1. Chapter 22 The Vietnam War years State Standards 11.9.3, 11.9.4

2. Fulbright Hearings (1966-1971) – U.S. Senate hearings on Vietnam Fulbright Hearings (1966-1971) – U.S. Senate hearings on Vietnam "The war is not going well. The situation is worse than reported in the press and worse, I believe, than indicated in intelligence reports." "The war is not going well. The situation is worse than reported in the press and worse, I believe, than indicated in intelligence reports." "If there is a God, and he is very kind to us, and given a million men, and five years, and a miracle in making the South Vietnamese people like us, we stand an outside chance of a stalemate." "If there is a God, and he is very kind to us, and given a million men, and five years, and a miracle in making the South Vietnamese people like us, we stand an outside chance of a stalemate." Added to Americans dislike of the Vietnam War Added to Americans dislike of the Vietnam War

3. Draft Draft 18 to 26 called up to military service 18 to 26 called up to military service Exemption Exemption Medical reasons Medical reasons College deferment College deferment Draft lottery system (1969) Draft lottery system (1969) Women in Vietnam Women in Vietnam 10,000 women served (mostly as nurse) 10,000 women served (mostly as nurse) Others volunteered for Red Cross or USO Others volunteered for Red Cross or USO

4. African Americans in Vietnam African Americans in Vietnam 20% of combat deaths (only 10% of troops) 20% of combat deaths (only 10% of troops) MLK called war “cruel irony, black Americans dying for a country that still treated them as second-class citizens” MLK called war “cruel irony, black Americans dying for a country that still treated them as second-class citizens” Racial tensions in platoons led to low troop morale Racial tensions in platoons led to low troop morale

5. Opposition to war New Left – youth movement, demanded changes New Left – youth movement, demanded changes Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) – called for restoration of “participatory democracy” & greater individual freedom Students for a Democratic Society (SDS) – called for restoration of “participatory democracy” & greater individual freedom Free Speech Movement (FSM) – focused criticism on “American Machine” the faceless & powerful business and government institutions. Free Speech Movement (FSM) – focused criticism on “American Machine” the faceless & powerful business and government institutions. Led to campus Activism Led to campus Activism

6. Teach-ins Teach-ins 1965, March on Washington by 20,000 protestors 1965, March on Washington by 20,000 protestors LBJ changes student deferment LBJ changes student deferment Required to be in good academic standing Required to be in good academic standing Led to protest Led to protest Youth oppose war because Youth oppose war because War was a Vietnamese civil war War was a Vietnamese civil war South Vietnamese government no better than Communist South Vietnamese government no better than Communist Can’t police world – war draining U.S. Can’t police world – war draining U.S. War unjust War unjust

7. Draft resistance Draft resistance 200,000 accused of draft offenses 200,000 accused of draft offenses 4,000 imprisoned 4,000 imprisoned 10,000 Americans fled country (Canada) 10,000 Americans fled country (Canada) Doves – strongly opposed to war Doves – strongly opposed to war Hawks – strongly supported war Hawks – strongly supported war 1967, Robert McNamara resigns as Defense Secretary 1967, Robert McNamara resigns as Defense Secretary

18. 1968- Numerous Vietcong and North Vietnamese Army attacks 1968- Numerous Vietcong and North Vietnamese Army attacks Stunned Americans-led them to turn against the war Stunned Americans-led them to turn against the war Tet Offensive Tet Offensive January 30 –week long truce January 30 –week long truce (Vietnamese equivalent of New Year’s Eve) (Vietnamese equivalent of New Year’s Eve) Beginning of the lunar new year festivities known as Tet Beginning of the lunar new year festivities known as Tet Celebrations and funerals held (firecrackers, flutes, coffins) Celebrations and funerals held (firecrackers, flutes, coffins) Vietcong sneak weapons in coffins and launch attack on South cities and American airbases (100+ towns) Vietcong sneak weapons in coffins and launch attack on South cities and American airbases (100+ towns) Month of fighting before U.S. and South regained control Month of fighting before U.S. and South regained control Vietcong lost 32,000 Vietcong lost 32,000 Americans and ARVN lost 3,000 Americans and ARVN lost 3,000 Americans shaken – enemy close to defeat ? Americans shaken – enemy close to defeat ? A Tumultuous Year 2 assassinations (JFK & MLK), urban riots, campus protests

20. Poll prior to Tet Poll prior to Tet 28% of Americans called themselves doves 28% of Americans called themselves doves 56% of Americans called themselves hawks 56% of Americans called themselves hawks Media reports were skeptical but balanced Media reports were skeptical but balanced Poll after Tet Poll after Tet 40% of Americans both doves and hawks 40% of Americans both doves and hawks Media Reports openly criticized the war Media Reports openly criticized the war Clark Clifford – new defense secretary Clark Clifford – new defense secretary Declared war unwinnable Declared war unwinnable Tet changes public opinion

21. LBJ’s popularity plummeted LBJ’s popularity plummeted February 1968 – 60% disapproved of his handling of the war February 1968 – 60% disapproved of his handling of the war Eugene McCarthy and Robert Kennedy run against Johnson Eugene McCarthy and Robert Kennedy run against Johnson (Democratic Party split) (Democratic Party split) March 31, 1968- Johnson withdraws March 31, 1968- Johnson withdraws U.S. would seek negotiations to end war U.S. would seek negotiations to end war “Accordingly, I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your president….“That… war, killed the lady I really loved – the Great Society” “Accordingly, I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your president….“That… war, killed the lady I really loved – the Great Society”

22. Robert Kennedy Robert Kennedy Strong candidate in Democratic primary Strong candidate in Democratic primary assassinated assassinated Democratic National Convention Democratic National Convention Eugene McCarthy v. Hubert Humphrey (LBJ’s VP) Eugene McCarthy v. Hubert Humphrey (LBJ’s VP) Democrats met at convention to choose candidate Democrats met at convention to choose candidate Humphrey already chosen before convention Humphrey already chosen before convention Upset many antiwar activists Upset many antiwar activists Race for President

23. Arrival in Chicago for the Convention Arrival in Chicago for the Convention 10,000 protestors arrive 10,000 protestors arrive Pressure Democrats to take an antiwar platform Pressure Democrats to take an antiwar platform Voice displeasure with Humphrey’s nomination Voice displeasure with Humphrey’s nomination Provoke violence (Yippies) Provoke violence (Yippies) Mayor ordered 12,000 police & 5,000 National Guard Mayor ordered 12,000 police & 5,000 National Guard “The world is watching” “The world is watching” Democrats- inside and outside the convention hall- became a party of disorder Democrats- inside and outside the convention hall- became a party of disorder

24. Republican candidate – Richard Nixon Republican candidate – Richard Nixon Promised to restore law & order and end Vietnam War Promised to restore law & order and end Vietnam War George Wallace – Governor of Alabama, third party candidate George Wallace – Governor of Alabama, third party candidate American Independent candidate –Southern states American Independent candidate –Southern states “white backlash”- disgusted with inner city riots and antiwar protests “white backlash”- disgusted with inner city riots and antiwar protests Nixon wins election… Nixon wins election… Greatest political comeback in American Politics Greatest political comeback in American Politics (1960- loss to Kennedy for presidency) (1960- loss to Kennedy for presidency) (1962- loss for gvnr. CA) (1962- loss for gvnr. CA)