Who were the leaders representing South Vietnam during the conflict?

The correct choice identifies Nguyen Van Thieu and Bao Dai as the leaders representing South Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Nguyen Van Thieu served as the President of South Vietnam from 1967 until the fall of Saigon in 1975, becoming a prominent figure in the struggle against the Communist North. His presidency was marked by efforts to stabilize and defend South Vietnam amid escalating conflict. Bao Dai, meanwhile, was the last emperor of Vietnam and served as the nominal leader of South Vietnam at the war's onset. Though he had limited power, his position as the head of state before Thieu represents the earlier period of leadership within South Vietnam's government.

The option featuring Ho Chi Minh and Le Duan refers to leaders of North Vietnam, focusing on their role in the Communist effort to unify Vietnam rather than representing South Vietnam.

Ferdinand Marcos was the President of the Philippines during this era, and while his leadership in the Philippines had implications for regional politics, it does not pertain to the leadership of South Vietnam.

The mention of Kennedy and Johnson relates to U.S. presidents who were involved in the Vietnam War, but they were not leaders of South Vietnam. Their administration's decisions significantly influenced the conflict, but they did not represent the South Vietnamese