Eerie Parallel

Kevin Drum via Tom Cleaver of Redress Press notes the following NY Times article from September 3, 1967:

U.S. Encouraged by Vietnam Vote
Officials Cite 83% Turnout Despite Vietcong Terror

by Peter Grose, Special to the New York Times

WASHINGTON, Sept. 3-- United States officials were surprised and heartened today at the size of turnout in South Vietnam's presidential election despite a Vietcong terrorist campaign to disrupt the voting.

According to reports from Saigon, 83 per cent of the 5.85 million registered voters cast their ballots yesterday. Many of them risked reprisals threatened by the Vietcong.

The article goes on to explain how U.S. officials declare that this election will bring legitimacy to the newly-formed government in Saigon, setting the stage for withdrawal of U.S. military occupation in the country.