1. Today, we are living with the “ghosts of Vietnam”.
The Vietnam War
America’s most unpopular war
Cost LBJ his second term to Richard Nixon
America’s longest and most expensive war
Divided America on the home front
The best technical war money could buy
America hardly ever lost a tactical battle
A war America did not win
Today, we are living with the “ghosts of Vietnam”.

2. Communist Expansion “CONTAINMENT”
Soviet Union 1918
Berlin Blockade X X
Eastern Europe 1946
China 1949 X
Korean War 1950 to 1953
Cuban Missile Crisis *
Vietnam War 1946 to 1975 US Involvement 1965 to 1975
*Cuba would remain and still is a communist country.
CONTAINMENT
Marshall Plan
Berlin Airlift
NATO
Korean War
Cuban Missile Crisis
Alliance for Progress
Peace Corps
Communist Expansion “CONTAINMENT” 1 1

3. The War in Southeast Asia
vn map
1. “Domino Theory”
Must “contain” communism and not allow it to spread. If it does, it would lead to more countries falling to the communists.

4. Background to the War
At end of WW II, Ho Chi Minh declared Vietnam an independent nation
With U.S. aid, France attempted re-colonize Vietnam
Ho Chi Minh had been fighting for Vietnamese independence since World War I.
The U.S. gave France aid to win its support in American anticommunist efforts in Western Europe.

5. 2. Background to the War
International Conference at Geneva in 1954
Vietnam was split at 17th parallel
Ho Chi Minh’s nationalist forces controlled the North
Ngo Dinh Diem, a French-educated, Roman Catholic claimed control of the South
Elections were to be held two years later but Diem backed out.
Realizing he would Diem backs out of elections.

6. U.S. Military Involvement Begins
Repressive dictatorial rule by Diem
Diem’s family holds all power
Wealth is hoarded by the elite
Buddhist majority persecuted
Torture, lack of political freedom prevail
The U.S. aided Diem’s government
Ike sent financial and military aid
675 U.S. Army advisors sent by 1960.
Realizing he would Diem backs out of elections.

7. Early Protests of Diem’s Government
Self-Emulation by a Buddhist Monk protesting against the brutality of Diem’s government

8. U.S. Military Involvement Begins
Kennedy elected 1960
Increases military “advisors” to 16,000
1963: JFK supports a S. Vietnamese military coup d’etat – Diem and his brother are murdered (Nov. 2)
Kennedy was assassinated just weeks later (Nov. 22)
Kennedy’s advisors were clearly fighting a covert war by 1963.
MacNamara has suggested that he believes Kennedy would have pulled the U.S. out, but evidence in inconclusive.
JFK realizes Diem is a liability; offers quiet support to a Vietnamese military coup d’etat.
The coup results in the brutal murders of Diem and his brother
The Vietnamese generals overthrow one another. A relatively stable, but tyrannical government emerges. It is little better than Diem’s.

9. U.S. Troop Deployments in Vietnam
Kennedy’s advisors were clearly fighting a covert war by 1963.
MacNamara has suggested that he believes Kennedy would have pulled the U.S. out, but evidence in inconclusive.
JFK realizes Diem is a liability; offers quiet support to a Vietnamese military coup d’etat.
The coup results in the brutal murders of Diem and his brother
The Vietnamese generals overthrow one another. A relatively stable, but tyrannical government emerges. It is little better than Diem’s.

10. 3. VIETNAM WAR
Why are we in South Vietnam? We are there because we have a promise to keep. Since 1954 every American President has offered to support the people of South Vietnam.
We have helped to build and we have helped to defend. Thus, over many years, we have made a national pledge to help South Vietnam defend its independence.
Lyndon Johnson, Speech at Johns Hopkins University, "Why are we in South Vietnam"

11. Johnson Sends Ground Forces
Remembers Truman’s “loss” of China --> Domino Theory revived
I’m not going to be the president who saw Southeast Asia go the way China went.
What Johnson told Congress
What he didn’t tell Congress:
He had already written the resolution before the “incident.”
The U.S. naval vessels were aiding ARVN in commando raids in North Vietnam at the time.
He learned that the attack probably hadn’t occurred.
The U.S. navy was not on the “high seas” but in N. Vietnam’s 12 mile territorial limit.

12. 1964 4. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Passed by Congress 5 Aug 1964
Radically altered the War in Southeast Asia
Gave President Johnson a “blank check”:
“To take all necessary steps to repel armed attack against US forces”, including force, to assist South Vietnam and any member of SEATO”
Committed US to fight for S Vietnam

13. 5. The Air War
1965: Sustained bombing of North Vietnam begins
Operation Rolling Thunder (March 2, 1965)
Downed Pilots: P.O.W.s
Carpet Bombing – napalm

14. The Air War: A Napalm Attack

15. Who Is the Enemy?
Vietcong: founded in South Vietnam who were communists—supported by N. Vietnam.
Farmers by day; guerillas at night.
Very patient people willing to accept many casualties.
The US grossly underestimated them.

16. The Ground War 1965-1968 No territorial goals
Body counts on TV every night (first “living room” war)

17. 6. The Tet Offensive, January 1968
N. Vietnamese Army + Viet Cong attack South simultaneously
80,000 attack 100 cities, bases and the US embassy in Saigon
Take every major southern city
U.S. + ARVN beat back the offensive
U.S. show this as a defeat!!!!

18. US troops defending the American Embassy in Saigon
The Tet Offensive
US troops defending the American Embassy in Saigon

19. Impact of the Tet Offensive
Domestic U.S. Reaction: Disbelief, Anger, Distrust of Johnson Administration
Hey, Hey LBJ! How many kids did you kill today?

20. 7. Anti-War Demonstrations
Columbia University, 1967

21. Anti-War Demonstrations
May 4, 1970
4 students shot dead.
11 students wounded
Jackson State University
May 10, 1970
2 dead; wounded
Kent State University

22. Impact of the Vietnam War
Johnson announces (March, 1968):
Accordingly, I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President.

23. DIVIDED AMERICA ESTABLISHMENT ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT
divided US
DIVIDED AMERICA
ESTABLISHMENT ANTI-ESTABLISHMENT
Called Middle America, the Silent Majority
Supported Vietnam War
Traditional American values: hard work, family and patriotism
Feared and disliked new styles of music and dress of youth
Against use of illegal drugs
Called counterculture Hippies, Flower Children
Opposed Vietnam War
Disillusioned with values of money, status, power; emphasized love, individual freedom, cooperation
Music and fashion emphasized movement toward new society, greater freedom
Used “mind-expanding” drugs, LSD

24. 8. Nixon in Vietnam
Nixon’s 1968 Campaign promised an end to the war: Peace with Honor
Appealed to the great “Silent Majority”
Vietnamization
Expansion of the conflict – The “Secret War”
Cambodia
Laos
Nixon’s “secret” plan never materializes.
He involved us more.
“Peace with Honor” We’ll win befoe we withdraw.
Expansion:Cambodia invaded in 1970: Ho Chi Minh Trail
Laos invaded in 1971: Ho Chi Minh Trail

25. Peace Negotiations
US & Vietnamese argue for 5 mo. over size of conference table.

26. 9. The Ceasefire, 1973 Conditions: U.S. to remove all troops
North Vietnam could leave troops already in S.V.
North Vietnam would resume war
No provision for POWs or MIAs
Last American troops left South Vietnam on March 29, 1973
1975: North Vietnam defeats South Vietnam
Many U.S.-loyal South Vietnamese attempt to flee for fear of execution by the North.

27. 1974 Nixon’s impeachment hearings/Resignation
South braces for huge Communist invasion.

28. South Vietnamese Attempt to Flee the Country
The Fall of Saigon
South Vietnamese Attempt to Flee the Country

29. America Abandons Its Embassy
The Fall of Saigon
April 30, 1975
America Abandons Its Embassy

30. The New Vietnam
Formerly Saigon

31. 10. The Costs 3,000,000 Vietnamese killed 58,000 Americans killed
300,000 wounded
Of those that died 11,465 were teenagers
10,000 dead from accidents
153,000 hospitalized & survive
2,590,000 Americans in Vietnam.
Great Society programs under funded
$150,000,000,000 in U.S. spending
U.S. morale, self-confidence, trust of government decimated
Diversion of capital to the war indirectly caused economic recession: 11% inflation and 12% unemployment!