Before becoming one of the United States' most formidable enemies, Ho Chi Minh (and the rest of Vietnam) wanted to be BFFs with America. In fact, when the country declared its independence to the world, it did so in a proclamation that was both a cheesy love ballad and the most bitter breakup song ever composed.

For those U.S. history and politics buffs out there, the first bit of this proclamation should ring a bell…maybe the Liberty Bell?

After giving this a read, you may recognize the words of the Declaration of Independence being used here. That's because the Vietnamese were trying to pluck at the heartstrings of the U.S. government. The Vietnamese needed the United States' support if they were going to break free from France's colonial rule.

Unfortunately for the Vietnamese, the United States didn't like sappy love songs. They supported the French to the bitter end. So, when this document accused the French of having "acted contrary to the ideals of humanity and justice" (paragraph 5), there's totally the not-so-subtle jab being made at the United States as well.

The United States and Vietnam had seemed destined to be inseparable besties, but by 1945, their relationship was on the rocks, and by the time Nixon gave his speech in 1969, they were definitely on the outs.