The Vietnam War – Phase III The Vietnam War – Phase III (1969-1975)(1969-1975)

President Nixon & VietnamPresident Nixon & Vietnam ““Peace with Honor”Peace with Honor” 1) maintain US dignity in the face of 1) maintain US dignity in the face of

its withdrawal from warits withdrawal from war 2) preservation of US clout at the 2) preservation of US clout at the

negotiating table negotiating table Nixon Nixon SV govt. to remain intact SV govt. to remain intact

The Vietnam War – Phase III (1969-1975)The Vietnam War – Phase III (1969-1975) Paris NegotiationsParis Negotiations US & South Vietnam DesireUS & South Vietnam Desire:: A) NV forces withdraw from SVA) NV forces withdraw from SV B) B) Nguyen Van Thieu Nguyen Van Thieu remain in powerremain in power North Vietnam & Vietcong DesireNorth Vietnam & Vietcong Desire: : A) US troops w/draw from SVA) US troops w/draw from SV B) Thieu govt. step aside to include one w/ B) Thieu govt. step aside to include one w/

VietcongVietcong During meetings Nixon announces During meetings Nixon announces

VietnamizationVietnamization

Nguyen Van ThieuNguyen Van Thieu

VietnamizationVietnamization Nixon’s strategy Nixon’s strategy to end America’s to end America’s

involvement in Vietnaminvolvement in Vietnam 1) Gradual withdrawal of US troops1) Gradual withdrawal of US troops 2) Have the 2) Have the South Vietnamese South Vietnamese

(ARVN) (ARVN) take a more active take a more active combat role in the warcombat role in the war

3) Increase the pressure on the 3) Increase the pressure on the communist forces to negotiatecommunist forces to negotiate• Leads to Nixon Leads to Nixon Cambodia Cambodia• Increased bombing of the NorthIncreased bombing of the North

Withdrawal of US Forces Withdrawal of US Forces (1969-1973)(1969-1973)

By late By late August 1969 August 1969 first 25,000 US first 25,000 US troops w/drewtroops w/drew

Next 3 years - Next 3 years - troops from +500,000 troops from +500,000 to less than 25,000to less than 25,000

Massive Bombing CampaignMassive Bombing Campaign Secret campaign Secret campaign against the supply against the supply

routes and bases in NVroutes and bases in NV ExpandedExpanded to to includeinclude Ho Chi Minh Ho Chi Minh

TrailTrail in in Laos & CambodiaLaos & Cambodia Vietcong sanctuariesVietcong sanctuaries objectivesobjectives: : 1) strengthen South Vietnam1) strengthen South Vietnam 2) facilitate negotiations with 2) facilitate negotiations with

NV & VCNV & VC

The Invasion of CambodiaThe Invasion of Cambodia April 30, 1970April 30, 1970 - Nixon announces - Nixon announces

“incursion” into Cambodia“incursion” into Cambodia Purpose:Purpose: to clear out NV and VC to clear out NV and VC

supply centerssupply centers No notification of CongressNo notification of Congress Congress Congress repeals Tonkin Gulf repeals Tonkin Gulf

Resolution Resolution (Dec. 1970)(Dec. 1970)

11th Armored Cavalry, enters Snuol, 11th Armored Cavalry, enters Snuol, Cambodia on the 4th of MayCambodia on the 4th of May

Criticism of the War Mounts (1970-1973)Criticism of the War Mounts (1970-1973) 1969 to April 19701969 to April 1970 Nixon appeals to the Nixon appeals to the silent majority silent majority

— less explosive mood regarding — less explosive mood regarding Vietnam Vietnam

(US troops returning)(US troops returning) shift in focusshift in focus on college campuses to on college campuses to

environmentenvironment This mood changes This mood changes with Nixon’s with Nixon’s

announcement announcement Cambodia Cambodia

Impact of the Invasion of CambodiaImpact of the Invasion of Cambodia

Viewed as an expansion of the war Viewed as an expansion of the war College protests erupt (1st College protests erupt (1st

nationwide student strike)nationwide student strike) 1.5 million student shut down 1,200 1.5 million student shut down 1,200

campusescampuses Kent StateKent State ROTC building burnedROTC building burned National Guard mobilizedNational Guard mobilized Public Opinion Public Opinion supports the supports the

National GuardNational Guard

Kent State ShootingsKent State Shootings Protestors: Protestors: Nine wounded, Two KilledNine wounded, Two Killed Innocent Bystanders: Innocent Bystanders: Two KilledTwo Killed

John Filo's John Filo's photograph of photograph of Mary Ann VecchioMary Ann Vecchio, , kneeling over the kneeling over the body of body of Jeffrey Jeffrey Miller Miller after he was after he was shot dead by the shot dead by the Ohio National Ohio National GuardGuard

Other Developments at HomeOther Developments at Home The “Hardhats”The “Hardhats” Massive demonstration supports war Massive demonstration supports war

policiespolicies The Pentagon PapersThe Pentagon Papers Defense Dept. worker Defense Dept. worker Daniel Ellsberg Daniel Ellsberg

leaks 7,000 page document leaks 7,000 page document McNamaraMcNamara 1) government drew up 1) government drew up plans plans war war even even

as Johnson was promising that he would as Johnson was promising that he would not send troops to Vietnamnot send troops to Vietnam

2) showed 2) showed no plan to end the wno plan to end the war as long ar as long as NV resistedas NV resisted

““Hard Hats” Reclaim the Streets, Hard Hats” Reclaim the Streets, New York City, May 8, 1970New York City, May 8, 1970

The North Vietnamese Invade SV The North Vietnamese Invade SV (March 1972)(March 1972)

largest offensive since Tetlargest offensive since Tet Nixon’s vowNixon’s vow:: The Communists “have never been The Communists “have never been

bombed like they are going to be bombed like they are going to be bombed this time.”bombed this time.”

Operation LinebackerOperation Linebacker Haiphong’s harbor Haiphong’s harbor is minedis mined Bombings stop the offensiveBombings stop the offensive Stalemate continues Stalemate continues – Nixon – Nixon

determined to end the wardetermined to end the war

A Turning PointA Turning Point 19711971 60% Americans felt US should 60% Americans felt US should

w/draw from Vietnamw/draw from Vietnam Nixon’s 1972 election concernsNixon’s 1972 election concerns Henry KissingerHenry Kissinger Secret negotiations since 1969 in Paris Secret negotiations since 1969 in Paris

Le Duc ThoLe Duc Tho eventually drops insistence that NV eventually drops insistence that NV

withdraw all its troops from SV before the withdraw all its troops from SV before the complete withdrawal of US troopscomplete withdrawal of US troops

October 26, 1972October 26, 1972 ““Peace is at hand.”Peace is at hand.”

Kissinger’s plan is rejected by the Kissinger’s plan is rejected by the Thieu regimeThieu regime

Alarmed @ prospect of NV troops in Alarmed @ prospect of NV troops in SVSV

NV breaks off talks December 16, NV breaks off talks December 16, 19721972

Operation Linebacker IIOperation Linebacker II US planes drop 100,000 bombs on US planes drop 100,000 bombs on

Hanoi and Haiphong for 11 straight Hanoi and Haiphong for 11 straight daysdays

Paused only on ChristmasPaused only on Christmas The The “Christmas bombings”“Christmas bombings” Calls to End the WarCalls to End the War From From CongressCongress From From Beijing & MoscowBeijing & Moscow

The War Ends for the USThe War Ends for the US Paris Peace Agreement - Paris Peace Agreement - Jan. 27, 1973Jan. 27, 1973 March 29, 1973March 29, 1973 last US troops leave last US troops leave

South VietnamSouth Vietnam The Fall of SaigonThe Fall of Saigon Within months of the US departure, Within months of the US departure,

cease-fire between NV and SV cease-fire between NV and SV collapsedcollapsed

North Vietnam Invades the SouthNorth Vietnam Invades the South March 1975March 1975: full-scale invasion : full-scale invasion

beginsbegins ThieuThieu appeals for US help appeals for US help economic aid but no troopseconomic aid but no troops April 30, 1975April 30, 1975: NV tanks roll into : NV tanks roll into

SaigonSaigon South Vietnam surrendersSouth Vietnam surrenders Saigon Saigon Ho Chi Minh CityHo Chi Minh City

The Fall of SaigonThe Fall of Saigon

The Vietnam War – Reasons for DefeatThe Vietnam War – Reasons for Defeat (1) S. Vietnamese govt. corrupt(1) S. Vietnamese govt. corrupt (2) (2) Ho Chi Minh Ho Chi Minh - national hero- national hero US = successor to FrenchUS = successor to French (3) (3) NLF + N. Vietnamese troops NLF + N. Vietnamese troops - skilled; - skilled;

outfought S. Vietnameseoutfought S. Vietnamese (4) (4) Jungle Terrain Jungle Terrain - technological edge - technological edge

muted; supplies continued southmuted; supplies continued south (5) sentiment in US opposes “remote war”(5) sentiment in US opposes “remote war”

Vietnam War - Casualties/Deaths Vietnam War - Casualties/Deaths US:US: 58,000 killed 58,000 killed 365,000 wounded365,000 wounded 1982 1982 Vietnam Memorial Vietnam Memorial unveiledunveiled Vietnamese (NV & VC):Vietnamese (NV & VC): 1.5 million1.5 million