sentences:  Although Khánh had already told CIA officer Lucien Conein—who helped to plan the coup against Diệm—in December 1963 that he intended to overthrow Minh, the report was filed away among the many rumors that were received by American representatives.Following the coup, Khánh was promoted by the Americans—in both the media and government—as South Vietnam's new hope.Khánh was generally portrayed in the American media—which was widely supportive of the change in Saigon's leadership—as a "strong man".