The War Grows Unpopular The Tet Offensive exposed that the war was going poorly The Tet Offensive exposed that the war was going poorly LBJ, feeling pressure from fellow Democrats, chooses not to seek reelection LBJ, feeling pressure from fellow Democrats, chooses not to seek reelection Robert Kennedy, brother to JFK, AND US Senator from NY and Eugene McCarthy both seek the Democratic nomination for the Presidency Robert Kennedy, brother to JFK, AND US Senator from NY and Eugene McCarthy both seek the Democratic nomination for the Presidency McCarthy called to end the War immediately McCarthy called to end the War immediately
Turmoil-1968 Martin Luther King, Jr assassinated Martin Luther King, Jr assassinated Violence breaks out throughout the USA in protest and response Violence breaks out throughout the USA in protest and response Two months later, Robert Kennedy will be assassinated in Los Angeles-he had been a favortie to win the Presidency Two months later, Robert Kennedy will be assassinated in Los Angeles-he had been a favortie to win the Presidency College campuses erupted throughout the nations-10’s of thousands of students protested College campuses erupted throughout the nations-10’s of thousands of students protested Richard Nixon saw an opportunity to seek the Presidency (Remember…he had NARROWLY been defeated by JFK in 1960) Richard Nixon saw an opportunity to seek the Presidency (Remember…he had NARROWLY been defeated by JFK in 1960)
Nixon I’ll restore law and order I’ll restore law and order I’ll end the war in Vietnam I’ll end the war in Vietnam His policies to “end” the war would lead to continued protests His policies to “end” the war would lead to continued protests “Peace with Honor” “Peace with Honor” Vietnamization Vietnamization Bomb Laos, Cambodia, North Vietnam-Get them to the Peace tables Bomb Laos, Cambodia, North Vietnam-Get them to the Peace tables
My Lai Massacre Back in Vietnam, things were getting worse Back in Vietnam, things were getting worse US soldiers had massacred Vietnamese villagers in a village known as My Lai US soldiers had massacred Vietnamese villagers in a village known as My Lai killed killed “I poured 4 clips into the group….the mothers were hugging their children…well, we kept on firing” “I poured 4 clips into the group….the mothers were hugging their children…well, we kept on firing” “Kill anything that breathed” “Kill anything that breathed”
US Invades Cambodia To chase Vietcong and North Vietnamese soldiers escaping to Cambodia, the US will invade Cambodia. April 1970 To chase Vietcong and North Vietnamese soldiers escaping to Cambodia, the US will invade Cambodia. April 1970 College Campuses exploded College Campuses exploded 1.5 million college kids went on strike 1.5 million college kids went on strike
Kent State University Located in Ohio Located in Ohio Protests there led to the burning of the ROTC building (Reserved Officer Training Corp) Protests there led to the burning of the ROTC building (Reserved Officer Training Corp) The mayor asked the National Guard to stop the student protests-the guards fired live ammunition into the protestors The mayor asked the National Guard to stop the student protests-the guards fired live ammunition into the protestors 9 wounded, 4 killed 9 wounded, 4 killed
1972 Nixon wins reelection Nixon wins reelection War was still raging in Vietnam War was still raging in Vietnam March 1973 the last US combat troops left Vietnam March 1973 the last US combat troops left Vietnam Communist takeover of Vietnam occurred in 1975 Communist takeover of Vietnam occurred in 1975