Nixon Moves to End the Vietnam War

Chapter 17 - Section 4

Overview

President Nixon reduced the number of troops in Vietnam and worked to end the U.S. involvement in the war. He appointed Henry Kissinger to negotiate peace with North Vietnam. The nation remained divided, however, as the war continued. Nixon’s decision to invade Cambodia and the revelations of the Pentagon Papers led to increased protests. After continued peace negotiations, the United States finally ended its involvement in Vietnam. The peace agreement did not last long and soon after Americans troops left, North Vietnamese invaded the South and united Vietnam under Communist rule.

Nixon Moves to End War

After taking office - Nixon moved to end war

Appointed Henry Kissinger to National Security Affairs (Nobel Peace Prize for ending war with Vietnam)

Kissinger negotiated with Le Duc Tho for 4 years trying to end the war

Policy called Linkage = improve relations with China and Soviet Union

Persuade them to cut back on their aide to Vietnam

Also negotiated cease fire / return of American POW’s & the fate of S. Vietnam

Nixon Moves to End War cont...June 1969 - Nixon began to withdraw troops (25,000)

Process called Vietnamization = Am. troop withdrawal & S.Vietnamese take over fighting

Not a surrender but a reduction in forces

Nixon still wanted to maintain strong presence / help negotiate peace

To get N.V. to negotiate, Nixon began bombing VC in Cambodia

Invasion of Cambodia

Nixon invaded Cambodia to destroy VC bases

Upset many in congress & across country

Considered expanding the war / Protests broke out

Kent State MassacreInvasion of Cambodia by Nixon sparked protests

Many viewed invasion of Cambodia as a widening of the war

Kent State University - May 1970 - National Guard fired on protestors without permission

Students killed 4 / wounded 9

More demonstration took place in the Nation and many colleges were closed

Massacre at My Lai

1968 - Platoon under Lt. William Calley - massacred over 200 civilians -

Killed women/children/elderly

many women were raped

Concern for mental health of soldiers

Pentagon PapersDaniel Ellsberg - (Former Defense worker) leaked information; Known as the “Pentagon Papers”

Papers: Revealed many in govt questioned the war

Contained decisions made by the president and advisors

Revealed how they deceived congress and public

1. Didn't notify congress of actions

2. Public lost faith on government

U.S. Pulls out of Vietnam

By 1971 - 2/3 of citizens wanted out

Kissinger Strikes peace deal 1 month before election

Nixon re-elected

Weeks after election - Peace talks broke down

U.S. Pulls out of Vietnam

U.S. forced negotiations to resume by:

“Christmas Bombings”- B-52 Dropped thousands of tons of bombs for 12 days (paused on Christmas)

Peace talks resumed and on Jan 27, 1973 - End of War

S. Vietnam Falls

After Troop withdrawal - March 1975 - N. Vietnamese launched invasion

S. Vietnam asked U.S.for help / Congress said = No

S. Vietnam under fell to communist North Vietnam

Nixon Resigned (Watergate) Gerald Ford took over presidency

End of WarDue to the abuse of power in Vietnam, congress passed:

War Powers Act - Established limits of Executive Power

President to inform congress of troop commitment in 48 hrs

President must withdraw in 60 to 90 days unless congress approves troop commitment

War Toll

170 Billion Dollars

U.S. - 58,000 Dead / over 300,000 wounded

over 1 million North and South Vietnamese died

Countless civilians

Est. 1500 POW/MIA

Questions???????