguyễn Văn Thiệu]]
| successor = [[Nguyễn Văn Thiệu]]<br />(as Chairman of the National Leadership Committee)
| office2 = [[Prime Minister of the Republic of Vietnam|Prime Minister of South Vietnam]]<br />Acting<ref>{{cite book | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KyW4AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA198 | title=世界諸国の制度・組織・人事: 1840-2000 | isbn=9784130301220 | author1=秦郁彥 | date=December 2001 | publisher=東京大学出版会 }}</ref>
| office2 = [[Minister of Agriculture]] of the [[State of Vietnam]]
| termstart2 = 6 July 1954
| term_start2 = 26 October 1964
| termend2 = 24 September 1954
| term_end2 = 3 November 1964
| primeminister2 = [[Ngô Đình Diệm]]
| 1blankname2 = Chief of State
| predecessor2 = [[Nguyễn Trung Vinh]]
| 1namedata2 = Himself
| successor2 = [[Nguyễn Công Hầu]]
| predecessor2 = [[Nguyễn Khánh]]
| termstart3 = 14 July 1949
| successor2 = [[Trần Văn Hương]]
| office3 = [[List of agriculture ministries|Minister of Agriculture]] of the [[State of Vietnam]]
| termend3 = 21 February 1951
| termstart3 = 6 July 1954
| primeminister3 = [[Bảo Đại]]<br>[[Nguyễn Phan Long]]<br>[[Trần Văn Hữu]]
| predecessor3 = [[Trần Thiện Vàng]]
| termend3 = 24 September 1954
| successor3 = [[Nguyễn Trí Độ]]
| primeminister3 = [[Ngô Đình Diệm]]
| predecessor3 = [[Nguyễn Trung Vinh]]
| successor3 = [[Nguyễn Công Hầu]]
| termstart4 = 14 July 1949
| termend4 = 21 February 1951
| primeminister4 = {{ubl|[[Bảo Đại]] (1949–1950)|[[Nguyễn Phan Long]] (1950)|[[Trần Văn Hữu]] (1950–1951)}}
| predecessor4 = [[Trần Thiện Vàng]]
| successor4 = [[Nguyễn Trí Độ]]
| birth_date = {{birth date|1893|1|9|df=y}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1893|1|9|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Cần Thơ province]], [[Cochinchina]], [[French Indochina]]
| birth_place = [[Cần Thơ province]], [[French Cochinchina|Cochinchina]], [[French Indochina]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|1970|5|24|1893|1|9|df=y}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|1970|5|24|1893|1|9|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Saigon]], [[South Vietnam]]
| death_place = [[Saigon]], [[South Vietnam]]
| party = [[Vietnamese Democratic Socialist Party]] (since 1948)
| party = [[Vietnamese Democratic Socialist Party]] (since 1948)
| spouse = Lê Thị Tiểu
| children = 5 (3 sons; 2 daughters)
| alma_mater = [[University of Ez-Zitouna|Université Ez-Zitouna]]<br />[[Sorbonne University]] ([[Bachelor of Science|BS]])
| signature = Signature of Phan Khắc Sửu.png
| signature = Signature of Phan Khắc Sửu.png
}}
}}
'''Phan Khắc Sửu''' ( 9 January 1893 – 24 May 1970) was a South Vietnamese engineer and politician who served as a minister in [[Bảo Đại]]'s government of the [[State of Vietnam]] and as a civilian Chief of State of [[South Vietnam]] from 1964–65 during the rule of the various military juntas.<ref>''Công Luận Nguyễn, Nationalist in the Viet Nam Wars: Memoirs of a Victim Turned Soldier'' 2012 "Phan Huy Quát, the premier, and Phan Khắc Sửu, the chief of state, the two respectable national celebrities, failed to restore national stability and resigned, surrendering ruling power to a military junta."</ref><ref>Robert Trando ''Letters of a Vietnamese Émigré'' - 2010 -Page 91 "Dr. Quát became premier minister under Chief of State Phan-Khắc Sửu. Anyhow, very soon an irremediable rift arose between the two due to the difficult demands of the separatist southerner Sửu."</ref>
'''Phan Khắc Sửu''' ({{lang-vi-hantu|{{linktext|潘|克|丑}}}} 9 January 1893 – 24 May 1970) was a South Vietnamese engineer and politician who served as a minister in [[Bảo Đại]]'s government of the [[State of Vietnam]] and as a civilian Chief of State of the [[Republic of Vietnam]] from 1964–65 during the rule of the various military juntas.<ref>''Công Luận Nguyễn, Nationalist in the Viet Nam Wars: Memoirs of a Victim Turned Soldier'' 2012 "Phan Huy Quát, the premier, and Phan Khắc Sửu, the chief of state, the two respectable national celebrities, failed to restore national stability and resigned, surrendering ruling power to a military junta."</ref><ref>Robert Trando ''Letters of a Vietnamese Émigré'' - 2010 -Page 91 "Dr. Quát became premier minister under Chief of State Phan-Khắc Sửu. Very soon, an irremediable rift arose between the two due to the difficult demands of the separatist southerner Sửu."</ref>


==Early life and career==
==Early life and career==
Phan Khắc Sửu was born on 9 January 1893,<ref>Theo Trần Sinh Cát Bình, nguyên Chủ tịch Ủy ban Nghi lễ Quốc táng Quốc trưởng Phan Khắc Sửu.</ref> to a family of landowners in Mỹ Thuận village, An Trường canton, Cái Vồn district, [[Cần Thơ province]], [[French Indochina]]. He was a founding member of the [[Cao Đài]] religion.
He was born on 9 January 1893,<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WLcG5Cdw-NIC | title=Historical Dictionary of the War in Vietnam |date=2011 | first=Ronald Bruce | last=Frankum | publisher=Scarecrow Press | isbn=9780810879560}}</ref><ref>Theo Trần Sinh Cát Bình, nguyên Chủ tịch Ủy ban Nghi lễ Quốc táng Quốc trưởng Phan Khắc Sửu.</ref> to a family of landowners in Mỹ Thuận village, An Trường canton, Cái Vồn district, [[Cần Thơ province]], [[French Indochina]]. He was a founding member of the [[Cao Đài]] religion.
His Cao Đài name was Huỳnh Đức.<ref>Theo Trần Sinh Cát Bình, nguyên Chủ tịch Ủy ban Nghi lễ Quốc táng Quốc trưởng Phan Khắc Sửu.</ref>
His Cao Đài name was Huỳnh Đức.<ref>Theo Trần Sinh Cát Bình, nguyên Chủ tịch Ủy ban Nghi lễ Quốc táng Quốc trưởng Phan Khắc Sửu.</ref>


In 1914, he went to study abroad in [[Tunis]] and then to [[Paris, France]] where he obtained a degree in agricultural engineering.
In 1914, he studied abroad in [[Tunis]] and then in [[Paris, France]], where he obtained a degree in agricultural engineering.


After returning home, he worked as the political affairs officer of the Department of Economic and Technical Research in [[Cochinchina]] since 1930. However, in the same year, he joined in support of the Student Movement against the colonial policy of the government. He help initiated the Revolutionary Movement for the Unification of the People of Annam. In 1940, he joined and worked actively in the Vietnamese People's Revolutionary Party, a political organization that worked for Vietnam's independence. Therefore, he was sentenced to 8 years of hard labor by the colonial government of Indochina Governor General [[Jean Decoux]] and imprisoned on [[Côn Đảo]].<ref>Theo Trần Sinh Cát Bình, nguyên Chủ tịch Ủy ban Nghi lễ Quốc táng Quốc trưởng Phan Khắc Sửu.</ref>
After returning home, he worked as the political affairs officer of the Department of Economic and Technical Research in [[Cochinchina]] since 1930. However, the same year, he joined to support the Student Movement against the government's colonial policy. He helps initiated the Revolutionary Movement for the Unification of the People of Annam. In 1940, he joined and worked actively in the Vietnamese People's Revolutionary Party, a political organization that worked for Vietnam's independence. Therefore, he was sentenced to eight years of hard labor by the colonial government of Indochina Governor General [[Jean Decoux]] and imprisoned on [[Côn Đảo]].<ref>Theo Trần Sinh Cát Bình, nguyên Chủ tịch Ủy ban Nghi lễ Quốc táng Quốc trưởng Phan Khắc Sửu.</ref>


After the Japanese coup d'etat of France on 9 March 1945, he was released and returned to the mainland. He and doctor Pham Ngoc Thach founded the Vietnam National Independence Party in [[Saigon]], an anti-French political organization with Japanese support. He also joined the Dan Quy newspaper as the party's spokesman.
After the Japanese coup d'etat of France on 9 March 1945, he was released and returned to the mainland. He and Doctor {{ill|v=ib|Phạm Ngọc Thạch|vi}} founded the Vietnam National Independence Party in [[Saigon]], an anti-French political organization with Japanese support. He also joined the Dan Quy newspaper as the party's spokesman.


When the French recaptured the South, he expressed non-cooperation with both the French and [[Viet Minh]] authorities. In 1948, he joined the Vietnam Social Democratic Party, a political party with a majority of [[Hòa Hảo]] followers, advocating the Bảo Đại solution. With this support, when [[Bảo Đại]]'s government was established in 1949, he was appointed [[Minister of Agriculture]]. <ref>Theo Trần Sinh Cát Bình, nguyên Chủ tịch Ủy ban Nghi lễ Quốc táng Quốc trưởng Phan Khắc Sửu.</ref>
When the French recaptured the South, he expressed non-cooperation with both the French and [[Viet Minh]] authorities. In 1948, he joined the Vietnamese Democratic Socialist Party, a political party with a majority of [[Hòa Hảo]] followers, advocating the Bảo Đại solution. With this support, when [[Bảo Đại]]'s government was established in 1949, he was appointed [[List of agriculture ministries|Minister of Agriculture]].<ref>Theo Trần Sinh Cát Bình, nguyên Chủ tịch Ủy ban Nghi lễ Quốc táng Quốc trưởng Phan Khắc Sửu.</ref>


In early 1954, the [[State of Vietnam]] Prime Minister [[Nguyễn Phúc Bửu Lộc]] invited him to be a Minister again, he a refused, accepting only to participate in the National Conference in the Sub-Committee on Independent Research of Vietnam.
In early 1954, the [[State of Vietnam]] Prime Minister [[Nguyễn Phúc Bửu Lộc]] invited him to be a Minister again, but he refused, accepting only to participate in the National Conference in the Sub-Committee on Independent Research of Vietnam.


==First Republic of Vietnam (1955-1963)==
==Political career==
===First Republic of Vietnam (1955-1963)===
After [[Ngô Đình Diệm]] established the [[Republic of Vietnam]] and became President, Sửu repeatedly sent letters demanding and advising President Diệm to make reforms and changes of policy within the government. As a result, he was labeled by Diệm's government to be a "political opposition."
After [[Ngô Đình Diệm]] established the [[Republic of Vietnam]] and became President, Sửu repeatedly sent letters demanding and advising President Diệm to make reforms and changes of policy within the government. As a result, he was labeled by Diệm's government to be a "political opposition."


In February 1959, he was elected as a congressman representing the Saigon constituency. He then joined the Great National Solidarity Front with Nguyễn Tường Tam to oppose the government. On April 26, 1960, he and 17 dignitaries signed the proclamation, later known as the "[[Caravelle Manifesto]]," criticizing the government's mistakes and demanding that the President make reforms in policies. This made him become a thorn in the eyes of the government. On the occasion of the failed coup on 11 November 1960, he was accused of supporting the coup by the government and imprisoned. On the night of 11 July 1963, he was sentenced to 8 years in prison by a special military court in Saigon along with [[Phan Quang Đán]], [[Vũ Hồng Khanh]], and [[Bùi Lương]]. When defending himself in court, he said: "If I am guilty, then I only have one crime, which is to expel the French from Saigon, sin for the sake of the Nation!."<ref>Theo Trần Sinh Cát Bình, nguyên Chủ tịch Ủy ban Nghi lễ Quốc táng Quốc trưởng Phan Khắc Sửu.</ref>
In August 1959, he was [[1959 South Vietnamese parliamentary election|elected]] as a member of the [[National Assembly of the Republic of Vietnam|National Assembly]] representing the Saigon constituency. The election resulted in an overwhelming victory for the Diệm regime with many Pro-Diệm deputies winning seats in the National Assembly. Sửu and fellow Deputy [[Phan Quang Đán]] were the only opposition candidates who won their respective contests. He then joined the Great National Solidarity Front with [[Nhất Linh|Nguyễn Tường Tam]] to oppose the government. On 26 April 1960, he and 17 dignitaries signed the proclamation, later known as the "[[Caravelle Manifesto]]," criticizing the government's mistakes and demanding that the President make reforms in policies. This made him become a thorn in the eyes of the government. On the occasion of the failed coup on 11 November 1960, he was accused of supporting the coup by the government and imprisoned. On the night of 11 July 1963, he was sentenced to eight years in prison by a special military court in Saigon along with Phan Quang Đán, [[Vũ Hồng Khanh]], and [[Bùi Lương]]. When defending himself in court, he said: "If I am guilty, then I only have one crime, which is to expel the French from Saigon, sin for the sake of the Nation!"<ref>Theo Trần Sinh Cát Bình, nguyên Chủ tịch Ủy ban Nghi lễ Quốc táng Quốc trưởng Phan Khắc Sửu.</ref>


On 31 July 1963, he was exiled to [[Côn Đảo Prison]] to serve his sentence. However, only 3 months later, another [[1963 South Vietnamese coup|coup]] broke out, overthrowing and assassinating President Diệm, he was released from prison and returned to [[Saigon]].
On 31 July 1963, he was exiled to [[Côn Đảo Prison]] to serve his sentence. However, only 3 months later, another [[1963 South Vietnamese coup|coup]] broke out, overthrowing and assassinating President Diệm, he was released from prison and returned to [[Saigon]].


==Chief of State of the Republic of Vietnam (1964-1965)==
===Chief of State of the Republic of Vietnam (1964-1965)===
After the "Three Heads" crisis, on 8 September 1964, he was invited to the National Synod by the [[Provisional Leadership Committee]] (the Three Heads). On 27 September, the Synod elected Phan Khắc Sửu as President. He presided over the Synod that drafted the 20 October 1964 Covenant to replace the 4 November 1963 Provisional Charter, which placed power in the hands of the military to relinquish power and national sovereignty to elected representatives. On 24 October, he was nominated by the Synod for the position of Chief of State.<ref>Theo Trần Sinh Cát Bình, nguyên Chủ tịch Ủy ban Nghi lễ Quốc táng Quốc trưởng Phan Khắc Sửu.</ref>
After the "Three Heads" crisis, on 8 September 1964, he was invited to the National Synod by the [[Provisional Leadership Committee]] (the Three Heads). On 27 September, the Synod elected Sửu as president. He presided over the Synod that drafted the 20 October 1964 Covenant to replace the 4 November 1963 Provisional Charter, which placed power in the hands of the military to relinquish power and national sovereignty to elected representatives. On 24 October, he was nominated by the Synod for the position of chief of state.<ref>Theo Trần Sinh Cát Bình, nguyên Chủ tịch Ủy ban Nghi lễ Quốc táng Quốc trưởng Phan Khắc Sửu.</ref>


After taking office as Chief of State, on 4 November 1964, he appointed [[Trần Văn Hương]] as prime minister, he was the second civilian prime minister since the First Republic of President Ngô Đình Diệm was overthrown by the [[1963 South Vietnamese coup|rebels]].
After taking office as chief of state on 26 October 1964, on 4 November 1964, he appointed teacher and former Mayor of Saigon [[Trần Văn Hương]] as prime minister; he was the second civilian prime minister since the First Republic of President Ngô Đình Diệm was overthrown by the [[1963 South Vietnamese coup|rebels]].
However, Trần Văn Hương's government was quickly paralyzed by the opposition of many circles as well as the lack of cooperation of the Military Council.<ref>Theo Trần Sinh Cát Bình, nguyên Chủ tịch Ủy ban Nghi lễ Quốc táng Quốc trưởng Phan Khắc Sửu.</ref><ref>Robert Trando ''Letters of a Vietnamese Émigré'' - 2010 -Page 91 "Dr. Quát became premier minister under Chief of State Phan-Khắc Sửu. Anyhow, very soon an irremediable rift arose between the two due to the difficult demands of the separatist southerner Sửu."</ref>
However, Trần Văn Hương's government was quickly paralyzed by the opposition of many circles as well as the lack of cooperation of the Military Council.<ref>Theo Trần Sinh Cát Bình, nguyên Chủ tịch Ủy ban Nghi lễ Quốc táng Quốc trưởng Phan Khắc Sửu.</ref><ref>Robert Trando ''Letters of a Vietnamese Émigré'' - 2010 -Page 91 "Dr. Quát became premier minister under Chief of State Phan-Khắc Sửu. Very soon, an irremediable rift arose between the two due to the difficult demands of the separatist southerner Sửu."</ref>


The crisis lasted for 2 months, on 18 December 1964, General [[Nguyễn Khánh]] led the young generals to establish the Military Council and two days later ordered the dissolution of the Synod. However, he was still retained as Head of State. On 27 January 1965, Prime Minister Hương was also forced to resign, handing over the Prime Minister's power to Deputy Prime Minister [[Nguyễn Xuân Oánh]].
The crisis lasted for two months. On 18 December 1964, General [[Nguyễn Khánh]] led the young generals to establish the Military Council and two days later ordered the dissolution of the Synod. However, he was still retained as Head of State. On 27 January 1965, Prime Minister Hương was also forced to resign, handing over the prime minister's power to Deputy Prime Minister [[Nguyễn Xuân Oánh]].


On 16 February 1965, General Nguyễn Khánh, in the name of Chairman of the [[Military Council]], signed a decision to appoint Mr. Phan Khắc Sửu as the Chief of State and to appoint Dr. [[Phan Huy Quát]] as the Prime Minister to establish a new government. Less than 10 days later, on 25 February 1965, General Nguyễn Khánh was deposed by a group of young generals and had to accept the position of ambassador-at-large abroad. Less than four months later, on 5 June 1965, Prime Minister Phan Huy Quát's civilian government was dissolved by the Military Council. The young generals formed a National Leadership Council and appointed Lieutenant General [[Nguyễn Văn Thiệu]] as Chief of State. On 12 June 1965, Sửu and Prime Minister Phan Huy Quát officially left their positions of Chief of State and Prime Minister.<ref>''Công Luận Nguyễn, Nationalist in the Viet Nam Wars: Memoirs of a Victim Turned Soldier'' 2012 "Phan Huy Quát, the premier, and Phan Khắc Sửu, the chief of state, the two respectable national celebrities, failed to restore national stability and resigned, surrendering ruling power to a military junta."</ref>
On 16 February 1965, General Nguyễn Khánh, in the name of Chairman of the [[Military Council]], signed a decision to appoint Mr. Phan Khắc Sửu as the chief of state and to appoint Dr. [[Phan Huy Quát]] as the prime minister to establish a new government. Less than 10 days later, on 25 February 1965, General Nguyễn Khánh was deposed by a group of young generals and had to accept the position of ambassador-at-large abroad. Less than four months later, on 5 June 1965, Prime Minister Phan Huy Quát's civilian government was dissolved by the Military Council. The young generals formed a National Leadership Council and appointed Lieutenant General [[Nguyễn Văn Thiệu]] as chief of state. On 12 June 1965, Sửu and Prime Minister Phan Huy Quát officially left their positions of chief of state and prime minister.<ref>''Công Luận Nguyễn, Nationalist in the Viet Nam Wars: Memoirs of a Victim Turned Soldier'' 2012 "Phan Huy Quát, the premier, and Phan Khắc Sửu, the chief of state, the two respectable national celebrities, failed to restore national stability and resigned, surrendering ruling power to a military junta."</ref>


Famous for his integrity, as Chief of State, he only eats meals provided by the government and his salary is transferred to the social welfare fund for the people. In particular Sửu's wife, Mrs. Sửu, who is also a Cao Đài believer with the name Huỳnh Điệp, refusing to sit in the position of Madame, equivalent to [[First Lady]]. Mrs. Sửu rather sell clothes at Vườn Chuối Market in District 3 to pay for her life and take care of her children and grandchildren.
Famous for his integrity, as chief of state, he only eats meals provided by the government, and his salary is transferred to the social welfare fund for the people. In particular, Sửu's wife, Thị Tiểu, who is also a Cao Đài believer with the name Cao Đài name Huỳnh Điệp, refuses to sit in the position of Madame, equivalent to [[First Lady]]. Rather, she sells clothes at Vườn Chuối Market in District 3 to pay for her life and care for her children and grandchildren.


==Second Republic of Vietnam (1967-1975)==
===Second Republic of Vietnam (1967-1975)===
In 1966, he returned to political activities, was once again elected a member of the National Assembly and was elected Chairman of the National Assembly. In 1967, Sửu became a candidate for president in the [[1967 South Vietnamese presidential election]], he finished third with 513,374 votes (10.8%).<ref>Nohlen, D, Grotz, F & Hartmann, C (2001) ''Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II'', p331 {{ISBN|0-19-924959-8}}</ref> The joint venture of two generals [[Nguyễn Văn Thiệu]] - [[Nguyễn Cao Kỳ]], prevailed winning 1,649,561 of the votes (34.8%).<ref>Nohlen, D, Grotz, F & Hartmann, C (2001) ''Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II'', p331 {{ISBN|0-19-924959-8}}</ref> The National Assembly of the [[Republic of Vietnam]] met and voted, with 58 votes in favor and 42 votes against certifying the election. After this incident, Sửu resigned in protest of the [[military junta]] gaining the presidency that had a democratic name but could not reverse the situation. Fed up, he withdrew from politics.
In 1966, he returned to political activities, was once again elected a member of the National Assembly, and was elected Chairman of the National Assembly. In 1967, Sửu became a candidate for president in the [[1967 South Vietnamese presidential election]]. He finished third with 513,374 votes (10.8%).<ref>Nohlen, D, Grotz, F & Hartmann, C (2001) ''Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II'', p331 {{ISBN|0-19-924959-8}}</ref> The joint venture of two generals [[Nguyễn Văn Thiệu]] - [[Nguyễn Cao Kỳ]], prevailed winning 1,649,561 of the votes (34.8%).<ref>Nohlen, D, Grotz, F & Hartmann, C (2001) ''Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II'', p331 {{ISBN|0-19-924959-8}}</ref> The National Assembly of the [[Republic of Vietnam]] met and voted, with 58 votes in favor and 42 votes against certifying the election. After this incident, Sửu resigned in protest of the [[military junta]] gaining the presidency that had a democratic name but could not reverse the situation. Fed up, he withdrew from politics.


In 1968, he together with a number of dignitaries such as Nguyễn Thành Vinh and Trần Sinh Cát Bình founded the Vietnamese New People Movement.<ref>[http://bacaytruc.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=93:hi-lun-ngay-c-lp-ca-vit-nam-va-ng-cn-laophm-vn-bn&catid=35:hi-lun&Itemid=56 "Ngày Độc Lập của Việt Nam và đảng Cần Lao"]</ref>
In 1968, he, together with several dignitaries such as Nguyễn Thành Vinh and Trần Sinh Cát Bình founded the Vietnamese New People Movement.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://bacaytruc.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=93:hi-lun-ngay-c-lp-ca-vit-nam-va-ng-cn-laophm-vn-bn&catid=35:hi-lun&Itemid=56 |title="Ngày Độc Lập của Việt Nam và đảng Cần Lao" |access-date=2022-07-07 |archive-date=2010-10-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101018202637/http://bacaytruc.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=93:hi-lun-ngay-c-lp-ca-vit-nam-va-ng-cn-laophm-vn-bn&catid=35:hi-lun&Itemid=56 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


==Death==
==Death==
He passed away on 24 May 1970 in [[Saigon]]. His funeral was held as a state funeral according to the rites of being a former Chief of State of the Republic of Vietnam, with President Thiệu and his cabinet in attendance to honor and present a posthumous award known as the "[[National Order of Vietnam|Bảo Quốc Huân Chương]]" to the late Sửu.<ref>{{cite news|access-date=4 August 2013|date=24 May 2008|newspaper=[[Việt Báo Daily News]]|location=Garden Grove, California|title=Mời Dự Lễ Tưởng niệm Cố Quốc Trưởng VNCH Phan Khắc Sửu|url=https://vietbao.com/a156276/moi-du-le-tuong-niem-co-quoc-truong-vnch-phan-khac-suu|language=vi}}</ref>
He died on 24 May 1970 in [[Saigon]]. His funeral was held as a state funeral according to the rites of being a former Chief of State of the Republic of Vietnam, with President Thiệu and his cabinet in attendance to honor and present a posthumous award known as the "[[National Order of Vietnam|Bảo Quốc Huân Chương]]" to the late Sửu.<ref>{{cite news|access-date=4 August 2013|date=24 May 2008|newspaper=[[Việt Báo Daily News]]|location=Garden Grove, California|title=Mời Dự Lễ Tưởng niệm Cố Quốc Trưởng VNCH Phan Khắc Sửu|url=https://vietbao.com/a156276/moi-du-le-tuong-niem-co-quoc-truong-vnch-phan-khac-suu|language=vi}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
Line 78: Line 90:
{{succession box | title= [[Minister of Agriculture]] of the [[State of Vietnam]] | years= 1949-1951| before= [[Trần Thiện Vàng]] | after= [[Nguyễn Trí Độ]]}}
{{succession box | title= [[Minister of Agriculture]] of the [[State of Vietnam]] | years= 1949-1951| before= [[Trần Thiện Vàng]] | after= [[Nguyễn Trí Độ]]}}
{{succession box | title= [[Minister of Agriculture]] of the [[State of Vietnam]] | years= 1954| before= [[Nguyễn Trung Vinh]] | after= [[Nguyễn Công Hầu]]}}
{{succession box | title= [[Minister of Agriculture]] of the [[State of Vietnam]] | years= 1954| before= [[Nguyễn Trung Vinh]] | after= [[Nguyễn Công Hầu]]}}
{{succession box | title= [[Leaders_of_South_Vietnam#Heads_of_state_2|Chief of State of the Republic of Vietnam]] | years= 1964-1965| before= [[Dương Văn Minh]] | after= [[Nguyễn Văn Thiệu]]}}
{{succession box | title= [[Leaders of South Vietnam#Heads of state 2|Chief of State of the Republic of Vietnam]] | years= 1964-1965| before= [[Dương Văn Minh]] | after= [[Nguyễn Văn Thiệu]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{s-end}}
{{VietnamPres}}
{{VietnamPres}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Phan, Khac Suu}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Phan, Khac Suu}}
[[Category:South Vietnamese politicians]]
[[Category:Heads of state of South Vietnam]]
[[Category:Heads of state of South Vietnam]]
[[Category:Vietnamese people of the Vietnam War]]
[[Category:Vietnamese people of the Vietnam War]]
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[[Category:South Vietnamese prisoners and detainees]]
[[Category:South Vietnamese prisoners and detainees]]
[[Category:South Vietnamese dissidents]]
[[Category:South Vietnamese dissidents]]
[[Category:People from Cần Thơ]]


{{Vietnam-politician-stub}}
{{Vietnam-politician-stub}}

Latest revision as of 17:58, 18 December 2024

Phan Khắc Sửu
潘克丑
Sửu in 1964
Chief of State of South Vietnam
In office
26 October 1964 – 12 June 1965
Prime Minister
See list
Preceded byDương Văn Minh
(as Chairman of the Military Revolutionary Council)
Succeeded byNguyễn Văn Thiệu
(as Chairman of the National Leadership Committee)
Prime Minister of South Vietnam
Acting[1]
In office
26 October 1964 – 3 November 1964
Chief of StateHimself
Preceded byNguyễn Khánh
Succeeded byTrần Văn Hương
Minister of Agriculture of the State of Vietnam
In office
6 July 1954 – 24 September 1954
Prime MinisterNgô Đình Diệm
Preceded byNguyễn Trung Vinh
Succeeded byNguyễn Công Hầu
In office
14 July 1949 – 21 February 1951
Prime Minister
Preceded byTrần Thiện Vàng
Succeeded byNguyễn Trí Độ
Personal details
Born(1893-01-09)9 January 1893
Cần Thơ province, Cochinchina, French Indochina
Died24 May 1970(1970-05-24) (aged 77)
Saigon, South Vietnam
Political partyVietnamese Democratic Socialist Party (since 1948)
SpouseLê Thị Tiểu
Children5 (3 sons; 2 daughters)
Alma materUniversité Ez-Zitouna
Sorbonne University (BS)
Signature

Phan Khắc Sửu (chữ Hán: 9 January 1893 – 24 May 1970) was a South Vietnamese engineer and politician who served as a minister in Bảo Đại's government of the State of Vietnam and as a civilian Chief of State of the Republic of Vietnam from 1964–65 during the rule of the various military juntas.[2][3]

Early life and career

[edit]

He was born on 9 January 1893,[4][5] to a family of landowners in Mỹ Thuận village, An Trường canton, Cái Vồn district, Cần Thơ province, French Indochina. He was a founding member of the Cao Đài religion. His Cao Đài name was Huỳnh Đức.[6]

In 1914, he studied abroad in Tunis and then in Paris, France, where he obtained a degree in agricultural engineering.

After returning home, he worked as the political affairs officer of the Department of Economic and Technical Research in Cochinchina since 1930. However, the same year, he joined to support the Student Movement against the government's colonial policy. He helps initiated the Revolutionary Movement for the Unification of the People of Annam. In 1940, he joined and worked actively in the Vietnamese People's Revolutionary Party, a political organization that worked for Vietnam's independence. Therefore, he was sentenced to eight years of hard labor by the colonial government of Indochina Governor General Jean Decoux and imprisoned on Côn Đảo.[7]

After the Japanese coup d'etat of France on 9 March 1945, he was released and returned to the mainland. He and Doctor Phạm Ngọc Thạch [vi] founded the Vietnam National Independence Party in Saigon, an anti-French political organization with Japanese support. He also joined the Dan Quy newspaper as the party's spokesman.

When the French recaptured the South, he expressed non-cooperation with both the French and Viet Minh authorities. In 1948, he joined the Vietnamese Democratic Socialist Party, a political party with a majority of Hòa Hảo followers, advocating the Bảo Đại solution. With this support, when Bảo Đại's government was established in 1949, he was appointed Minister of Agriculture.[8]

In early 1954, the State of Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyễn Phúc Bửu Lộc invited him to be a Minister again, but he refused, accepting only to participate in the National Conference in the Sub-Committee on Independent Research of Vietnam.

Political career

[edit]

First Republic of Vietnam (1955-1963)

[edit]

After Ngô Đình Diệm established the Republic of Vietnam and became President, Sửu repeatedly sent letters demanding and advising President Diệm to make reforms and changes of policy within the government. As a result, he was labeled by Diệm's government to be a "political opposition."

In August 1959, he was elected as a member of the National Assembly representing the Saigon constituency. The election resulted in an overwhelming victory for the Diệm regime with many Pro-Diệm deputies winning seats in the National Assembly. Sửu and fellow Deputy Phan Quang Đán were the only opposition candidates who won their respective contests. He then joined the Great National Solidarity Front with Nguyễn Tường Tam to oppose the government. On 26 April 1960, he and 17 dignitaries signed the proclamation, later known as the "Caravelle Manifesto," criticizing the government's mistakes and demanding that the President make reforms in policies. This made him become a thorn in the eyes of the government. On the occasion of the failed coup on 11 November 1960, he was accused of supporting the coup by the government and imprisoned. On the night of 11 July 1963, he was sentenced to eight years in prison by a special military court in Saigon along with Phan Quang Đán, Vũ Hồng Khanh, and Bùi Lương. When defending himself in court, he said: "If I am guilty, then I only have one crime, which is to expel the French from Saigon, sin for the sake of the Nation!"[9]

On 31 July 1963, he was exiled to Côn Đảo Prison to serve his sentence. However, only 3 months later, another coup broke out, overthrowing and assassinating President Diệm, he was released from prison and returned to Saigon.

Chief of State of the Republic of Vietnam (1964-1965)

[edit]

After the "Three Heads" crisis, on 8 September 1964, he was invited to the National Synod by the Provisional Leadership Committee (the Three Heads). On 27 September, the Synod elected Sửu as president. He presided over the Synod that drafted the 20 October 1964 Covenant to replace the 4 November 1963 Provisional Charter, which placed power in the hands of the military to relinquish power and national sovereignty to elected representatives. On 24 October, he was nominated by the Synod for the position of chief of state.[10]

After taking office as chief of state on 26 October 1964, on 4 November 1964, he appointed teacher and former Mayor of Saigon Trần Văn Hương as prime minister; he was the second civilian prime minister since the First Republic of President Ngô Đình Diệm was overthrown by the rebels. However, Trần Văn Hương's government was quickly paralyzed by the opposition of many circles as well as the lack of cooperation of the Military Council.[11][12]

The crisis lasted for two months. On 18 December 1964, General Nguyễn Khánh led the young generals to establish the Military Council and two days later ordered the dissolution of the Synod. However, he was still retained as Head of State. On 27 January 1965, Prime Minister Hương was also forced to resign, handing over the prime minister's power to Deputy Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Oánh.

On 16 February 1965, General Nguyễn Khánh, in the name of Chairman of the Military Council, signed a decision to appoint Mr. Phan Khắc Sửu as the chief of state and to appoint Dr. Phan Huy Quát as the prime minister to establish a new government. Less than 10 days later, on 25 February 1965, General Nguyễn Khánh was deposed by a group of young generals and had to accept the position of ambassador-at-large abroad. Less than four months later, on 5 June 1965, Prime Minister Phan Huy Quát's civilian government was dissolved by the Military Council. The young generals formed a National Leadership Council and appointed Lieutenant General Nguyễn Văn Thiệu as chief of state. On 12 June 1965, Sửu and Prime Minister Phan Huy Quát officially left their positions of chief of state and prime minister.[13]

Famous for his integrity, as chief of state, he only eats meals provided by the government, and his salary is transferred to the social welfare fund for the people. In particular, Sửu's wife, Lê Thị Tiểu, who is also a Cao Đài believer with the name Cao Đài name Huỳnh Điệp, refuses to sit in the position of Madame, equivalent to First Lady. Rather, she sells clothes at Vườn Chuối Market in District 3 to pay for her life and care for her children and grandchildren.

Second Republic of Vietnam (1967-1975)

[edit]

In 1966, he returned to political activities, was once again elected a member of the National Assembly, and was elected Chairman of the National Assembly. In 1967, Sửu became a candidate for president in the 1967 South Vietnamese presidential election. He finished third with 513,374 votes (10.8%).[14] The joint venture of two generals Nguyễn Văn Thiệu - Nguyễn Cao Kỳ, prevailed winning 1,649,561 of the votes (34.8%).[15] The National Assembly of the Republic of Vietnam met and voted, with 58 votes in favor and 42 votes against certifying the election. After this incident, Sửu resigned in protest of the military junta gaining the presidency that had a democratic name but could not reverse the situation. Fed up, he withdrew from politics.

In 1968, he, together with several dignitaries such as Nguyễn Thành Vinh and Trần Sinh Cát Bình founded the Vietnamese New People Movement.[16]

Death

[edit]

He died on 24 May 1970 in Saigon. His funeral was held as a state funeral according to the rites of being a former Chief of State of the Republic of Vietnam, with President Thiệu and his cabinet in attendance to honor and present a posthumous award known as the "Bảo Quốc Huân Chương" to the late Sửu.[17]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ 秦郁彥 (December 2001). 世界諸国の制度・組織・人事: 1840-2000. 東京大学出版会. ISBN 9784130301220.
  2. ^ Công Luận Nguyễn, Nationalist in the Viet Nam Wars: Memoirs of a Victim Turned Soldier 2012 "Phan Huy Quát, the premier, and Phan Khắc Sửu, the chief of state, the two respectable national celebrities, failed to restore national stability and resigned, surrendering ruling power to a military junta."
  3. ^ Robert Trando Letters of a Vietnamese Émigré - 2010 -Page 91 "Dr. Quát became premier minister under Chief of State Phan-Khắc Sửu. Very soon, an irremediable rift arose between the two due to the difficult demands of the separatist southerner Sửu."
  4. ^ Frankum, Ronald Bruce (2011). Historical Dictionary of the War in Vietnam. Scarecrow Press. ISBN 9780810879560.
  5. ^ Theo Trần Sinh Cát Bình, nguyên Chủ tịch Ủy ban Nghi lễ Quốc táng Quốc trưởng Phan Khắc Sửu.
  6. ^ Theo Trần Sinh Cát Bình, nguyên Chủ tịch Ủy ban Nghi lễ Quốc táng Quốc trưởng Phan Khắc Sửu.
  7. ^ Theo Trần Sinh Cát Bình, nguyên Chủ tịch Ủy ban Nghi lễ Quốc táng Quốc trưởng Phan Khắc Sửu.
  8. ^ Theo Trần Sinh Cát Bình, nguyên Chủ tịch Ủy ban Nghi lễ Quốc táng Quốc trưởng Phan Khắc Sửu.
  9. ^ Theo Trần Sinh Cát Bình, nguyên Chủ tịch Ủy ban Nghi lễ Quốc táng Quốc trưởng Phan Khắc Sửu.
  10. ^ Theo Trần Sinh Cát Bình, nguyên Chủ tịch Ủy ban Nghi lễ Quốc táng Quốc trưởng Phan Khắc Sửu.
  11. ^ Theo Trần Sinh Cát Bình, nguyên Chủ tịch Ủy ban Nghi lễ Quốc táng Quốc trưởng Phan Khắc Sửu.
  12. ^ Robert Trando Letters of a Vietnamese Émigré - 2010 -Page 91 "Dr. Quát became premier minister under Chief of State Phan-Khắc Sửu. Very soon, an irremediable rift arose between the two due to the difficult demands of the separatist southerner Sửu."
  13. ^ Công Luận Nguyễn, Nationalist in the Viet Nam Wars: Memoirs of a Victim Turned Soldier 2012 "Phan Huy Quát, the premier, and Phan Khắc Sửu, the chief of state, the two respectable national celebrities, failed to restore national stability and resigned, surrendering ruling power to a military junta."
  14. ^ Nohlen, D, Grotz, F & Hartmann, C (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II, p331 ISBN 0-19-924959-8
  15. ^ Nohlen, D, Grotz, F & Hartmann, C (2001) Elections in Asia: A data handbook, Volume II, p331 ISBN 0-19-924959-8
  16. ^ ""Ngày Độc Lập của Việt Nam và đảng Cần Lao"". Archived from the original on 2010-10-18. Retrieved 2022-07-07.
  17. ^ "Mời Dự Lễ Tưởng niệm Cố Quốc Trưởng VNCH Phan Khắc Sửu". Việt Báo Daily News (in Vietnamese). Garden Grove, California. 24 May 2008. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
Political offices
Preceded by Minister of Agriculture of the State of Vietnam
1949-1951
Succeeded by
Preceded by Minister of Agriculture of the State of Vietnam
1954
Succeeded by
Preceded by Chief of State of the Republic of Vietnam
1964-1965
Succeeded by