Vietnam War Protests and the End of the War

Vietnam Protests

Students for a Democratic Society Created by students at University of Michigan Wanted major changes to end problems of war and racism Led 1st national anti-war demonstration

Resisting the Draft Deferments: postponements of service due to health, occupation, and college Higher income people less likely to serve (No, Mr. Green would not have had to) Led to rise in college enrollment Draft Dodgers: people who were drafted but refused to fight

Lottery Drafted men by birth date – men 18-26 chosen randomly

Hawks vs. Doves Doves – supported the withdrawal of troops and questioned the war Hawks – Support war

The Election of 1968 LBJ announces he will not seek re-election for president Democratic candidates Hubert Humphrey Eugene McCarthy Robert Kennedy

Election of 1968 What happened to Robert Kennedy? Shot & killed by Sirhan Sirhan Who wins the nomination? Hubert Humphrey

Election of 1968 Republican Candidate: Richard Nixon – end the war “honorably” Independent Candidate: George C. Wallace; The “great governor from the state of Alabama”

Won easily in electoral vote Popular vote was very close Election of 1968 Who wins the election? Richard Nixon Won easily in electoral vote Popular vote was very close

Why? - Silent Majority “Middle America” who disapproved of the anti-war protestors and supported the Vietnam War This group would become what was known as the “New Right” who would be largely responsible for the conservative movement in the 1980s

“Peace with Honor” Pledged to increase troops initially; pull troops out little by little over the next few years 1969: 540,000 troops 1972: 24,000 troops Vietnamization: Turning over more of the fighting in Vietnam to the South Vietnamese while gradually bringing troops home

Laos and Cambodia Nixon secretly ordered bombing campaigns and sent troops into both of these countries in 1969 and 1970 “I want the North Vietnamese to believe that I’ve reached the point where I might do anything to stop the war”

Kent State Shootings – May 4, 1970

4 killed, 9 injured

Credibility Gap Widens America learns of My Lai Massacre in 1969 1971 the Pentagon Papers were leaked to the New York Times Secret government documents about the war which proved government was misleading Americans about the war

1972 Election Despite anti-war protestors, Nixon able to beat… George McGovern Received almost 18 million more popular votes than McGovern—the widest margin of any U.S. presidential election

Watergate Scandal Jun 17, 1972 Five men broke into offices of the Democratic National Committee at the Watergate Hotel Office Complex in D.C. Installing or repairing advanced eavesdropping equipment and had cameras taking photographs of contents of filing cabinets

Committee to Re-elect the President (CREEP) Pulled off many “Dirty Tricks” for Nixon while in office Wire-Tap Devices in the Oval Office recorded every conversation Ever since the Pentagon Papers were leaked, Nixon put into place the Plumbers to plug these leaks

The Washington Post Why was Nixon involved??? Bob Woodward & Carl Bernstein were the investigative reporters in charge of investigating Watergate Deep Throat (Mark Felt) Secret informant who provided the journalists with info. that Nixon was directly involved Why was Nixon involved??? Paranoid about losing the election Congress starts the investigation – what do they want as evidence?

Nixon’s last days Three articles of impeachment (what is it?) Obstructing the Watergate investigation Misuse of power and violating his oath of office Failure to comply with House subpoenas

Impeachment Process House impeaches (charges with a formal accusation) Senate decides guilt or innocence

“Always give your best, never get discouraged, never get petty; always remember, others may hate you, but those who hate you don’t win unless you hate them, and then you destroy yourself.” -Richard Nixon August 8, 1974

Nixon’s Last Days Gerald Ford takes over as President Pardons Nixon and several others involved

The War Ends 1973: Paris Peace Accords Removal of all U.S. troops and military advisers but allowed North to remain in place

Both sides agreed to return P.O.W.s including over 600 Americans North and South would remain split and this meant that U.S. could withdraw keeping its promise of not allowing Communism to spread – aka the Domino Theory

The Legacy of Vietnam 1975 North Vietnam launched New offensive in the South; last workers at embassy are pulled out in 1975 (South falls in just 5 months)

Vietnam by the Numbers 58,000 Americans dead, 303,000 wounded, and 2,500 missing Over 1,000,000 NVA and Vietcong were dead 8 million tons of bombs in the region – contaminated food & water supplies

Effects on Veterans Large number paralyzed & disabled returned home because of advanced medical conditions Lieutenant Dan from Forest Gump Veterans were targets of anger or shame, verbal abuse, and even of people spitting on them Also, they suffered from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

Political Impact Cost More than $150 Billion 26th Amendment – 18 yr. olds vote Wars Powers Act 1973: Sets a 60-day limit on the presidential commitment of U.S. troops to foreign conflicts without specific Congressional authorization or declaration of war Distrust of Government

Detente Ease tensions with Cold War enemies SALT I: agreement to slow the building of offensive weapons “Just easin’ the tensions baby. Just easin’ the tensions”

Ping Pong Diplomacy

Nixon visits Chinese leader Mao Zedong

Other Foreign Policies Realpolitik Base foreign policies on national interest