Skip to main content
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA; National Archives Records Administ…
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA; National Archives Records Administration
King Savang Vatthana
John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum, Boston, MA; National Archives Records Administration

King Savang Vatthana

King of Laos, 1959-1975
Vatthana was educated in France. During World War Two, he represented his father to the Japanese leaders. He was sent to the Japanese headquarters in Saigon where he protested Japanese actions of invading Laos.
In 1951 Vatthana started a term as Prime Minister. Upon his father's death, he ascended the throne (in October of 1959). He made an official visit to the United States in February of 1963, where he met President Kennedy.
On December 2, 1975 the King had to abdicate the throne due to a communist revolution. He refused to leave the country, in 1977 he was arrested along with the royal family. The King was placed in an internment camp, along with the other members of the royal family. The King lived his final years in the internment camp. There is controversy on when the King died, it is thought he died in 1978 or 1984 and his death was declared in 1989.