1. Ending Vietnam

2. New Policies Henry Kissinger- special assistant for national security
Use diplomacy to end Vietnam War
Linkage- improving relations with the USSR and China  cut back aid to North Vietnam
Peace talks with North Vietnam (Le Duc Tho)
Cease-fire
Return of American Prisoners of War (POWs)
South Vietnam

3. New Policies Vietnamization
Withdrawal of US troops (25,000 in 1969)
Turn over fighting to South Vietnamese
Nixon keeps strong presence in Vietnam for bargaining power
Increased air strikes in North Vietnam
Secretly bombed Vietcong soldiers in Cambodia without informing Congress or the public

4. My Lai Massacre
1968- American platoon massacred over 550 unarmed South Vietnamese civilians
Old men
Women
Children
Reported as a victory against a Vietcong stronghold in My Lai
Commanding officer Lieutenant Calley imprisoned
Significance
Dilemma: “Kill on orders and be a criminal, refuse to kill and be a criminal”
War seen as brutal and senseless
Vietnam soldiers seen as murderers

5. Response to Cambodia Seen as expansion of the war Protests
Kent State Massacre- Ohio National Guard killed four student protestors
Two African American students killed at Jackson State College
Congress repeals Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

6. Ending the War Attempted peace negotiations
Difficult to come to agreement
Christmas Bombings- to force the Vietnamese to negotiate
January 27, Peace treaty signed “ending the war and restoring peace in Vietnam”
US withdraws troops
Both sides exchange POWs
US promises to aid South Vietnam if agreement is violated
April 30, North Vietnamese capture SV capital Saigon
Reunited Vietnam under Communist rule
Congress refuses to send aid

7. Legacy Cost over $170 billion dollars 58,000 young Americans died
300,000 Americans wounded
Over 1 million North and South Vietnamese soldiers and civilians killed
Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Soldiers felt unappreciated, defeated
Unresolved War- POWs and MIAs

8. Legacy Public distrust of government War Powers Act
President must inform Congress of troop commitments within 48 hours
President must withdraw troops after days unless approved by Congress
People embrace isolationism
People question containing Communism
People encourage negotiation with USSR