The Election of 1968 LBJ announces he will not seek reelection for president Democratic candidates 1. Hubert Humphrey 2. Eugene McCarthy 3. 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 Independent Candidate: George C. Wallace; The great governor from the state of Alabama

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

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 pull troops out of war 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 Ive 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 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 McGovernthe 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 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???

Nixons last days Three articles of impeachment (what is it?) 1. Obstructing the Watergate investigation 2. Misuse of power and violating his oath of office 3. 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 dont win unless you hate them, and then you destroy yourself. -Richard Nixon August 8, 1974

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

South Vietnam Falls 1975 North Vietnam launched New offensive in the South Achieved victory in just 5 months May 1, 1975, Saigon became Ho Chi Minh City Last workers at embassy are pulled out in 1975

Vietnam by the Numbers 185,000 South Vietnamese soldiers and 450,000 civilians died 58,000 Americans dead, 300,000 wounded, and 2,500 missing Over 1,000,000 NVA and Vietcong were dead 1,500,000 refugees fled after Saigon was captured

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 More than $150 Billion spent on the Vietnam War 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

Other Foreign Policies Realpolitik Base foreign policies on national interest

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