Ho Chi Minh in The Vietnam War
Ho Chi Minh (1890–1969) was a Vietnamese communist and revolutionary leader who, throughout much of the 20th century, sought to free his nation from colonial influence. He led Vietnamese insurgents against Japanese, French, and American occupying forces, as well as against rival factions of Vietnamese.
Ho and his Viet Minh forces were victorious against the French in the First Indochina War. In the Second Indochina War, known in the United States as the Vietnam War, he led the North Vietnamese in an effort to expel U.S. forces, crush the South Vietnamese government, and reunify the country.
Asked in December 1966 if he would fight to final victory, Minh stated, "If by 'final victory' you mean the departure of the Americans, then we will fight to final victory. Everything depends on the Americans. If they want to make war for 20 years, then we shall make war for 20 years. If they want to make peace, we shall make peace and invite them to tea afterwards."
He died in 1969, six years before the North declared victory in the Vietnam War and completed the reunification of the country under communist rule.