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| 1955, Aug. 6 |
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| Premier Pibul Songgram ousted some of the country's most powerful men in a successful attempt to regain exclusive control of the government. | 1 |
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| 1957, Sept. 17 |
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| In a military but bloodless coup, Commander in Chief Sarit Thanarat took control of the country. On Sept. 18, King Phumiphol Adulyadet appointed Sarit as military governor of Bangkok. Dissolving Parliament, the king appointed 123 members, pending new elections within 90 days. On Sept. 21, SEATO's secretary-general Pote Sarasin was unanimously chosen as premier. | 2 |
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| 1958, Oct. 20 |
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| Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat, supreme commander of the armed forces, in a quiet coup established military rule. On Oct. 21, Sarit abolished political parties and began arresting persons engaged in Communist activity. | 3 |
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| 1962, Nov. 24 |
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| The U.S. began the withdrawal of 2,300 U.S. soldiers from Thailand. | 4 |
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| 1963, Dec. 8 |
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| Premier Marshal Sarit Thanarat died. Gen. Thanom Kittikachorn, former senior deputy premier, succeeded him and promised to follow the policies of Marshal Sarit. | 5 |
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| 1965–75 |
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| In the Vietnam War (See Aug. 5) the Thai government took its stand with the U.S. and the anti-Communist governments. Thailand obtained U.S. assurances of support if it was seriously threatened. | 6 |
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| Sept |
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| A Thai contingent was sent to Vietnam, while some 35,000 American troops were based in Thailand, mostly to service air attacks on North Vietnam. Massive U.S. financial aid helped to develop Thailand's communications. Although the Thanom regime spent vast sums on social and economic development, by the late 1960s there was serious rural unrest, largely due to the activities of the Communist Party of Thailand. | 7 |
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