1. Aim: Why did the US become further involved in Vietnam and how did American policies change?

2. Daisy Nuclear Ad Why are the stakes “too high” to not vote?

3. Combating Communism in Two Hemispheres February 1965  bomb raids in South Vietnam after Viet Cong guerrillas attack American air base March 1965  “Operation Rolling Thunder” Vietnam War = American war? –By 1968 more than 500,000 troops in SE Asia and the cost of war was over $30 billion

4. Credibility Gap Vietnam: America was floundering in Vietnam and was being condemned for its actions there Antiwar demonstrations: “Hey, hey, LBJ, how many kids did you kill today?”

5. Tet Offensive January 1968: Viet Cong attacked almost every capital and American base in South Vietnam on the “Tet” (Vietnamese New Year) Tet Offensive: ended when the US counterattacked and recovered the lost territory Victory or failure? March 1968: LBJ refused to sign an order for more troops to Vietnam and announced he would NOT run in the 1968 election

6. Victory for Nixon A minority president, he owed his presidency to protests over the war, the unfair draft, crime, and rioting Evaluating LBJ: damned if he did and damned if he didn’t

7. Vietnamization "Vietnamization”: withdrawing 540k US troops and turning the war over to the Vietnamese –"Nixon Doctrine”: U.S. would honor its commitments, but the Vietnamese would have to go at it without massive American troop numbers

8. Cambodianizing the Vietnam War "Ho Chi Minh Trail”: North Vietnamese attacking from Cambodia (NEUTRAL) and channeling supplies to N. Vietnam from Cambodia –In April 1970, Nixon ordered the U.S. to invade Cambodia to put a stop to the uneven playing field Pentagon Papers: NY Times secret study that showed goof-ups by JFK and LBJ in dealing with Vietnam -Adding to the credibility gap

9. Détente with Beijing Clash of the communists: China & Soviet Union were fighting (literally at times) over what it means to be a communist. Nixon saw this as a chance to step in and play one against the other Détente: reduction of Cold War tensions 1972: Nixon visits with Mao –1979 US recognizes communist gov’t in China

10. –Grain Deal of 1972: U.S. would sell $750+ million grain to the Soviets. –ABM treaty: anti-ballistic missile reduction –SALT: "Strategic Arms Limitations Talks” Froze the number of ballistic missiles carrying nuclear warheads Détente with Moscow

11. 1.North Vietnam attacked across the dividing line  Nixon responded by ordering the heaviest, massive bombing of the war to force an agreement 2.Paris Accords (Jan. 1973): N. Vietnam agrees to cease- fire and give back US POWs, US withdraws troops, war continues b/t North & South Armistice

12. Born in the USA Bruce Springsteen Did the end of Vietnam signify the end of the Cold War?