Yes, Ho Chi Min was a democrat, just like the NY Times told us Castro was, Mao was, Stalin was, Kim Il-sung was and all the leaders of Eastern Europe were, remember? One can not take the letter out of the historical context of what was happening post WWII.

Thank god Truman wasn't an idiot. I also would speculate the State Dept. has file cabinets full on letters like this from dictators all over the world.

Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats. H. L. Mencken