U.S. Involvement in Vietnam 1945-1975

Into the “Quagmire”

“North Vietnam cannot defeat or humiliate the United States. Only Americans can do that.”

Richard Nixon---November 3, 1969

The Vietnam conflict grew directly from the ideas, values, and policies of the Cold WarI. Background

A. An occupied countryB. French mid 19th centuryC. WWIID. Sept 1945 Ho Chi Minh declares Vietnam a free countryE. French return

Ho Chi Minh

II. American InvolvementA. Early financial support

1. Yalta agreement2. Southeast Asia strategically important3. 1950-1954 U.S. spent $2.6 billion “saving Vietnam”

B. Political Reasons1. Domino Theory2. Truman Doctrine3. Containment Policy4. Representation on a global scale5. U.S. parental role

III. French Collapse

A. Dien Bien Phu (1954)1. Last stand for French2. overwhelming defeat3. DMZ set up4. Vietnam split at 17th parallel

a. Geneva Accords

The French fall at Dien Bien Phu May 7, 1954

VI. U.S. Direct Involvement

A. Eisenhower –April 1954

B. Geneva AccordsC. Vietnam as

“cornerstone” of the Free World in Southeast Asia

D. Installed Ngo Dingh Diem, pres of South Vietnam

E. Kennedy1. America’s creditability 2. Troop Commitment3. Tactics

F. Johnson1. LBJ on Vietnam2. LBJ’s shortcomings3. Opinion Polls

G. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution1. Attack on U.S. ships2. Congress passes resolution U.S.S Maddox “under attack”

H. Johnson defeats Goldwater1. Goldwater scares the public

I. Active Engagement1. Troop buildups2. Bombing

J. Strategy1. Political

a. Pacification-hearts and minds-promote political, social

and economic well-being of South Vietnamese while continuing military processes

K. Military Strategy1. Pacification

a. “purification” of Political system

b. Phoenix Program2. Bombing Strategy3. Search and Destroy4. Escalation and Growing Skepticism

a. selective service (draft)

L. Effects on Soldiers

1. Average age of soldiers 19

2. Educated3. Policies were

forced4. Guerilla tactics5. Many broke

under strain6. My Lai Massacre

M. Political Dissenters

1. Dangerous position in Johnson’s administrationa. Under Sec. of State

George Ball,b. Pres. Press Sec. Bill

Moyersc. VP Humphreyb. McNamara

2. Casualties

N. The Tet Offensive [1968]

1. Lunar New Year2. Attack throughout South3. 5 major cites, 26 provinces4. *A military defeat for Vietcong but

a political victory5. Impact on media

a. Vietnam first media war

The Tet Offensive-Saigon-1968

O. Military Consequences

1. more troopsP. Political Consequences

1. before and after Tet

2. LBJ did not seek the nomination

a. Robert

KennedyQ. Tet marked the

turning point in the war1. criticism grew

America’s Media War

I. Nixon-Peace with Honor

A. Kennedy killed June, 68’B. Martin Luther King April 68’C. Nixon wins election

II. Vietnamization (1968-1975)A. PurposeB. Ho Chi Minh dies 1969C. CambodiaD. Kent State and Berkeley

The Woodstock Music and Arts Festival August, 1969Estimated attendance 300,000

E. Pentagon Papers [June 1970]

1. Daniel EllsbergF. Easter Offensive [1972]G. Paris Peace Talks [1972]H. Christmas Bombings [1972]I. 1973-75

a. Watergate Scandal beginsb. Nixon resignsc. Saigon Falls April 30, 1975

Saigon Evacuation

III. 1976-1980

A. Pham Van Dong heads Socialist Republic of Vietnam

B. Jimmy Carter elected President

C. Vietnam invades Cambodia1. Pol Pot- killing fields

D. Boat peopleE. China invades North VietnamF. Ronald Reagan elected

President [1980]

IV. 1981-1985A. 1982 dedication of the Vietnam WallB. Vietnamese defeat Khmer Rouge Rebels

V. 1986-1990

A. George H. W. Bush elected PresidentB. Vietnamese troops leave Cambodia

VI. 1991-1997A. Bill Clinton elected PresidentB. Washington restores diplomatic relations with Hanoi and lifts trade embargoC. McNamara

VI. Casualties

A. 58,209 US DeathsB. 2,338 MIAC. 8 nurses-1 KIAD. * Marines lost more in Vietnam than all of WWII

E. Vietnamese best estimate4 million casualties

The Wall

Washington, D.C.

VII. Lessons Learned (if any)A. Ho’s predictionB. Khrushchev’s predictionC. DeGaulleD. U.S. Leaders

1. presidential failureE. Pentagon PapersF. American HubrisG. bombing lapsesH. we did not understand our foeI. *All subsequent wars will be compared

to VietnamJ. Returning VetsK. *Cynicism of Government