Think AboutThink About

Should a government seek to Should a government seek to end an unpopular war? If so, end an unpopular war? If so, whatwhat’’s the best way to do so?s the best way to do so?

Fortunate Son (1969)Fortunate Son (1969)

Some folks are born made to wave the flag,Ooh, theyre red, white and blue.And when the band plays hail to the chief,Ooh, they point the cannon at you, lord, It aint me, it aint me, I aint no senators son, son.It aint me, it aint me; I aint no fortunate one, no,

Fortunate Son (1969)Fortunate Son (1969)

Some folks are born silver spoon in hand,Lord, don’t they help themselves, oh.But when the taxman comes to the door,Lord, the house looks like a rummage sale, yes, It aint me, it aint me, I aint no millionaires son,It aint me, it aint me; I aint no fortunate one, no.

Fortunate Son (1969)Fortunate Son (1969)

Some folks inherit star spangled eyes,Ooh, they send you down to war, lord,And when you ask them, how much should we give? Ooh, they only answer more! more! more! yoh, It aint me, it aint me, I aint no military son, son.It aint me, it aint me; I aint no fortunate one, one. 

Nixon and The Nixon and The Vietnam WarVietnam War

Election of 1968: Election of 1968: RepublicansRepublicans

Nelson RockefellerLiberal, Anti-war

Richard NixonModerate, Cold Warrior

Ronald ReaganConservative

Election of 1968: Election of 1968: RepublicansRepublicans

Spiro Agnew, Governor of Maryland is chosen as VP running mate

Election of 1968: DemocratsElection of 1968: Democrats

Hubert HumphreyJohnson’s VP

Eugene McCarthySen. From Minnesota Antiwar

Ed Muskie, Senator from Maine, Environmentalist, chosen as VP candidate

Election of 1968: Election of 1968: IndependentIndependent

George Wallace, Democrat, forms American Independent Party to slow desegregation

1968: Results1968: Results

VietnamizationVietnamization

Nixon says he has Nixon says he has ““secret secret planplan”” to end war to end war

Plan:Plan:– US reduces ground forces, US reduces ground forces,

giving over more and more giving over more and more responsibility to SVresponsibility to SV

– US increases air campaignUS increases air campaign– Known as Known as ““VietnamizationVietnamization””

Politics of PolarizationPolitics of Polarization

Spiro Agnew is NixonSpiro Agnew is Nixon’’s s ““hatchet manhatchet man””

Called protestors Called protestors ““un-un-AmericanAmerican””

Claimed media biasClaimed media bias

The Silent MajorityThe Silent Majority

And so tonight-- to you, the great silent majority of my fellow Americans-- I ask for  your support.  I pledged in my campaign for the Presidency to end  the war in a way that we could win the peace. I have initiated a plan of action which will enable me to keep that pledge.  The more support I can have from the American people, the sooner that pledge can be redeemed; for the more divided we are at home, the less likely, the enemy is to negotiate at Paris.  Let us be united for peace. Let us also be united against defeat. Because let us understand: North Vietnam cannot defeat or humiliate the United States. Only Americans can do that.

-- Pres. Nixon, Nov. 3, 1969

Expanding Expanding the Warthe War

Nixon orders air force to bomb Nixon orders air force to bomb targets in Cambodia and Laostargets in Cambodia and Laos– Ho Chi Minh trail used to move Ho Chi Minh trail used to move

troops and supplies from North to troops and supplies from North to SouthSouth

– Expansion of war into neutral Expansion of war into neutral countries angers many in UScountries angers many in US

Tin soldiers and Nixon coming,We're finally on our own.This summer I hear the drumming,Four dead in Ohio.

Gotta get down to itSoldiers are cutting us downShould have been done long ago.What if you knew herAnd found her dead on the groundHow can you run when you know?

Gotta get down to itSoldiers are cutting us downShould have been done long ago.What if you knew herAnd found her dead on the groundHow can you run when you know?

Tin soldiers and Nixon coming,We're finally on our own.This summer I hear the drumming,Four dead in Ohio.

OhioOhioCrosby, Stills, Nash and Young (1970)Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young (1970)

Kent StateKent StateUniversityUniversity May 4, 1970May 4, 1970

Protest against Protest against expanding war into expanding war into CambodiaCambodia

Ohio National Guard Ohio National Guard kills 4 studentskills 4 students– 2 not part of protest2 not part of protest

Public dividedPublic divided

Pentagon PapersPentagon Papers

Secret Dept. of Defense history of Secret Dept. of Defense history of Vietnam War in 1960sVietnam War in 1960s

Leaked to NY TimesLeaked to NY Times

People lose trustPeople lose trust

End of WarEnd of War

Even though US forces were reduced, Even though US forces were reduced, Nixon continued war until 1973Nixon continued war until 1973

1972: Christmas Bombings1972: Christmas Bombings– Nixon orders bombing of NV citiesNixon orders bombing of NV cities

Nixon feels pressure to settle and get Nixon feels pressure to settle and get outout– Paris Peace Agreement, January 23, 1973Paris Peace Agreement, January 23, 1973

The Fall of The Fall of SaigonSaigon

April 30, 1975April 30, 1975 US Diplomats try to evacuate as US Diplomats try to evacuate as

many SV staff workers as possible, many SV staff workers as possible, right up until NV troops take cityright up until NV troops take city

SV basically abandoned to NorthSV basically abandoned to North The end of the warThe end of the war

Think AboutThink About

Did the US lose the war in Did the US lose the war in Vietnam? Why or why not?Vietnam? Why or why not?