PresidentYears Cold War Policy Decisions in Vietnam and events Truman Eisenhower JFK LBJ Nixon Ford Containment Diplomacy, Brinksmanship, Covert operations Flexible Response Escalation Vietnamization, Detente Detente

(SEPTEMBER 2, 1945) "All men are created equal. They are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" This immortal statement was made in the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America m In a broader sense, this means: All the peoples on the earth are equal from birth, all the peoples have a right to live, to be happy and free. The Declaration of the French Revolution made in 1791 on the Rights of Man and the Citizen also states: "All men are born free and with equal rights, and must always remain free and have equal rights." Those are undeniable truths. Nevertheless, for more than eighty years, the French imperialists, abusing the standard of Liberty, Equality, and Fraternity, have violated our Fatherland and oppressed our fellow-citizens. They have acted contrary to the ideals of humanity and justice. In the field of politics, they have deprived our people of every democratic liberty.

Should the United States support the French?

1954 Geneva Accords- divided French Indochina into 4 nations.

Hanoi Saigon 17th North Vietnam South Vietnam

Hanoi Saigon 17th North Vietnam South Vietnam Ho Chi Minh Ngo Dinh Diem

American Planes Hit North Vietnam After Second Attack on Our Destroyers; Move Taken to Halt New Aggression The New York Times. New York, Friday August 7 th, 1964 President Johnson request broad Military Powers 98 senators say yes, 2 senators say no, 435 reps vote yes. Congress votes YES to Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. Escalation and Rolling Thunder to follow. Can the enemy be worn down? The Congress approves and supports the determination of the President, as Commander in Chief, to take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression.” Is he telling the whole story? According to Gulf of Tonkin Resolution:

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The Tet Offensive In December of 1967, LBJ and General Westmoreland stated that the end was near and that the enemy couldn’t threaten the South any longer. From 1964 to 1967 the war was mostly supported by Americans. In January 1968, the NVA attacked the northern base of Khe Sahn, this forced the US to concentrate their attention and troops at this location. On January 31 st, 1968 during the Tet New Year celebration, the NVA and Vietcong orgainized a surprise attack on every major South Vietnamese town and city. Including the American Embassy in Saigon.

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