Vietnamization and Nixon’s Cold War

1. Vietnamization and Nixon’s Cold War Goodbye Vietnam, Hello China. Sincerely, Nixon

2. Peace Talks and Vietnamization • US & S. Vietnam wanted all communist troops out and POW’s returned • N. Vietnam wanted immediate troop pull-out and a coalition gov’t with S. Vietnam • Neither side would negotiate • Nixon proposed Vietnamization; US withdrawlwhile S. Vietnamese assumed more fighting duties; He also bombed the Ho Chi Minh Trail; but it did not help S. Vietnam’s chances of winning

3. Cambodia and Protesting • Nixon ordered a ground attack in Cambodia to speed up peace negotiations. It was also designed to help Cambodia against Khmer Rouge, a communist rebel. • At Kent State a protest of the attack ended deadly when National Guard fired on the rally after hearing gunfire • Similar protest where held in the US as America’s support for the war decreased

4. My Lai and the End • The town of My Lai was attacked by civilian dressed V.C. , the Lt. Calley ordered his men to fire, killing 500-600 people • The incident was not well investigated and though Calley was found guilty, American’s believed enough had not been done • Simultaneously the Pentagon Papers were released. • LBJ’s administration had lied to Congress about US/Vietnamese relations

5. Peace Treaty • The Paris Peace Accords were signed in 1973: • N. Vietnamese troops would remain in S. Vietnam • POW’s would be returned • The U.S. would withdraw • Saigon fell to N. Vietnam in 1975 • The War Powers Act • Revokes the Gulf of Tonkin powers

6. Nixon goes to China • Nixon and Foreign policy advisor Henry Kissinger work to open trade with China as way get Russia to negotiate. • They base this off of Realpolitik; • national interest instead of political ideals • To help cold war tension and the economy, Nixon opens trade talks with China.

7. U.S., U.S.S.R., & China • The goal of negotiations w/China is to split them from Russia • Nixon makes the first state visit to China since the 1947 • Our negotiations with China caused Russia to want to negotiate as well, • Russia politically weakened, and being more negotiable

8. Dealing with Detente • Détente is a policy that targets easing tensions between nations • Nixon used this by meeting with Russia and China’s leaders • Through détente Pres. Nixon negotiated SALT I, Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty, • limits the production of nuclear arms in in the U.S. and U.S.S.R.

9. The 1970’s Nixon, Carter, and Energy: Watergate and other stories

10. After Vietnam • Nixon wins 1972 election • Prior to the election a break-in is reported at the Watergate Hotel, h.q. of the Democratic Nat’l Committee • D.N.C. • It’s squelched till after the election • The story breaks in 1973

11. Watergate: The Flood • Washington Post reporters Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein break the story • Informant is code named “Deep Throat” • Watergate was a series of break-ins and wire taps to get campaign info from the DNC

12. End of Watergate: Flood Control • U.S. v. Nixon: Watergate tapes and Executive Privlege • VP Spiro Agnew, had already resigned • Nixon nominates Gerald Ford for VP • Nixon resigns following Ford’s confirmation hearings • Ford’s first act of office was to pardon Nixon, a fatal mistake to any chance Ford had for re-election

13. Oil Crisis • Dealt w/by Nixon and Carter • Nixon • Yom Kippur War: We support Israel, OPEC bans oil sales to US • Carter • Deals with high energy costs that hurt the economy • He loses popularity over the bad economy

14. Carter’s Presidency • Bad Economic Policies • Camp David Accords • Iran Hostage Crisis