1. Section

2. The Tet Offensive, January 1968

3. The Tet Offensive, January 1968
N. Vietnamese Army + Viet Cong attack South simultaneously (67,000 attack 100 cities, bases, and the US embassy in Saigon)
Take every major southern city
U.S. + ARVN beat back the offensive
Viet Cong destroyed
N. Vietnamese army debilitated
BUT…it’s seen as an American defeat by the media

4. 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?

5. Johnson’s popularity dropped in 1968 from 48% to 36%.

6. 1968 Election The Democrats
Lyndon Johnson = current President (the favorite)
Eugene McCarthy = little known Senator (the underdog)
Against the war… does well in early primaries
Robert F. Kennedy = former Attorney General (the name)
Decides to run after seeing how well McCarthy does

7. Then in March…
Johnson announces
…I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President.

8. Then in April…
MLK is Assassinated in Memphis

9. Then in June…
RFK is Assassinated in LA

10. Then in August…
Democratic Convention in Chicago

11. 10,000 Anti-war people gather outside the convention.
want McCarthy (Humphrey wins)
Police and National Guard called to “maintain order”
Rioting occurs… police use force
All captured on TV…. Looks really bad

12. Dem. Candidate = Humphrey
VP Under Lyndon Johnson (unpopular)
Rep. Candidate = Nixon
2 major issues he ran on
Ending war in Vietnam
Ending rioting and protests in cities

13. A lot of the public hated ALL OF THE CANDIDATES
3rd Party Candidate = George Wallace
former Alabama Governor
Racist (supported segregation)
Won 5 Southern states in the election
Had some support in Northern areas too

15. Then in November…
Presidential Election