Vietnam War Part II: Nixon & the Anti-War

Movement

US History: Spiconardi

1968: A Turbulent Year Key Events

Tet Offensive LBJ announces he would not seek re-election RFK & MLK, Jr. assassinated Peace talks begin (but not serious talks) Demonstrations at Democratic National

Convention Nixon wins the presidential election

Anti-War Movement Protest Marches

Marches take place in Washington, D.C., New York, and protestors even try to shut down the Pentagon

The Draft Thousands of draftees

resist the draft Could go to college to

have draft deferred Burn draft cards in

protest

Nixon and Vietnamization Nixon actually increases American military

activity in Vietnam at first, but changes is mind after the massive backlash against the war

VietnamizationVietnamization a policy of having South Vietnamese soldiers taking over the ground fighting

Bombing of Cambodia Despite policy of Vietnamization, US still

bombs Vietnam Nixon decides to bomb and invade the

neighboring country of Cambodia Outrages the anti-war movement

Kent State Students protest the

bombing of Cambodia National Guard kills 4

students Across the nation

students go “on strike” to protest the killings in Vietnam & at Kent State

Nixon calls student protestors “bums”

The War Powers Act After 1970, Congress dissolves the Gulf of

Tonkin Resolution The War Powers Act (1973)

Congress passes legislation over Nixon’s veto that gave Congress more power to deal with international conflicts (Reverses powers given to president under Gulf of Tonkin Resolution)

President can send troops over seas, but must inform Congress within 48 hours

President needs Congress’ approval to keep troops overseas more than 60 days

Congress has the power to force the President to bring troops home

Cease Fire In 1973, Henry Kissinger, Nixon’s National

Security Advisor is able to negotiate a cease fire US would remove ground troops, but keep advisors. A coalition government that included the Vietcong

would govern South Vietnam Cease fire does not last long

North Vietnam and South Vietnam resume a full-scale war

US gave financial aid to South Vietnam to fight back

Fall of Saigon: April 30, 1975 North Vietnam and

Vietcong overrun South Vietnam within two years

US evacuates hundreds of American and Vietnamese workers from the American Embassy in Saigon

Saigon renamed Ho Chi Minh City

Fall of Saigon North Vietnam sets up

Communist governments in Cambodia, Laos, and South Vietnam

Governments are repressive and massive hunger occurs Many flee their

countries for America Greeted with mix

response

Legacy and Lessons 58,000 Americans killed $170 billion dollar war Divided United States

Doves vs. Hawks Power of the Media

First war fought on television Distrust of government Pentagon

Papers Office of the President is weakened

Legacy and Lessons “…we didn’t know our ally. Secondly, we

knew even less a bout the enemy. And, the last, most inexcusable of our mistakes, was not knowing our own people.”

~General Maxwell Taylor