Vietnam War - Nixon

1. Chris Taylor: [voiceover] I think now,
looking back, we did not fight the
enemy; we fought ourselves. And the
enemy was in us.
- PLATOON, 1986
VIETNAM:
America at war with itself

2. Johnson Steps Down
 Totally discredited
because of Vietnam
and decided not to
run in 1968
 Nixon won a peace
platform but did not
pull out of Vietnam

3. Vietnamization: 1969
 Antiwar movements in the USA were putting
increasing pressure on Nixon to get out of
Vietnam-he needed an honourable way out
(“Peace with Honour”)
 A plan was put in place to replace American
troops with Soviet Vietnamese over time

4. Two Track Formula
Goal: Make South Vietnamese independent so
that the Americans can go home
Military Solution Political Solution
Strengthen the
South Vietnamese
Army
Strengthen the
South Vietnamese
government

5. Kent State Shootings
May 4th, 1970

6. Withdrawal and Defeat
Nixon Peace Offensive (1970)
B-52s bombed North Vietnam, Cambodia and
Laos
Ceasefire with North Vietnam (1973)
All troops out of Vietnam (1973)

8. Why did the USA lose?
1) Difficulty fighting guerilla forces
2) Unpopular at home
i. Anti-war movement
ii. Many casualties
iii. Huge costs financially
3) Could not win the “hearts and minds” of the
Vietnamese people
4) American military was half-hearted and disillusioned

9. Fundamental beliefs were questioned in American
Society:
1)Power of the President
2)The role of the military
3)Was it worth opposing the spread of communism?
4)Moral Identity: America could no longer claim
innocence and moral superiority
Questions, Change

10. Fundamental beliefs were questioned in American
Society:
1)Power of the President
2)The role of the military
3)Was it worth opposing the spread of communism?
4)Moral Identity: America could no longer claim
innocence and moral superiority
Questions, Change