How does the U.S. get out?

How does the U.S. get out?

When the strongest nation in the world can be tied up for four years in a war in Vietnam with no end in sight, when the richest nation in the world can t manage it s own economy, when the nation with the greatest traditions of the rule of law is plagued by unprecedented lawlessness then it s time for new leadership for the United States of America. Richard M. Nixon, August 8, 1968 Republican National Convention

How? What are Nixon s options? (political / military)

Determined war not winnable Political costs / cost of American lives too high Peace with honor Goal: Peaceful end to war / S. Vietnam free and independent

The Carrot and the Stick Approach Reward (carrot) and Punish (stick) Persuade north to accept a negotiated end to war

The Carrot: Stop bombing north + reduce troops Diplomacy: Paris Peace talks: end bombing of north IF: both sides remove troops from south North agrees to free / independent S. Vietnam Improve relations with Soviet Union and China Pressure north to negotiate / reduce aid to north

The Carrot: Reduce # of U.S. troops (appeal to north and U.S. citizens back home) How? Vietnamization: let S. Vietnamese take over conduct of war U.S. supports, they fight. More training ARVN (S. Vietnamese army) / better pay More weapons Self government, self development, self defense Long process Sound familiar?

600,000 500,000 400,000 300,000 200,000 100,000 0 15,00023,000 184,000 Troops in Vietnam 389,000 543,000 486,000 480,000 280,000 140,000 16,000 0 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972

Diplomacy slow. U.S. & N. Vietnam can t agree What does the north want? Unified Vietnam communist rule What does the U.S. want? Free / independent S. Vietnam What s next?

Military pressure to force north to negotiate Increase air strikes North Vietnam, Cambodia (neutral country!), Laos Invade Cambodia (April, 1970) Destroy enemy safe havens Is this happening now? Invade Laos (February 1971) use ARVN troops U.S. air support NVA easily push back ARVN forces (why?) Does it seem like the war is winding down?

Repeals Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (Dec. 1970) Took away the President s ability to wage unlimited warfare. Congress angry over invasion of Cambodia without approval Views Nixon as spreading the war

What are they? A top secret study of U.S. activity in Vietnam Leaked to New York Times Problems: Showed that previous presidents had deceived Congress, the press, and the public about Vietnam. They lied! Made public distrust government even more! (credibility gap)

Protests ongoing. Why? My Lai Cambodia Invasion (Nixon kept it secret!) Violence at Home Kent State Shootings (May 4, 1970) Jackson State Shootings (May 14, 1970)

But out of the gobbledygook, comes a very clear thing: [unclear] you can t trust the government; you can t believe what they say; and you can t rely on their judgment; and the the implicit infallibility of presidents, which has been an accepted thing in America, is badly hurt by this, because it shows that people do things the President wants to do even though it s wrong, and the President can be wrong. H.R. Haldeman (chief of staff to Nixon) to President Nixon, Monday, 14 June 1971, 3:09 p.m. meeting.

Kissinger claimed peace was at hand The deal: Removal of all American troops Coalition government in South Vietnam Nixon promised South Vietnamese president U.S. support if the agreement was broken Broke off talks U.S. responded by renewed bombing of Hanoi Christmas Bombings

January 27, 1973 This ENDS American involvement in Vietnam American troops are removed American Prisoner s of War (P.O.W. s) are returned Coalition government in South Vietnam Henry Kissinger and Le Duc Tho receive Nobel Peace Prize for Peace Accords in Paris. Le Duc Tho refuses award.

Fighting resumes as soon as the U.S. leaves President Van Thieu asks President Ford for help Congress refuses aid for South Vietnam

April 30, 1975 Communists have Saigon surrounded Loyalists to government surround American embassy trying to escape. http://www.youtu be.com/watch?v=i dr2iktffaw

A single, independent, communist Vietnam 58,000 American soldiers killed, 300,000 wounded Millions of Vietnamese killed Destruction of Vietnam Loyalists flee to Hong Kong, Taiwan, and the U.S. Questions begin...

VIETNAM

POLITICAL RECOVERY SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL RECOVERY

War Powers Act 1973 President has authority to use military without consulting Congress If he does, he must notify Congress within 48 hours. If Congress does not approve, he must return troops within 60 days. 26 th Amendment 1971 Lowers voting age from 21 to 18

Vietnam Syndrome Don t let another Vietnam happen again The U.S. must be very careful when sending troops abroad, so we don t get involved in another Vietnam American attitude towards leadership. How different?

TREATMENT OF VETERANS IGNORED ABUSED PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) drug/alcohol abuse marriage/job problems Homelessness suicide

Maya Lin Yale architecture Student Designed the Vietnam Memorial in 1982