Vietnam War Part II: Nixon & the Anti-War Movement US History: Spiconardi

1968: A Turbulent Year  Key Events Tet Offensive LBJ announces he would not seek re-election RFK & MLK, Jr. assassinated Peace talks begin (but not serious talks) Demonstrations at Democratic National Convention Nixon wins the presidential election

Anti-War Movement  Protest Marches Marches take place in Washington, D.C., New York, and protestors even try to shut down the Pentagon  The Draft Thousands of draftees resist the draft  Could go to college to have draft deferred Burn draft cards in protest

Nixon and Vietnamization  Nixon actually increases American military activity in Vietnam at first, but changes is mind after the massive backlash against the war  Vietnamization  Vietnamization  a policy of having South Vietnamese soldiers taking over the ground fighting

Bombing of Cambodia  Despite policy of Vietnamization, US still bombs Vietnam  Nixon decides to bomb and invade the neighboring country of Cambodia Outrages the anti-war movement

Kent State  Students protest the bombing of Cambodia  National Guard kills 4 students  Across the nation students go “on strike” to protest the killings in Vietnam & at Kent State  Nixon calls student protestors “bums”

The War Powers Act  After 1970, Congress dissolves the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution  The War Powers Act (1973) Congress passes legislation over Nixon’s veto that gave Congress more power to deal with international conflicts (Reverses powers given to president under Gulf of Tonkin Resolution)  President can send troops over seas, but must inform Congress within 48 hours  President needs Congress’ approval to keep troops overseas more than 60 days  Congress has the power to force the President to bring troops home

Cease Fire  In 1973, Henry Kissinger, Nixon’s National Security Advisor is able to negotiate a cease fire US would remove ground troops, but keep advisors. A coalition government that included the Vietcong would govern South Vietnam  Cease fire does not last long North Vietnam and South Vietnam resume a full-scale war US gave financial aid to South Vietnam to fight back

Fall of Saigon: April 30, 1975  North Vietnam and Vietcong overrun South Vietnam within two years  US evacuates hundreds of American and Vietnamese workers from the American Embassy in Saigon  Saigon renamed Ho Chi Minh City

Fall of Saigon  North Vietnam sets up Communist governments in Cambodia, Laos, and South Vietnam  Governments are repressive and massive hunger occurs Many flee their countries for America Greeted with mix response

Legacy and Lessons  58,000 Americans killed  $170 billion dollar war  Divided United States Doves vs. Hawks  Power of the Media First war fought on television  Distrust of government  Pentagon Papers  Office of the President is weakened

Legacy and Lessons  “…we didn’t know our ally. Secondly, we knew even less a bout the enemy. And, the last, most inexcusable of our mistakes, was not knowing our own people.” ~General Maxwell Taylor