Good Morning Vietnam!

Pre-US Military Involvement French fight for Indochina (1945-54) Ho Chi Minh Vietnamese national trained in China to gain independence for Indochina French colony Creates Vietminh political party/military & declares Vietnam free in August 1945 France sends troops to protect business interests (rice, rubber crops) US provides $15 million in aid to support fight against “communist” forces

Domino Theory Dien Bien Phu (May 1954) President Eisenhower warns that if France “loses” Vietnam, other neighbor countries will fall to communism Dien Bien Phu (May 1954) N. Vietnam forces surround & destroy 90% of all French troops France announces withdrawal Geneva Accords sign temporarily split Vietnam at 17th parallel & call for national reunification elections in 1956

US Diplomatic support (1954-63) In South Vietnam, Ngo Dinh Diem creates pro-western govt…but appears to be well on his way to losing in elections Eisenhower pledges support to keep Diem govt. stable & postpones elections 1957—Vietcong (pro N. Vietnam forces) begin attacks

Kennedy pledges support to Diem in 1961…so not to look “soft” on communism Sends 16,000 military advisors to Vietnam…non combat troops Diem (Catholic) institutes anti-Buddhist policies & reorganization of village lands…very unpopular Leads to Buddhist immolation protests Unpopular Diem leads JFK to authorize coup to overthrow S. Vietnam govt. Diem assassinated 11/1/1963

US Military Involvement Lyndon Johnson increases troops to S. Vietnam to stabilize new govt. from communist forces Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (Aug. 1964) Reaction to the “attack” of the USS Maddox off the coast of Vietnam 98-2 vote to give LBJ all powers to send military troops Feb. 1965—Operation Rolling Thunder 50,000 troops deployed along w/ sustained bomb campaign of N. Vietnam (180,000 by end of year)

War Tactics N. Vietnam Guerrilla warfare Using cover of jungle, tunnels, & ambushes to counteract large firepower of US Blended in traditional forces into general population

US War of attrition Search & Destroy Missions Using body count numbers to evaluate success Search & Destroy Missions Destroying villages in order to root out imbedded enemy Napalm & Agent Orange Gas bombs to burn jungle and destroy tunnels “Hearts & Minds” Campaign Program to win support of Vietnamese people through acts of kindness Failed miserably due to lack of understanding on part of US commanders

Effects of Agent Orange

Troop Morale Television & War Draftees, lack of progress & instability of S. Vietnam all led to decline in troop morale…and increase in widespread criminal activity (drug use, etc.) Television & War Vietnam 1st war televised & uncensored “living room war” led to dramatic, violent images of war never before seen at home…influenced popular opinion against the war Credibility Gap Public grew distrusting of leaders claiming victory & images showing defeat

Photos of Vietnam

Vietnam Protests

1968 – A Year of Tragedy The Tet Offensive Heavy losses by US and S. Vietnamese Army Attacks on military bases in the South by Vietcong Major loss of public support following Tet Lack of Faith in President Johnson 60% of Americans dis-approve of his handling of the war

And you think the Republicans are Messed up this Year! In 1968 President Johnson was up for re-election But there were democrats who didn’t support his handling of the war and run against him Eugene McCarthy (MN Senator) Robert Kennedy (younger brother of JFK) Johnson announces in March he won’t run for re-election Hubert Humphrey (Johnson’s VP) eventually joins the race

Assassination Changes the Country April 1968 – Martin Luther King Jr. is assassinated Riots break out in African American communities in over 100 cities June 1968 – Robert Kennedy (presidential candidate) is assassinated after giving a speech following the California primary

Democratic National Convention Chicago – August Eugene McCarthy – anti-war Hubert Humphrey – support of “the party” Disorder inside as delegates argued their position on Vietnam More disorder outside as thousands of protesters were being beaten by Chicago police Humphrey gets the nomination of the Democrats

Election of 1968 Republican – Richard Nixon Democrat – Herbert Humphrey Independent – George Wallace “white backlash candidate” Nixon winds in a landslide (mostly because the Democrats looked like a disaster at the convention) Promises to get out of Vietnam