Editing Nguyễn Khánh (section)

==Anti-coup loyalist in 1960==
{{Main|1960 South Vietnamese coup attempt}}
In November 1960, mutinous paratroopers [[1960 South Vietnamese coup attempt|attempted to depose Diệm]], and laid siege to [[Gia Long Palace]]. Khánh arrived on the scene and climbed over the palace wall to reach Diệm during the siege.<ref name=h132/> Khánh lived close to the palace, and the plotters had tried to put him under house arrest at the start of the coup, but were unaware that he moved houses. Khánh proceeded to coordinate the loyalist defenders, along with Ky Quan Liem, the deputy director of the Civil Guard.<ref>Moyar (2006), pp. 109–10.</ref> During the standoff, Khánh met with rebel officers to keep abreast of their demands that Diệm share power.<ref name=m111>Moyar (2006), p. 111.</ref> He then advised Diệm to resign due to the demands of the rebel forces and protestors outside the palace, but the president refused.<ref name=m111/>

Khánh used the remaining communication lines to appeal to other senior officers outside Saigon to help,<ref name=m110/> and two divisions near Saigon complied.<ref name=m110/><ref name="j118"/> He convinced [[Lê Nguyên Khang]], the head of the [[Republic of Vietnam Marine Corps]] to contribute.<ref name=m110>Moyar (2006), p. 110.</ref> Diệm advised Khánh to continue negotiating, and a ceasefire was organised.<ref name=m112>Moyar (2006), p. 112.</ref> Diệm promised reforms,<ref name="j118">Jacobs, p. 118.</ref><ref name=m112/> but then reneged and crushed the coup.<ref>Moyar (2006), pp. 112–15.</ref>

Khánh's actions gained him a reputation of having helped the president, but he was later criticised for having a foot in both camps. Critics claimed that Khánh had been on good terms with the rebels and decided against rebelling when it was clear that Diệm would win.<ref name="h132">Hammer, p. 132.</ref> Khánh was later dispatched to the [[Central Highlands (Vietnam)|Central Highlands]] as the commander of the [[II Corps (South Vietnam)|II Corps]].<ref>Hammer, pp. 127–28.</ref> His American advisers were impressed with him and regarded him as an effective force against the Việt Cộng. Khánh also tried to win over the indigenous [[Montagnard (Vietnam)|Montagnard]] tribesmen, trying to learn their languages.<ref name=showdown/>