VietnamElections and End of U.S.

Involvement

Reactions Walter Cronkite – Newsman - 1968“We have too often been disappointed by the

optimism of the American Leaders…for it seems now more certain than ever that the bloody experience of Vietnam is to end in a stalemate”

“If I’ve lost Cronkite, I’ve lost middle America.”- LBJ

  What does LBJ mean?

What are some events before and after this comment that provide support to Cronkite?

Objectives Understand the Elections of ‘68 and

‘72

Understand Nixon’s exit strategy

How did the Vietnam war change Americans’ perception of our government?

Legacies of Vietnam

1968 Election Democratic Party

1968= Great Society < Civil Rights < Vietnam

Challengers arise in Democratic Party-Kennedy and Eugene McCarthy – Anti-War

Robert Kennedy and MLK Assassinated

Democratic National Convention in Chicago

1968 Election

10,000 Protestors – 600 arrested What do other Americans see?

1968 Election

Republicans Richard Nixon – “Law and Order” at home and

Secret Plan for Vietnam “War must be ended. It must be ended

honorably”

1968 Election Independent Party – George Wallace

Southern Democrat against ultra-liberal policies (Great Society, Civil Rights)

Against war protestors

Appealing to Republicans and Democrats

1968 Election Popular Vote: Nixon 43.4%

Humphrey 42.7%Wallace 13.5%

Nixon enjoys wider margin in Electoral College and takes presidency with confidence.

Nixon’s Goal

End U.S. Involvement

Vietnamization

Lower Troop Numbers

Peace Negotiations with North

Set up Anti-Communist Government in South

Don’t LOSE the war with American troops

“PEACE WITH HONOR”

Appeal to the Silent Majority

Widen the war

No longer military defeat of Communists

April 1969 – 543K Troops in Vietnam

Increased Distrust of Gov’t My Lai Massacre – 1968 and 1969

Secret War (Cambodia and Laos)

Pentagon Papers

1972 Election Nixon vs. McGovern (huge war critic)

26th Amendment in 1971

Kissinger Announces “Peace at Hand”

Nixon Landslide

Christmas Bombings

All but 24,000 U.S. troops are gone

Peace Agreement January of 1973

Paris Peace Accord (U.S., North, South, VC)

-Cease Fire-Withdraw of U.S. troops from Vietnam-U.S. to help rebuild-Vietnamese troops hold positions while discussions continue over future

Nobel Peace Prize

Real end of war 1975 – North Vietnam invades south

April – they reach and overrun Saigon

U.S. Military has to evacuate Americans

Unified Vietnam with communist government in South

Khmer Rouge take over Cambodia

Legacies of Vietnam War Changes view of American

government

War Powers Act 1973

“Is this another Vietnam”?

Struggle of Vietnam Veterans

Vietnam Veterans Memorial, D.C.