Henry Cabot Lodge Jr.

United States Ambassador to the Republic of Vietnam, ((Apr 16, 1957 to May 3, 1961 and August 25, 1965 to April 25, 1967). He succeeded Frederick Nolting Jr. Unique to ambassadors, he served twice, coming back after replacing Maxwell Taylor, and finally replaced by Ellsworth Bunker.

Lodge had been a Republican U.S. Senator, appointed by Democratic presidents.

Lodge's role in the coup that overthrew Diem remains confused. It is clear he knew that a coup was being planned; it is clear he did not inform the Diem goverment; it is not completely clear to what extent he encouraged the coup; it is fairly clear that he was shocked by Diem and Ngo being killed. Since CIA officer Lucien Conein was the actual contact to the coup plotters, it is possible that Lodge, intending to have plausible deniability, also did not have full information.