 U.S. diplomats were concerned that the move would be seen as a power grab , as Diệm was organising and driving an electoral process in which he was a candidate . The Americans felt that a legislature should be formed first and that the body should oversee the referendum , but Diệm ignored their advice . Ambassador G. Frederick Reinhardt informed Washington that Diệm had no intention of allowing a level playing field for the opposition , and that the foreign press had already made much of Diệm 's democratic pronouncements being a facade . The Department of State agreed and opted to avoid trumpeting the referendum as an exercise in democracy for fear of attracting negative reactions to their foreign policy . Nevertheless , U.S. officials in Vietnam were pleased with the referendum , as they saw it as an opportunity to strengthen South Vietnam and avoid defeat to the communists , as they saw a republican model as being more robust . 
