The Vietnam War

1954 - 1975

The Vietnam War

1954 - 1975

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The Air War1965-1968

The Air War1965-1968

z 1965: Sustained bombing of North 1965: Sustained bombing of North VietnamVietnam

z Operation Rolling Thunder Operation Rolling Thunder (March 2, (March 2, 1965)1965)

z 1966-68: Ongoing bombing of Hanoi 1966-68: Ongoing bombing of Hanoi nonstop for 3 years! Esp. targets the nonstop for 3 years! Esp. targets the Ho Chi Minh TrailHo Chi Minh Trail..

z Downed Pilots: P.O.W.sDowned Pilots: P.O.W.sz Carpet Bombing – Carpet Bombing – napalmnapalm

Who Is the Enemy?

Who Is the Enemy?

z VietcongVietcong: Farmers by day; guerillas at Farmers by day; guerillas at

night.night. Very patient people willing to Very patient people willing to

accept many casualties.accept many casualties. The US grossly The US grossly

underestimated their resolve underestimated their resolve and their resourcefulness.and their resourcefulness.

The guerilla wins if he does not The guerilla wins if he does not lose, the conventional army loses lose, the conventional army loses if it does not win.if it does not win. -- Mao Mao ZedongZedong

The Ground War1965-1968

The Ground War1965-1968

z General WestmorelandGeneral Westmoreland, late 1967:

We can see theWe can see the“light at the end of the tunnel.”“light at the end of the tunnel.”

The Tet Offensive, January 1968

The Tet Offensive, January 1968

z N. Vietnamese Army + Viet Cong N. Vietnamese Army + Viet Cong attack South simultaneously attack South simultaneously (67,000 attack 100 cities, bases, (67,000 attack 100 cities, bases, and the US embassy in Saigon)and the US embassy in Saigon)

z Take every major southern cityTake every major southern cityz U.S. + ARVN beat back the U.S. + ARVN beat back the

offensiveoffensivez Viet Cong destroyedViet Cong destroyedz N. Vietnamese army debilitatedN. Vietnamese army debilitatedz BUT…it’s seen as an American BUT…it’s seen as an American

defeat by the mediadefeat by the media

Impact of the Tet OffensiveImpact of the Tet Offensive

z Domestic U.S. Reaction: Domestic U.S. Reaction: Disbelief, Anger, Distrust Disbelief, Anger, Distrust of Johnson Administrationof Johnson Administration

z Hey, Hey LBJ! How Hey, Hey LBJ! How

many kids did many kids did youyou kill today? kill today?

Impact of the Vietnam WarImpact of the Vietnam War

……I shall not I shall not seek, and I will seek, and I will not accept, the not accept, the nomination of nomination of my party for my party for another term as another term as your President.your President.

Johnson announces (March, Johnson announces (March, 1968):1968):

American Morale Begins

to Dip

American Morale Begins

to Dipz Disproportionate Disproportionate representation of poor people representation of poor people and minorities.and minorities.

z Severe racial problems.Severe racial problems.z Major drugMajor drug

problems.problems.z Officers in combatOfficers in combat

6 mo.; in rear 6 mo.; in rear 6 mo. Enlisted 6 mo. Enlisted men in combat for 12 mo.men in combat for 12 mo.

Are We Becoming the Enemy?

Are We Becoming the Enemy?

z Lt. William Lt. William CalleyCalley,,Platoon LeaderPlatoon Leader

z Mylai MassacreMylai Massacre, 1968, 1968z 200-500 unarmed 200-500 unarmed

villagersvillagers

Charlie Company, 1Charlie Company, 1stst Battalion, 20 Battalion, 20thth InfantryInfantry

Anti-War Demonstrations

Anti-War Demonstrations

z May 4, May 4, 19701970

z 4 students 4 students shot dead.shot dead.

z 11 11 students students woundedwounded

Kent State UniversityKent State University

z Jackson StateJackson StateUniversityUniversity

z May 10, 1970May 10, 1970

z 2 dead; 12 2 dead; 12 woundedwounded

Nixon on VietnamNixon on Vietnam

z Nixon’s 1968 Campaign Nixon’s 1968 Campaign promised an end to the war: promised an end to the war: Peace with HonorPeace with Honor Appealed to the great Appealed to the great

“Silent Majority”“Silent Majority”z VietnamizationVietnamizationz Expansion of the Expansion of the

conflict conflict The “Secret War” The “Secret War” CambodiaCambodia LaosLaos

z Agent OrangeAgent Orange(chemical defoliant)(chemical defoliant)

“Pentagon Papers,” 1971

“Pentagon Papers,” 1971

z Former defense analyst Former defense analyst Daniel EllsbergDaniel Ellsbergleaked govt. docs. regarding war efforts leaked govt. docs. regarding war efforts during Johnson’s administration to the during Johnson’s administration to the New York TimesNew York Times..

z Docs.Docs. Govt. misled Congress & Amer. Govt. misled Congress & Amer. People regarding its intentions in People regarding its intentions in Vietnam during mid-1960s.Vietnam during mid-1960s. Primary reason for fighting not to Primary reason for fighting not to

eliminate communism, but eliminate communism, but to avoid to avoid humiliating defeathumiliating defeat. .

New York Times v. United StatesNew York Times v. United States (1971) (1971) **

The Ceasefire, 1973

The Ceasefire, 1973

z Peace is at handPeace is at hand Kissinger, 1972 Kissinger, 1972 North Vietnam attacks SouthNorth Vietnam attacks South Most Massive U.S. bombing Most Massive U.S. bombing

commencescommences

z 1973: Ceasefire signed between1973: Ceasefire signed between U.S., South Vietnam, & North VietnamU.S., South Vietnam, & North Vietnam

z Peace with honorPeace with honor (President Nixon) (President Nixon)

Peace Negotiations

Peace Negotiations

z US & US & Vietnamese Vietnamese

argue for argue for 5 months 5 months over the over the size of thesize of theconferenceconferencetable!table!

Dr. Henry KissingerDr. Henry Kissinger & Le Duc Le Duc ThoTho

The Ceasefire, 1973

The Ceasefire, 1973

z Conditions:Conditions:1.1.U.S. to remove all troopsU.S. to remove all troops2.2.North Vietnam could leave North Vietnam could leave

troops already in S.V.troops already in S.V.3.3.North Vietnam would resume North Vietnam would resume

warwar4.4.No provision for POWs or MIAsNo provision for POWs or MIAs

z Last American troops left South Last American troops left South Vietnam on March 29, 1973Vietnam on March 29, 1973

z 1975: North Vietnam defeats South 1975: North Vietnam defeats South VietnamVietnam

z Saigon renamed Saigon renamed Ho Chi Minh CityHo Chi Minh City

The CostsThe Costs

1.1. 3,000,000 Vietnamese killed3,000,000 Vietnamese killed2.2. 58,000 Americans killed; 58,000 Americans killed;

300,000 wounded300,000 wounded3.3. Under-funding of Great Under-funding of Great

Society programsSociety programs4.4. $150,000,000,000 in U.S. $150,000,000,000 in U.S.

spendingspending5.5. U.S. morale, self-confidence, U.S. morale, self-confidence,

trust of government, trust of government, decimateddecimated

The ImpactThe Impact

z 2626thth Amendment Amendment: 18-year-olds : 18-year-olds votevote

z Nixon abolished the draftNixon abolished the draft all-volunteer armyall-volunteer army

z War Powers Act, War Powers Act, 19731973 ٭٭ President must notify Congress within President must notify Congress within

48 hours of deploying military force48 hours of deploying military force President must withdraw forces unless President must withdraw forces unless

he gains Congressional approval within he gains Congressional approval within 90 days90 days

z Disregard for Veterans Disregard for Veterans seen as seen as “baby killers”“baby killers”

z POW/MIA issue lingeredPOW/MIA issue lingered

2,583 American 2,583 American POWs / MIAsPOWs / MIAs

still unaccounted for still unaccounted for today.today.

If we have to fight, weIf we have to fight, we will fight. You will kill will fight. You will kill ten of our men and we ten of our men and we will kill one of yours, and in the will kill one of yours, and in the end it will be end it will be youyou who tires of who tires of it. it.

AndAndin the End….in the End….

AndAndin the End….in the End….

Ho Chi Ho Chi Minh:Minh:

Lessons for Future

American Presidents

Lessons for Future

American Presidents1.1. Wars must be of short duration.Wars must be of short duration.2.2. Wars must yield few American Wars must yield few American

casualties.casualties.3.3. Restrict media access to Restrict media access to

battlefields.battlefields.4.4. Develop and maintain Develop and maintain

Congressional and public support.Congressional and public support.5.5. Set clear, winnable goals.Set clear, winnable goals.6.6. Set deadline for troop Set deadline for troop

withdrawals.withdrawals.

President Clinton formally

recognized Vietnam on July 11, 1995

President Clinton formally

recognized Vietnam on July 11, 1995