plotters Lucien Conein met with Generals Minh and Don. Afterwards, Lodge reported, "Minh seemed tired and somewhat frazzled; obviously a good, well-intentioned man. Will he be strong enough to get on top of things?" The new government was announced on the 6th: General Minh was chairman, Don and Dinh were deputy chairmen, and nine other generals, including Kim, Khiêm, "little" Minh, Chieu, and Thieu were members. General Nguyễn Khánh, the commander of II Corps tactical zone in central Vietnam, was not in the government. After two assassinations Kennedy and Diệm both died in November 1963. Lyndon Johnson became the new President of the United States. Johnson was far more focused on domestic politics than the international activist, Kennedy. Some of the Kennedy team left quickly, while others, sometimes surprisingly given extremely different personalities, stayed on; the formal and logical Robert McNamara quickly bonded with the emotional and deal-making Johnson. McNamara was insistent that a rational enemy would not accept the massive casualties that indeed were inflicted on the Communists. The enemy, however, was willing to accept those casualties. McNamara was insistent that the enemy would comply with his concepts of cost-effectiveness, of which Ho and Giap were unaware. They were, however, quite familiar with attritional strategies. While they were not politically Maoist, they were also well versed in Mao's concepts of protracted war. Three things concerned the U.S.: How stable was the new government? Was the presence of an empowered Tho a threat to Minh and the other generals? The economy was in tatters, partially due to the suspension of aid as a lever on Diệm Statistical indicators showed that VC attacks were increased in comparison with the first half of the year, and MACV was concerned that units involved in the coup were not getting back to the field. US dissatisfaction with indigenous efforts led to "Americanization" of the war. References Further reading . 20th century in Vietnam 1959 in Vietnam 1960 in Vietnam 1961 in Vietnam 1962 in Vietnam 1963 in Vietnam Anti-communism in Vietnam Conflicts in 1959 Conflicts in 1960 Conflicts in 1961 Conflicts in 1962 Conflicts in 1963 History of Vietnam (1945–present) Presidency of Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidency of John F. Kennedy Presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson 1959 Vietnam Wars involving Vietnam