During the NSC meeting, Frederick Nolting—who preceded Lodge as US Ambassador to South Vietnam—took issue with Mendenhall's analysis.[14] Regarded as a Diệm apologist,[17] Nolting pointed out that Mendenhall had been pessimistic about South Vietnam for several years. Mecklin reinforced and pushed Mendenhall's view further, calling on the administration to apply direct pressure on Saigon by suspending non-military aid, in an attempt to cause a regime change.