THE VIETNAM WAR The guerilla wins if he does not lose, the conventional army loses if it does not win. -- Mao Zedong

Where is Vietnam? A French imperial territory from late 19th Century to 1945

“All men are created equal “All men are created equal. They are endowed by their Creator with unalienable Rights; among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness…We are convinced that the Allies cannot fail to recognize the right of the Vietnamese people to independence.” Ho Chi Minh, 1945

Eisenhower does not intervene. The French withdraw from Vietnam after the battle of Dien Bien Phu in 1954. Eisenhower does not intervene.

Geneva Conference 1954 On Korea and S.E. Asia Vietnam would be divided along 17th parallel.

US - - - > Domino Theory

North Vietnam South Vietnam Ngo Dinh Diem French-Educated Roman Catholic Ho Chi Minh Nationalist Communist Election date set to reunify Vietnam in 1956.

Diem becomes a dictator Diem backed out of the elections, leading to military conflict between North and South. Diem becomes a dictator Diem’s family holds all power Wealth is hoarded by the elite Buddhist majority persecuted Torture, lack of political freedom prevail US aides Diem’s regime with money and weapons. 675 U.S. Army advisors sent by 1960.

Who Is the Enemy? North Vietnamese Army: (North Vietnam) Vietcong: (South Vietnam) Farmers by day; guerillas at night.

CNN: The Sixties: The Vietnam War

“Silent Majority” “Peace with Honor” Richard Nixon Republican 1968 - 1974

Nixon and Vietnam Vietnamization Roll back of US troops in favor of South Vietnamese troops. Expansion of the conflict - - > The “Secret War” Cambodia Laos End of US involvement in 1973

In 1975, the North Vietnamese and the Vietcong captured Saigon. They renamed it Ho Chi Minh City.

Consequences of the Vietnam War 26th Amendment: 18-year-olds vote War Powers Act, 1973 (Over Nixon’s Veto) President must notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying military force President must withdraw forces unless he gains Congressional approval within 90 days 58,000 US troops , 215,000 South Vietnamese, 1 million North Vietnamese and 1 million Vietcong killed. 4 million Vietnamese civilians killed. War Powers Act., 1973, passed over Nixon's veto, requires the President to notify Congress within 48 hours of his use of military force in a foreign country or enlarging an ongoing conflict. The President must secure Congressional approval if he intends to keep these troops overseas for more than 60 days. If he doesn't, he must withdraw the forces. Congress can pass a joint resolution to withdraw the troops before the 60 day deadline. (Each President since has denied its validity, though the issue has never been tested.) No welcome home (shamed and ashamed), high unemployment, alcohol & drug abuse; poor care of disabled vets: underfunded vets hospitals, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; Agent Orange health problems, birth defects in vets’ children.