<Li> January 1961--Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev pledges support for "wars of national liberation" throughout the world . The idea of creating a neutral Laos is suggested to Kennedy . </Li> <Li> May 1961--Kennedy sends 400 United States Army Special Forces personnel to South Vietnam to train South Vietnamese soldiers following a visit to the country by Vice-President Johnson . </Li> <Li> June 1961--Kennedy meets with Khrushchev in Vienna . He protests North Vietnam's attacks on Laos and points out that the U.S. was supporting the neutrality of Laos . The two leaders agree to pursue a policy of creating a neutral Laos . </Li> <Li> June 1961--Kennedy said, "Now we have a problem making our power credible and Vietnam looks like the place" to James Reston of The New York Times (immediately after meeting Khrushchev in Vienna). </Li>

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