Quotes

American diplomats, generals and journalists nattered about my preference for purple socks, noted that I wore my hair longer than a U.S. Marine Corps drill instructor or reported erroneously but often, that I packed a pearl handled revolver.

If I had stolen millions of dollars I could live like a king in this country, but obviously I don't live like a king.

[on running a liquor store in Southern California] When a former national leader becomes a storekeeper, it is news. Journalists of every sort visited my store. One day a bus driver came in to ask if his passengers, German tourists, could enter and see me. I discovered that my business was a standard stop on his tour which ended at Disneyland.

I think Americans and Vietnamese can achieve today what we could not achieve during the Vietnam War: a final victory over the Communists.

[on his return to Vietna]: Last night, I thought, 30 years ago I cried because I left my homeland. And today I cried once again because I found my homeland.

I think it's very wrong that some--especially some Vietnamese overseas in America-today are asking and demanding that Vietnam has to adopt some sort of democracy like they have in America. It's not fit for Vietnam in the present situation.