2. Background
to the War
France controlled “Indochina” sinceFrance controlled “Indochina” since
the late 19the late 19thth
centurycentury
Japan took control during WorldJapan took control during World
War IIWar II
With U.S. aid, France attemptedWith U.S. aid, France attempted
re-colonization in the postwarre-colonization in the postwar
periodperiod
3. Background
to the War
The French lost control toThe French lost control to
Ho Chi Minh’sHo Chi Minh’s Viet MinhViet Minh
forces in 1954 atforces in 1954 at Dien BienDien Bien
PhuPhu
President Eisenhower declined toPresident Eisenhower declined to
intervene on behalf of France.intervene on behalf of France.
4. Background to
the War
International Conference atInternational Conference at
GenevaGeneva
Vietnam was divided at 17Vietnam was divided at 17thth
parallelparallel
O Ho Chi Minh’sHo Chi Minh’s nationalistnationalist
forces controlled the Northforces controlled the North
O Ngo Dinh DiemNgo Dinh Diem, a French-, a French-
educated, Roman Catholiceducated, Roman Catholic
claimed control of theclaimed control of the
SouthSouth
5. Background to
the War
A date was set for democraticA date was set for democratic
elections to reunify Vietnamelections to reunify Vietnam
Diem backed out of theDiem backed out of the
elections, leading to militaryelections, leading to military
conflict between North andconflict between North and
SouthSouth
6. U.S. Military
Involvement
Begins Repressive dictatorial rule by DiemRepressive dictatorial rule by Diem
Diem’s family holds all powerDiem’s family holds all power
Wealth is hoarded by the eliteWealth is hoarded by the elite
Buddhist majority persecutedBuddhist majority persecuted
Torture, lack of political freedom prevailTorture, lack of political freedom prevail
The U.S. aided Diem’s governmentThe U.S. aided Diem’s government
Ike sent financial and military aidIke sent financial and military aid
675 U.S. Army advisors sent by 1960.675 U.S. Army advisors sent by 1960.
8. U.S. Military
Involvement
Begins Kennedy elected 1960Kennedy elected 1960
Increases military “advisors” toIncreases military “advisors” to
16,00016,000
1963: JFK supports a1963: JFK supports a
Vietnamese militaryVietnamese military coup d’etatcoup d’etat ––
Diem and his brother areDiem and his brother are
murderedmurdered (Nov. 2)(Nov. 2)
Kennedy was assassinated justKennedy was assassinated just
weeks laterweeks later (Nov. 23)(Nov. 23)
9. Johnson Sends
Ground Forces
Remembers Truman’s “loss”Remembers Truman’s “loss”
of Chinaof China Domino TheoryDomino Theory
revivedrevived
I’m not going to beI’m not going to be
the president whothe president who
saw Southeast Asiasaw Southeast Asia
go the way Chinago the way China
went.went.
10. Johnson Sends
Ground Forces
Advised to rout the communists by SecretaryAdvised to rout the communists by Secretary
of Defense, Robert S. McNamaraof Defense, Robert S. McNamara
Gulf of Tonkin IncidentGulf of Tonkin Incident 19641964
(acc. to Johnson, the attacks were(acc. to Johnson, the attacks were
unprovoked)unprovoked)
Two attacks on the U.S.S. MaddoxTwo attacks on the U.S.S. Maddox
Tonkin Gulf ResolutionTonkin Gulf Resolution
““The Blank Check” *The Blank Check” *
Allowed for “conventional” military force inAllowed for “conventional” military force in
VietnamVietnam
12. The Ground
War
1965-1968 No territorial goalsNo territorial goals
Body counts on TV every nightBody counts on TV every night
(first(first “living room” war“living room” war))
Viet Cong supplies over theViet Cong supplies over the
Ho Chi Minh TrailHo Chi Minh Trail
13.
14. The Air War
1965-1968
1965: Sustained bombing of North Vietnam1965: Sustained bombing of North Vietnam
Operation Rolling ThunderOperation Rolling Thunder (March 2, 1965)(March 2, 1965)
1966-68: Ongoing bombing of Hanoi1966-68: Ongoing bombing of Hanoi
nonstop for 3 years! Esp. targets thenonstop for 3 years! Esp. targets the
Ho Chi Minh TrailHo Chi Minh Trail..
Downed Pilots: P.O.W.sDowned Pilots: P.O.W.s
Carpet Bombing –Carpet Bombing – napalmnapalm
15. Who Is the
Enemy?
VietcongVietcong:
Farmers by day; guerillas atFarmers by day; guerillas at
night.night.
Very patient people willing toVery patient people willing to
accept many casualties.accept many casualties.
The US grossly underestimatedThe US grossly underestimated
their resolve and theirtheir resolve and their
resourcefulness.resourcefulness.
The guerilla wins if he does not lose,The guerilla wins if he does not lose,
the conventional army loses if it doesthe conventional army loses if it does
not win.not win. -- Mao ZedongMao Zedong
17. The Ground
War
1965-1968 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.”
18. The Tet
Offensive,
January 1968 N. Vietnamese Army + Viet CongN. Vietnamese Army + Viet Cong
attack South simultaneously (67,000attack South simultaneously (67,000
attack 100 cities, bases, and the USattack 100 cities, bases, and the US
embassy in Saigon)embassy in Saigon)
Take every major southern cityTake every major southern city
U.S. + ARVN beat back the offensiveU.S. + ARVN beat back the offensive
Viet Cong destroyedViet Cong destroyed
N. Vietnamese army debilitatedN. Vietnamese army debilitated
BUT…it’s seen as an American defeatBUT…it’s seen as an American defeat
by the mediaby the media
20. Impact of the
Tet Offensive Domestic U.S. Reaction:Domestic U.S. Reaction:
Disbelief, Anger, Distrust ofDisbelief, Anger, Distrust of
Johnson AdministrationJohnson Administration
Hey, Hey LBJ! HowHey, Hey LBJ! How
many kids did youmany kids did you
kill today?kill today?
22. Impact of the
Vietnam War
……I shall notI shall not
seek, and I willseek, and I will
not accept, thenot accept, the
nomination of mynomination of my
party for anotherparty for another
term as yourterm as your
President.President.
Johnson announces (March, 1968):Johnson announces (March, 1968):
23. American
Morale Begins
to Dip Disproportionate representation ofDisproportionate representation of
poor people and minorities.poor people and minorities.
Severe racial problems.Severe racial problems.
Major drugMajor drug
problems.problems.
Officers in combatOfficers in combat
6 mo.; in rear6 mo.; in rear
6 mo. Enlisted6 mo. Enlisted
men in combat for 12 mo.men in combat for 12 mo.
24. Are We
Becoming the
Enemy?
Lt. William CalleyLt. William Calley,,
Platoon LeaderPlatoon Leader
My Lai MassacreMy Lai Massacre, 1968, 1968
200-500 unarmed villagers200-500 unarmed villagers
Charlie Company, 1Charlie Company, 1stst
Battalion, 20Battalion, 20thth
InfantryInfantry
28. Democratic ConventionDemocratic Convention
in Chicago, 1968in Chicago, 1968
Student ProtestorsStudent Protestors
at Univ. of CAat Univ. of CA
in Berkeley, 1968in Berkeley, 1968
Anti-War
Demonstration
s
29. Anti-War
Demonstrations
May 4, 1970May 4, 1970
4 students4 students
shot dead.shot dead.
11 students11 students
woundedwounded
Kent State UniversityKent State University
Jackson StateJackson State
UniversityUniversity
May 10, 1970May 10, 1970
2 dead; 122 dead; 12
woundedwounded
30.
31. Nixon on
Vietnam Nixon’s 1968 Campaign promised anNixon’s 1968 Campaign promised an
end to the war:end to the war: Peace with HonorPeace with Honor
Appealed to the greatAppealed to the great
“Silent Majority”“Silent Majority”
VietnamizationVietnamization
Expansion of theExpansion of the
conflictconflict The “Secret War”The “Secret War”
Cambodia (1970)Cambodia (1970)
Laos (1971)Laos (1971)
Agent OrangeAgent Orange
(chemical defoliant)(chemical defoliant)
Goal was to clear land, led to up to 1 millionGoal was to clear land, led to up to 1 million
being disabled/harmedbeing disabled/harmed
32. “Pentagon Papers,”
1971
Former defense analystFormer defense analyst Daniel EllsbergDaniel Ellsberg
leaked govt. docs. regarding war effortsleaked govt. docs. regarding war efforts
during Johnson’s administration to theduring Johnson’s administration to the
New York TimesNew York Times..
Docs.Docs. Govt. misled Congress & Amer.Govt. misled Congress & Amer.
People regarding its intentions in VietnamPeople regarding its intentions in Vietnam
during mid-1960s.during mid-1960s.
Primary reason for fighting not toPrimary reason for fighting not to
eliminate communism, buteliminate communism, but to avoidto avoid
humiliating defeathumiliating defeat..
New York Times v. United StatesNew York Times v. United States (1971)(1971) **
33. The Ceasefire,
1973
Peace is at handPeace is at hand Kissinger, 1972Kissinger, 1972
North Vietnam attacks SouthNorth Vietnam attacks South
Most Massive U.S. bombing commencesMost Massive U.S. bombing commences
1973: Ceasefire signed between1973: Ceasefire signed between
U.S., South Vietnam, & North VietnamU.S., South Vietnam, & North Vietnam
Peace with honorPeace with honor (President Nixon)(President Nixon)
34. Peace
Negotiations
US &US &
VietnameseVietnamese
argue forargue for
5 months5 months
over theover the
size of thesize of the
conferenceconference
table!table!
Dr. Henry KissingerDr. Henry Kissinger & Le Duc ThoLe Duc Tho
35. The Ceasefire,
1973
Conditions:Conditions:
1.1. U.S. to remove all troopsU.S. to remove all troops
2.2. North Vietnam could leave troopsNorth Vietnam could leave troops
already in S.V.already in S.V.
3.3. North Vietnam would resume warNorth Vietnam would resume war
4.4. No provision for MIAsNo provision for MIAs
Last American troops left SouthLast American troops left South
Vietnam on March 29, 1973Vietnam on March 29, 1973
1975: North Vietnam defeats South1975: North Vietnam defeats South
VietnamVietnam
Saigon renamedSaigon renamed Ho Chi Minh CityHo Chi Minh City
36. The Fall of
Saigon
South VietnameseSouth Vietnamese
Attempt to Flee the CountryAttempt to Flee the Country
37. The Fall of
Saigon
America Abandons Its EmbassyAmerica Abandons Its Embassy
April 30, 1975April 30, 1975
38. The Fall of
Saigon
North VietnameseNorth Vietnamese
at the Presidential Palaceat the Presidential Palace
40. The Costs
1.1. 3,000,000 Vietnamese killed3,000,000 Vietnamese killed
2.2. 58,000 Americans killed;58,000 Americans killed;
300,000 wounded300,000 wounded
3.3. Under-funding of Great SocietyUnder-funding of Great Society
programsprograms
4.4. $150,000,000,000 in U.S.$150,000,000,000 in U.S.
spendingspending
5.5. U.S. morale, self-confidence,U.S. morale, self-confidence,
trust of government, decimatedtrust of government, decimated
41.
42. The Impact
2626thth
Amendment (1971)Amendment (1971): 18-year-: 18-year-
olds voteolds vote
Nixon abolished the draftNixon abolished the draft
all-volunteer armyall-volunteer army
War Powers Act,War Powers Act, 19731973 ٭٭
President must notify Congress within 48President must notify Congress within 48
hours of deploying military forcehours of deploying military force
President must withdraw forcesPresident must withdraw forces
Unless he gets Congressional approvalUnless he gets Congressional approval
Within 90 daysWithin 90 days
Disregard for vets: seen as “baby killersDisregard for vets: seen as “baby killers
No provision for MIA’sNo provision for MIA’s
43. Approx. 2,500 AmericanApprox. 2,500 American
POWs / MIAsPOWs / MIAs
still unaccounted for today.still unaccounted for today.
44. If we have to fight, weIf we have to fight, we
will fight. You will killwill fight. You will kill
ten of our men and we willten of our men and we will
kill one of yours, and in the end itkill one of yours, and in the end it
will bewill be youyou who tires of it.who tires of it.
AndAnd
in the End….in the End….
Ho Chi Minh:Ho Chi Minh:
45. Lessons
for Future
American
Presidents1.1. Wars must be of short duration.Wars must be of short duration.
2.2. Wars must yield few AmericanWars must yield few American
casualties.casualties.
3.3. Restrict media access toRestrict media access to
battlefields.battlefields.
4.4. Develop and maintain CongressionalDevelop and maintain Congressional
and public support.and public support.
5.5. Set clear, winnable goals.Set clear, winnable goals.
6.6. Set deadline for troop withdrawals.Set deadline for troop withdrawals.
Ho Chi Minh had been fighting for Vietnamese independence since World War I.
The U.S. gave France aid to win its support in American anticommunist efforts in Western Europe.
Ho Chi Minh had been fighting for Vietnamese independence since World War I.
The U.S. gave France aid to win its support in American anticommunist efforts in Western Europe.
Realizing he would Diem backs out of elections.
Realizing he would lose, Diem backed out of elections.
Realizing he would Diem backs out of elections.
Kennedy’s advisors were clearly fighting a covert war by 1963.
MacNamara has suggested that he believes Kennedy would have pulled the U.S. out, but evidence in inconclusive.
JFK realizes Diem is a liability; offers quiet support to a Vietnamese military coup d’etat.
The coup results in the brutal murders of Diem and his brother
The Vietnamese generals overthrow one another. A relatively stable, but tyrannical government emerges. It is little better than Diem’s.
What Johnson told Congress
What he didn’t tell Congress:
He had already written the resolution before the “incident.”
The U.S. naval vessels were aiding ARVN in commando raids in North Vietnam at the time.
He learned that the attack probably hadn’t occurred.
The U.S. navy was not on the “high seas” but in N. Vietnam’s 12 mile territorial limit.
What Johnson told Congress
What he didn’t tell Congress:
He had already written the resolution before the “incident.”
The U.S. naval vessels were aiding ARVN in commando raids in North Vietnam at the time.
He learned that the attack probably hadn’t occurred.
The U.S. navy was not on the “high seas” but in N. Vietnam’s 12 mile territorial limit.
Kennedy’s advisors were clearly fighting a covert war by 1963.
MacNamara has suggested that he believes Kennedy would have pulled the U.S. out, but evidence in inconclusive.
JFK realizes Diem is a liability; offers quiet support to a Vietnamese military coup d’etat.
The coup results in the brutal murders of Diem and his brother
The Vietnamese generals overthrow one another. A relatively stable, but tyrannical government emerges. It is little better than Diem’s.
Nixon’s “secret” plan never materializes.
He involved us more.
“Peace with Honor” We’ll win befoe we withdraw.
Expansion:Cambodia invaded in 1970: Ho Chi Minh Trail
Laos invaded in 1971: Ho Chi Minh Trail
Nixon resigns over the Watergate Scandal in 1974.
Ford takes the helm.
Nixon resigns over the Watergate Scandal in 1974.
Ford takes the helm.
Many U.S.-loyal South Vietnamese attempt to flee for fear of execution by the North.
Diversion of capital to the war indirectly caused economic recession: 11% inflation and 12% unemployment!
War Powers Act., 1973, passed over Nixon's veto, requires the President to
notify Congress within 48 hours of his use of military force in a foreign country or enlarging an ongoing conflict.
The President must secure Congressional approval if he intends to keep these troops overseas for more than 60 days. If he doesn't, he must withdraw the forces.
Congress can pass a joint resolution to withdraw the troops before the 60 day deadline. (Each President since has denied its validity, though the issue has never been tested.)
No welcome home (shamed and ashamed), high unemployment, alcohol & drug abuse; poor care of disabled vets: underfunded vets hospitals, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder; Agent Orange health problems, birth defects in vets’ children.
