Kennedy Assassination & Intro to Vietnam War “No event in American history is more misunderstood than the Vietnam War. It was misreported then, and it is misremembered now. Rarely have so many people been so wrong about so much. Never have the consequences of their misunderstanding been so tragic” - Nixon March 9, 2010

JFK –Civil Rights –Cold War/ Communism Americans LOVE JFK November 1963 –Dallas, Texas –Running for reelection in 1964 –Motorcade through city Lee Harvey Oswald –6th floor of Texas Library 3 shots fired at President –Hit in back of head –Declared dead 1/2 hour later Lyndon B. Johnson (VP) –Sworn in on Air Force One Warren Commission claims Oswald was Lone Killer of JFK

Lyndon B. Johnson President after JFK assassinated Wins 1964 campaign Vietnam War Facts –U.S. never declared War on North Vietnam –Gulf of Tonkin Resolution President allowed to make all necessary measures to defend U.S. North Vietnam (communist) South Vietnam (non-communist) 2.59 million served 58,148 killed 304,000 wounded Average age killed - 23 yrs. old

300 times more disabled than WWII As of 2005 –1,875 still unaccounted for Days in combat –WWII 40 days/ year –Vietnam 240 days/ year Helicopter –12,000 2/3 U.S. men volunteered National Debt $146 billion 1st TV war North Vietnam killed –500,000 to 600,000 –15 million wounded