Lê Đức Thọ

Vietnamese revolutionary and diplomat who refused the Nobel Peace Prize

Lê Đức Thọ (1911–1990) was a Vietnamese revolutionary and diplomat best known for his role in the Paris Peace Accords, which aimed to end the Vietnam War. Unlike most Nobel laureates, he refused the 1973 Nobel Peace Prize, declaring that 'peace has not yet been established' in Vietnam. This unprecedented act highlighted his unwavering commitment to his nation's sovereignty over international accolades.

Born Phan Đình Khải in Hà Nam Province, he joined anti-colonial movements in his youth and later became a key figure in the Việt Minh resistance against French rule. His strategic brilliance in guerrilla warfare and diplomacy shaped Vietnam's path to independence. Thọ's negotiations with Henry Kissinger were marked by fierce resolve, leading to the U.S. withdrawal—a turning point in modern geopolitics.

Beyond Vietnam, Thọ's legacy challenges conventional notions of 'peacemaking.' His refusal of the Nobel Prize underscores the complexity of moral choices in wartime, making him a unique symbol of principled dissent.