1. 1968 Ch. 22 Section 4

2. Tet Offensive Jan 30th = Vietnamese New Year –Known as “Tet” Week long truce proclaimed for Tet –Celebrated or funerals being held Some coffins full of weapons of Vietcong Vietcong launched an attack over 100 cities in S. Vietnam & 12 U.S. air bases

3. Tet Offensive U.S. embassy in Saigon attacked –5 Americans were killed Tet Offense continued for a month before U.S. & S. Vietnamese forces gained control of the cities Gen. Westmoreland declared attacks overwhelming defeat of Vietcong –Purely from a military standpoint Vietcong lost 32,000 U.S. & ARVN lost little over 3,000

4. Tet Offensive Gen. Westmorland wrong from a psychological & political standpoint Shook American public –They had been told U.S. close to victory Johnson Administration credibility gap grew to a point it couldn’t recover

5. Tet Offense In a matter of weeks Tet Offensive changed minds of Americans Poll before T.O. only 28% Doves & 56% Hawks After T.O. both sides claimed 40% Media now openly criticized war –Walter Cronkite

6. Minds changing in White House Robert McNamara resigned as defense secretary LBJ choose Clark Clifford for vacant position Clifford = friend & supporter of LBJ Vietnam policy However, Clifford concluded war = unwinnable

7. February 1968 Following T.O. LBJ’s popularity plummeted –Nearly 60% of Americans disapproved of the handling of the war –Nearly 50% of U.S. felt it was a mistake to send American troops to Vietnam

8. LBJ recognized change too… ‘If I’ve lost Walter [Cronkite], then it’s over. I’ve lost Mr. Average Citizen.’ -LBJ

9. Days of Loss & Rage Two assignations –Who? Series of urban riots –Where? Surge in college campus protests –Where? “That …war…killed the lady I loved-the Great Society.” - LBJ Turmoil in Chicago Pg. 752 What happened?

10. Election of 1968 Who were the 3 candidates? What parties were they running for? Who won? Why did this candidate win?

11. The End of the War & Its Legacy Leaving Vietnam Henry Kissinger, German emigrant, expert in international relations –Creates Vietnamization Vietnamization--> gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops in order for S.Vietnamese to tale a more active role in the war. “Peace with honor”

12. The End of the War & Its Legacy U.S. bomb tonnage Pg. 755 More bombs used in WWII & Korean War or just in Vietnam? What is the silent majority?

13. My Lai Massacre –Read Pg. 756 Invasion of Cambodia –Nixon announced April 30, 1970 Clear out N.Vietnam & Vietcong supply centers Sparked 1st general student strike in history –> 1.5 million students closed down some 1,200 campuses Columbia & Kent State

14. The Pentagon Papers Nixon bombed & invaded Cambodia without notifying Congress –Angered American public Dec. 31, 1970 Congress repealed Tonkin Gulf Resolution –What does this mean? Daniel Ellsberg former Defense Secretary of McNamara leaked Pentagon Papers –June 1971 –Read Pg. 757

15. “Peace is at Hand” 1971 poll --> 60% of Americans believed ALL troops should be withdrawn from Vietnam by end of year When were troops all finally out? Henry Kissinger served as Nixon’s top negotiator in Vietnam –Met with N. Vietnam’s top negotiator secretly Gave up on U.S. demanding N. Vietnamese troops leave S. Vietnam

16. The Final Push Nixon won reelection by promising peace –Didn’t happen 2 days after peace talks broke off Nixon unleashed ferocious bombing campaign –Bombed Hanoi and Haiphong 2 largest cities in N. Vietnam Became known as “Christmas Bombings” –U.S. planes dropped 100,000 bombs in 11 days –Pausing only on Christmas Day

17. March 29, 1973 Last U.S. combat troops left for home For America, the Vietnam War had ended War raged on in Vietnam March 1975 N. Vietnam launched full on invasion of S. Vietnam April 30, 1975 N.V. tanks rolled into Saigon & captured the city --> soon after S.V. surrendered

18. War leaves Painful Legacy Over 58,000 Americans killed –303,000 Americans wounded North & South Vietnamese deaths topped 2 million War left Southeast Asia unstable –Led to further war in Cambodia War left Americans with more cautious outlook on foreign affairs –More cynical view of their government WHAT CAUSED THIS?

19. War leaves Painful Legacy Many Vietnam veterans adjusted back to civilian life successfully However, 15% of 3.3 million soldiers who served developed post-traumatic stress disorder Other became apathetic or began using drugs or alcohol Several thousand committed suicide

20. War Powers Act Stipulated that the president must inform Congress within 48 hrs. of sending forces into a hostile area without a declaration of war Also, troops may only remain 90 days unless Congress approves the president’s actions or declares war