1968 campaigned on a pledge to end the war but to secure “peace with honor”

1. Richard M. Nixon and Vietnam 1968 campaigned on a pledge to end the war but to secure “peace with honor” Even as he began the gradual withdrawal of troops and reduced the number of new draftees, he pursued “Vietnamization”: shifting the bulk of the combat to South Vietnam (as they became better trained and capable of assuming responsibility).

2. “Peace with honor” • It was important to Nixon for the U.S. to exit the war honorably…to avoid the humiliation of having lost the war • The Paris Peace Talks had begun before Nixon took office but negotiations were difficult and often stalled • Nixon appointed Henry Kissinger to head much of the negotiations

3. Main goals of the negotiations: U.S. Wanted: • All communist troops out of So. Vietnam • Return of American POWs N. Vietnamese wanted: • Immediate withdrawal of US troops • Coalition gov’t. in the South to include Vietcong

4. Vietnamization • Refusing to accept N.Vietnam’s demands for peace, Nixon continued his policy of Vietnamization…AND • To stop the flow of supplies to the Vietcong in the south, he ordered the secret bombing of the Ho Chi Minh Trail • The HCMT ran thru neighboring Cambodia

5. Ho Chi Minh Trail

6. 1970 • Trying to get the peace talks moving, Nixon ordered U.S. troops to attack the Vietcong and NVA (North Vietnamese Army) across the border into Cambodia. • Immediate reaction from the anti-war movement at home: infuriated, it blasted Nixon for widening the war !

7. Kent State University • Student protesters set fire to the ROTC building… • The Ohio governor called in the Nat’l. Guard • On May 4, 1970 the 2 sides confronted one another: students threw rocks and bottles • Guardsmen answered by firing 65 shots into the crowd, killing 4 and wounding 13 others

8. OHIOperformed by Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young

9. My Lai Massacre • March, 1968: Lt. William Calley ordered the village of My Lai destroyed…hundreds of civilians murdered • Calley claimed he was following orders • Life magazine published photos of the event…American public outraged • Calley convicted by military court • Entire episode was more fuel for the “Stop the War” movement

10. The Pentagon Papers • Classified gov’t. documents on U.S. in Vietnam • Docs leaked to the NY Times • Co-author Daniel Ellsberg at the eye of the storm • Nixon tried to block publication (NY Times v. United States)…Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Times

11. End of the War • Paris Peace Accords: January, 1973 • American troops coming home • N Vietnam to keep troops in S vietnam • NLF (the Vietcong) to become legit political party in S. Vietnam • N. Vietnam to return American POWs (Sen. John McCain was one of them)

12. Peace finally…or not • Spring of 1975, N. Vietnamese launched attacks against the South • Without U.S. support, the ARVN was doomed • American Embassy in Saigon overrun • Vietnam unified under 1 flag…the flag of communist North Vietnam

13. Evacuation of the US Embassy: Saigon 1975

14. http://www.5min.com/Video/Learn-about-The-Vietnam-War-1954---1975-Map-117517574http://www.5min.com/Video/Learn-about-The-Vietnam-War-1954---1975-Map-117517574