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 State shootingsKent State shootings

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

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

The Period of Détente 1963-The Period of Détente 1963-1979 1979

After Cuban Missile Crisis, nature of the After Cuban Missile Crisis, nature of the Cold War changed Cold War changed “the Long Peace”“the Long Peace”

SuperpowersSuperpowers and and Western Europe Western Europe sought sought détente – though each interpreted the détente – though each interpreted the word differentlyword differently

Détente - Détente - “A relaxation of tensions “A relaxation of tensions between East & West”between East & West”

USUS: : heavily involved in Vietnam Warheavily involved in Vietnam War Wanted détente to stabilize Europe and Wanted détente to stabilize Europe and

restrain the USSRrestrain the USSR

Nixon and Henry KissingerNixon and Henry Kissinger

The Period of Détente 1963-The Period of Détente 1963-1979 1979

USSRUSSR: : faced a growing challenge faced a growing challenge from Chinafrom China

Hoped détente would lead the US & Hoped détente would lead the US & its allies to accept the its allies to accept the permanent permanent postwar division of Europepostwar division of Europe

Also hoped to agree to something Also hoped to agree to something approaching approaching nuclear parity nuclear parity between between the US & USSRthe US & USSR

Reasons for Détente Reasons for Détente Both sides Both sides fearedfeared a catastrophic a catastrophic nuclear nuclear

warwar By the 1970sBy the 1970s both sides had both sides had economic economic

difficultiesdifficulties – wanted to reduce defense – wanted to reduce defense spendingspending

Relations betweenRelations between the the US & ChinaUS & China began began to improve by 1971to improve by 1971

Fearing the results of US-Chinese Fearing the results of US-Chinese friendship, friendship, BrezhnevBrezhnev determined to determined to improve relations with the USimprove relations with the US

Nixon’sNixon’s Triangular DiplomacyTriangular Diplomacy

Reasons for Détente Reasons for Détente (cont’d)(cont’d)

Nixon hopedNixon hoped better better USUS relations with relations with both both ChinaChina & the & the USSRUSSR might force might force North VietnamNorth Vietnam to make peace – to make peace – would enable the US to pull out of would enable the US to pull out of South VietnamSouth Vietnam with some honor with some honor

Triangular Triangular DiplomacyDiplomacy

United States United States

USSRUSSR ChinaChinaSupport for Communist forces Support for Communist forces

in Vietnamin Vietnam

VietnamVietnam

President Nixon President Nixon shakes hands with shakes hands with Chinese Chinese Premier Zhou EnlaiPremier Zhou Enlai upon arriving in upon arriving in Beijing Beijing

19721972

Banquet with Nixon and Banquet with Nixon and ZhouZhou

President Nixon President Nixon greets Chinese Party greets Chinese Party Chairman Chairman Mao Zedong Mao Zedong (left) in a historic (left) in a historic

visit to the People's Republic of China, 1972visit to the People's Republic of China, 1972

USSR and China (Sino-Soviet USSR and China (Sino-Soviet Relations)Relations)

Deteriorating since the 1950s Deteriorating since the 1950s Chinese highly critical Chinese highly critical of of

Khrushchev’s belief in Khrushchev’s belief in peaceful peaceful competition competition between the US & USSR between the US & USSR – pointed to failure in Cuba– pointed to failure in Cuba

Khrushchev fearful Khrushchev fearful China might risk China might risk nuclear warnuclear war with the US with the US

So he did not follow through on So he did not follow through on promises to give China promises to give China nuclear nuclear weaponsweapons

USSR and China (Sino-Soviet USSR and China (Sino-Soviet Relations)Relations)

1960s relations grew worse1960s relations grew worse 19661966: : Soviet and Chinese Communist Soviet and Chinese Communist

parties parties severed all fraternal linkssevered all fraternal links USSR began to USSR began to target some of its target some of its

nuclear missilesnuclear missiles on China on China 19691969: large-scale : large-scale border clashes border clashes

along the Sino-Soviet frontieralong the Sino-Soviet frontier

Sino-Soviet Border DisputesSino-Soviet Border Disputes

Controlling the Development of Controlling the Development of Nuclear WeaponsNuclear Weapons

Test Ban Treaty of 1963Test Ban Treaty of 1963 Non-proliferation Treaty (July 1968) Non-proliferation Treaty (July 1968) US & USSR US & USSR agree not to transfer agree not to transfer

nuclear weapons to other countries nuclear weapons to other countries or assist others to make nuclear or assist others to make nuclear weaponsweapons

Nov. 1969Nov. 1969 – joined by the FRG – joined by the FRG 1970 SALT talks begin in Vienna1970 SALT talks begin in Vienna

Arms developmentArms development

Four major types of nuclear testing: Four major types of nuclear testing: 1) atmospheric, 2) underground, 1) atmospheric, 2) underground,

3) exoatmospheric, and 4) underwater3) exoatmospheric, and 4) underwater

Operation Crossroads (Shot Operation Crossroads (Shot Baker)Baker)

Preparation for an Preparation for an underground nuclear test underground nuclear test at the at the Nevada Nevada Test Site Test Site in the 1980s. Visible in the photograph are the test in the 1980s. Visible in the photograph are the test

monitoring equipment, as well as the subsidence craters monitoring equipment, as well as the subsidence craters created by previous underground nuclear testscreated by previous underground nuclear tests

Nevada Test SiteNevada Test Site

The The Yucca Flat Yucca Flat area of the Nevada Test Site is area of the Nevada Test Site is scarred with subsidence craters from underground scarred with subsidence craters from underground

nuclear testingnuclear testing

US Fallout Exposure US Fallout Exposure - Below are the per capita - Below are the per capita thyroid doses thyroid doses (in (in radsrads) in the continental United States resulting from all ) in the continental United States resulting from all

exposure routes from all atmospheric nuclear tests conducted exposure routes from all atmospheric nuclear tests conducted at the at the Nevada Test Site Nevada Test Site from 1951-1962from 1951-1962

Over 2,000 nuclear explosions have been Over 2,000 nuclear explosions have been conducted, in over a dozen different sites conducted, in over a dozen different sites

around the worldaround the world

SALT I (May 1972) SALT I (May 1972) Signed by Nixon and Brezhnev in Signed by Nixon and Brezhnev in

MoscowMoscow Part IPart I:: 5 year freeze on the 5 year freeze on the

construction of missile launchers, construction of missile launchers, ICBMsICBMs, , SLBMsSLBMs & long-range bombers & long-range bombers

Nixon accepted the Nixon accepted the greater number greater number of Soviet missilesof Soviet missiles since the US had since the US had superiority in number of superiority in number of MIRVsMIRVs

Strategic Weapons LexiconStrategic Weapons Lexicon ICBMICBM – Intercontinental Ballistic – Intercontinental Ballistic

MissileMissile SLBMSLBM – Submarine-launched Ballistic – Submarine-launched Ballistic

MissileMissile ABMABM – Anti-Ballistic Missile – Anti-Ballistic Missile MIRVMIRV - Multiple Independently - Multiple Independently

Targetable Reentry Vehicle Targetable Reentry Vehicle

SALT I (May 1972) SALT I (May 1972) Part IIPart II: : Defense against missilesDefense against missiles Both sides allowed only Both sides allowed only 2 anti-2 anti-

ballistic screensballistic screens – one for their – one for their capital citiescapital cities + one for their + one for their main main missile sitesmissile sites

Both sides were left almost Both sides were left almost defenseless against attack – hence defenseless against attack – hence MAD (mutually assured destruction)MAD (mutually assured destruction)

Launch of a Launch of a Titan II Titan II ICBM from underground silo 395-Charlie at ICBM from underground silo 395-Charlie at Vandenberg AFB, CA in the mid-1960s & a Vandenberg AFB, CA in the mid-1960s & a Titan II Gemini Titan II Gemini

LaunchLaunch

Minuteman I Test Silos, Edwards AFB (circa Minuteman I Test Silos, Edwards AFB (circa 1960s) and 1960s) and Minuteman I missileMinuteman I missile

A Trident II A Trident II missile. Both the missile. Both the US Navy and US Navy and Royal Navy use Royal Navy use these missiles these missiles aboard their aboard their ballistic missile ballistic missile submarines. submarines.

The MIRV U.S. Peacekeeper missile, with the The MIRV U.S. Peacekeeper missile, with the

re-entry vehicles highlighted in red.re-entry vehicles highlighted in red.

Technicians secure a number of Mk-21 re-entry vehicles on a Technicians secure a number of Mk-21 re-entry vehicles on a Peacekeeper MIRV bus. Peacekeeper MIRV bus.

Minuteman III MIRV launch Minuteman III MIRV launch sequence:sequence:

ABMsABMs - Dual launch of - Dual launch of Sprint missiles Sprint missiles during during a salvo test at Meck Island & Nike Zeus a salvo test at Meck Island & Nike Zeus

MissileMissile

SALT IISALT II July 1974July 1974: : both sides agree to start both sides agree to start

negotiations for a SALT II treaty – it negotiations for a SALT II treaty – it would impose permanent restrictions on would impose permanent restrictions on nuclear weaponsnuclear weapons

Concluded June 1979Concluded June 1979: : CarterCarter & & BrezhnevBrezhnev signed in Vienna signed in Vienna

Both sides Both sides limited numbers of missile limited numbers of missile launchers and MIRVslaunchers and MIRVs

Never ratifiedNever ratified by the US Senate as a by the US Senate as a result of the Soviet invasion of result of the Soviet invasion of AfghanistanAfghanistan

President Jimmy Carter and Soviet General President Jimmy Carter and Soviet General Secretary Leonid Brezhnev sign the Strategic Arms Secretary Leonid Brezhnev sign the Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT II) treaty, June 18, 1979, in Limitation Talks (SALT II) treaty, June 18, 1979, in

Vienna.Vienna.