The Battle of the Tables: Symbolic Dispute in Vietnam War Negotiations

During the Vietnam War, negotiations for peace were hindered by a symbolic dispute known as the Battle of the Tables. The dispute arose over how the Southern insurgents would be represented, with the Americans initially opposing a triangular table that would give the insurgents less power. Various table configurations were suggested, such as a square table or two rectangular tables, but were deemed unacceptable by different parties. After 10 weeks of back and forth, an arrangement with a circular table surrounded by two rectangular tables was agreed upon, although none of it actually mattered as the real negotiations took place separately in Paris.