1. Chapter 22 Section 4 1968- A Tumultuous Year
Key Events -The TET Offensive in Vietnam -MLK assassinated -RFK assassinated -The riots at the Democrat Convention in Chicago -Richard Nixon (Republican) elected president

2. Background of TET Offensive - Began in Khe Sanh
Jan 21, 1968 It had been attacked by NVA
US sent its main forces
up to the North
This was a diversion to fake
out the Americans for
something much
bigger to come…

3. LBJ’s Obsession with Khe Sanh
Dien Bien Phu - He did “not want to become
another Din Bin Poo.”
What was Dien Bien Phu?
A defensive complex set up by the French
The French surrendered May 7 and withdrew from Vietnam
May 8, 1954 : THE END OF FRANCE IN VIETNAM
U.S., Great Britain, France and Soviet Union met in Geneva
to discuss Vietnam’s fate

4. THE TURNING POINT of the Vietnam War
The TET Offensive
THE TURNING POINT of the Vietnam War
An overwhelming attack on 100 towns & cities and 12 U.S. air bases ALL OVER SOUTH VIETNAM!
Lasted one month
The goal: to spark a popular
uprising among the people
ALL OVER South Vietnam
Even the US Embassy was
attacked in Saigon, the
capital in the South!

6. TET Offensive - Jan. 30-31, 1968 3,000 Americans/South
Vietnamese soldiers dead
32,000 Vietcong dead
Tet - The Vietnamese New Year
U.S. military victory
but…North Vietnamese
political and
psychological victory!

7. Walter Cronkite “The most trusted man in America”
CBS news anchor who supported war until Tet
Feb. 27, 1968, “We are mired in a stalemate.”

8. LBJ’s reaction to Walter Cronkite
“If I’ve lost Walter, then I’ve lost. I’ve lost Mr. Average Citizen.” - LBJ

9. The new Sec. Of Defense Clark Clifford
An old trusted friend of LBJ who supported his Vietnam policies
However, after studying the situation, he concluded that the Vietnam War could NOT be won
“We seem to have a sinkhole. We put in more – they match it.
I see more and more fighting with more and more casualties on the
U.S. side and no end in sight to the action.”

10. Election of 1968 Democrat party – split over Vietnam
Eugene McCarthy (Minnesota senator)
- challenged LBJ for the nomination
- said he would end the war
Robert Kennedy (New York senator)
- at first said he would not run

11. New Hampshire Democratic Presidential Primary
March 1968
Should have been a slam dunk for LBJ since he was the incumbent
LBJ won with only 48%
Eugene McCarthy a little-known Minnesota senator who was ANTI-WAR - 42% of vote (impressive, and it shocked the nation)

12. Then Robert Kennedy Announced he WOULD run in 1968
Because he saw how weak LBJ was in the New Hampshire Primary

13. LBJ announces on television March 31, 1968:
1. A bombing halt
2. He will not seek another term of office in
Election 0f 1968 !! (This shocked the nation)

14. Martin Luther King assassinated April 4, 1968
Memphis, Tennessee
James Earl Ray, the assassin
Caught two months later ay Heathrow Airport in London,
Pleaded guilty to avoid death penalty
House Select Committee (late 1970s) later said it was likely that Ray was part of a conspiracy

15. Robert Kennedy assassinated June 5 ,1968
Ambassador Hotel, 12:15 am.
He had just won the California
presidential primary
Sirhan Sirhan – a disgruntled
Palestinian (still in jail)

16. Democratic National Convention mass chaos
Chicago, August 26-29, 1968
To nominate Hubert Humphrey for president in
Election of 1968
National Guard called out to maintain peace
with billyclubs, tear gas, and mace
TV coverage – lots of protesters; very violent scenes

17. Democratic Convention 1968

18. ELECTION of 1968 Richard Nixon 43.42% 301 electoral Republican WINNER
Hubert Humphrey 42.7% electoral Democrat (LBJ’s v. p.)
George Wallace % electoral Independent

19. Richard M. Nixon – president Spiro Agnew – v. p.
Elected Nov. 1968
Republican
Promised to restore law and order
“Peace With Honor” in Vietnam