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Johnson’s WarJohnson’s War

LBJ inherits Vietnam from Ike and JFKLBJ inherits Vietnam from Ike and JFK ““Incrementalism”Incrementalism” 1965: “Operation Rolling Thunder”1965: “Operation Rolling Thunder”

US bombs North, VC attack Pleiku airfield US bombs North, VC attack Pleiku airfield more US troops go to Vietnam more US troops go to Vietnam

““Operation Rolling Thunder”Operation Rolling Thunder” 1965: Gulf of Tonkin Resolution1965: Gulf of Tonkin Resolution ““Americanization” of the warAmericanization” of the war South Vietnamese governments less South Vietnamese governments less

popular/democratic/stablepopular/democratic/stable

LBJ – Address to CongressLBJ – Address to CongressGulf of Tonkin Resolution -1964Gulf of Tonkin Resolution -1964

Our policy in southeast Asia has been consistent and unchanged Our policy in southeast Asia has been consistent and unchanged since 1954. I summarized it on June 2 in four simple propositions:since 1954. I summarized it on June 2 in four simple propositions:

1. America keeps her word. Here as elsewhere, we must and shall 1. America keeps her word. Here as elsewhere, we must and shall honor our commitments.honor our commitments.

2. The issue is the future of southeast Asia as a whole. A threat to 2. The issue is the future of southeast Asia as a whole. A threat to any nation in that region is a threat to all, and a threat to us.any nation in that region is a threat to all, and a threat to us.

3. Our purpose is peace. We have no military, political, or territorial 3. Our purpose is peace. We have no military, political, or territorial ambitions in the area.ambitions in the area.

4. This is not just a jungle war, but a struggle for freedom on every 4. This is not just a jungle war, but a struggle for freedom on every front of human activity. Our military and economic assistance to front of human activity. Our military and economic assistance to South Vietnam and Laos in particular has the purpose of helping South Vietnam and Laos in particular has the purpose of helping these countries to repel aggression and strengthen their these countries to repel aggression and strengthen their independence.independence.

Joint Resolution of Congress:Joint Resolution of Congress: H.J. RES 1145, H.J. RES 1145, August 7, 1964August 7, 1964

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,of America in Congress assembled,

That the Congress approves and supports the determination of the That the Congress approves and supports the determination of the President, as Commander in Chief, to take all necessary measures to President, as Commander in Chief, to take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression.prevent further aggression.

Section 2. The United States regards as vital to its national interest and to Section 2. The United States regards as vital to its national interest and to world peace the maintenance of international peace and security in world peace the maintenance of international peace and security in southeast Asia. Consonant with the Constitution of the United States southeast Asia. Consonant with the Constitution of the United States and the Charter of the United Nations and in accordance with its and the Charter of the United Nations and in accordance with its obligations under the Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty, the obligations under the Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty, the United States is, therefore, prepared, as the President determines, to United States is, therefore, prepared, as the President determines, to take all necessary steps, including the use of armed force, to assist any take all necessary steps, including the use of armed force, to assist any member or protocol state of the Southeast Asia Collective Defense member or protocol state of the Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty requesting assistance in defense of its freedom.Treaty requesting assistance in defense of its freedom.

Section 3. This resolution shall expire when the President shall determine Section 3. This resolution shall expire when the President shall determine that the peace and security of the area is reasonably assured by that the peace and security of the area is reasonably assured by international conditions created by action of the United Nations or international conditions created by action of the United Nations or otherwise, except that it may be terminated earlier by concurrent otherwise, except that it may be terminated earlier by concurrent resolution of the Congress.resolution of the Congress.

Battle for the Battle for the “Hearts and Minds”“Hearts and Minds”

in Vietnamin VietnamANDAND

at Homeat Home

HO CHI MINHHO CHI MINHHo Chi Minh led the Democratic Ho Chi Minh led the Democratic Republic of Vietnam from 1945-Republic of Vietnam from 1945-69. Ho had embraced 69. Ho had embraced communism while living abroad communism while living abroad in England and France from in England and France from 1915-23; in 1919, he petitioned 1915-23; in 1919, he petitioned the powers at the Versailles the powers at the Versailles peace talks for equal rights in peace talks for equal rights in Indochina. He later moved to Indochina. He later moved to Hong Kong, where he founded Hong Kong, where he founded the Indochinese Communist the Indochinese Communist Party. After adopting the name Party. After adopting the name Ho Chi Minh, or "He Who Ho Chi Minh, or "He Who Enlightens," he returned to Enlightens," he returned to Vietnam in 1941 and declared Vietnam in 1941 and declared the nation's independence from the nation's independence from France. Ho led a nearly France. Ho led a nearly continuous war against the continuous war against the French and, later, the Americans French and, later, the Americans until his death in 1969.until his death in 1969.

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1965 1965 Michigan StateMichigan State

First “sit-in”First “sit-in”to protest to protest Vietnam Vietnam conflictconflict

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HO CHI HO CHI MINH MINH TRAILTRAIL

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Robert McNamaraRobert McNamara

Sec. Of Defense Sec. Of Defense under JFK and LBJunder JFK and LBJ

Helps develop Helps develop “flexible response”“flexible response”

Later dissents from Later dissents from Vietnam policy Vietnam policy

Leaves LBJ’s cabinetLeaves LBJ’s cabinet Later states “we Later states “we

were wrong, terribly were wrong, terribly wrong”wrong”

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1968: TET OFFENSIVE1968: TET OFFENSIVE Military offensive by Military offensive by

combined Viet Cong combined Viet Cong and North and North Vietnamese regularsVietnamese regulars

Military defeat for Military defeat for communistscommunists

Political Defeat for LBJ Political Defeat for LBJ and S. Vietnamese and S. Vietnamese govt.govt.

End of “cheap” war End of “cheap” war mythmyth

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NAPALM = “unquenchable fire”NAPALM = “unquenchable fire”andand

AGENT ORANGE = defoliantAGENT ORANGE = defoliant

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My LaiMy Lai 300 civilians killed by US troops in 1968300 civilians killed by US troops in 1968 1969 massacre is uncovered1969 massacre is uncovered Only Lt. Calley convicted; serves 4 yearsOnly Lt. Calley convicted; serves 4 years

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VIETNAM UNDER NIXONVIETNAM UNDER NIXON

““Peace with Honor” pledgePeace with Honor” pledge VietnamizationVietnamization Nixon DoctrineNixon Doctrine April 1970: CambodiaizationApril 1970: Cambodiaization Dec. 1972: Operation LinebackerDec. 1972: Operation Linebacker March 1973: Last US combat troops leaveMarch 1973: Last US combat troops leave April 9,1974: Nixon resignsApril 9,1974: Nixon resigns South Vietnamese forces retreatingSouth Vietnamese forces retreating April 30, 1975: Saigon fallsApril 30, 1975: Saigon falls

NIXON DOCTRINENIXON DOCTRINENixon’s “Silent Majority” SpeechNixon’s “Silent Majority” Speech

In Korea and again in Vietnam, the United States furnished most of In Korea and again in Vietnam, the United States furnished most of the money, most of the arms, and most of the men to help the the money, most of the arms, and most of the men to help the people of those countries defend their freedom against people of those countries defend their freedom against Communist aggression.Communist aggression.

Before any American troops were committed to Vietnam, a leader Before any American troops were committed to Vietnam, a leader of another Asian country expressed this opinion to me when I of another Asian country expressed this opinion to me when I was traveling in Asia as a private citizen. He said: "When you are was traveling in Asia as a private citizen. He said: "When you are trying to assist another nation defend its freedom, U.S. policy trying to assist another nation defend its freedom, U.S. policy should be to help them fight the war but not to fight the war for should be to help them fight the war but not to fight the war for them."them."

Well, in accordance with this wise counsel, I laid down in Guam Well, in accordance with this wise counsel, I laid down in Guam three principles as guidelines for future American policy toward three principles as guidelines for future American policy toward Asia:Asia:

--First, the United States will keep all of its treaty commitments.--First, the United States will keep all of its treaty commitments.--Second, we shall provide a shield if a nuclear power threatens the --Second, we shall provide a shield if a nuclear power threatens the

freedom of a nation allied with us or of a nation whose survival freedom of a nation allied with us or of a nation whose survival we consider vital to our security.we consider vital to our security.

--Third, in cases involving other types of aggression, we shall --Third, in cases involving other types of aggression, we shall furnish military and economic assistance when requested in furnish military and economic assistance when requested in accordance with our treaty commitments. But we shall look to accordance with our treaty commitments. But we shall look to the nation directly threatened to assume the primary the nation directly threatened to assume the primary responsibility of providing the manpower for its defense.responsibility of providing the manpower for its defense.

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FALL OF SAIGONFALL OF SAIGONApril 30, 1975April 30, 1975

OUTCOMES: COSTSOUTCOMES: COSTS

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OUTCOMES: CONSEQUENCESOUTCOMES: CONSEQUENCES Loss of LifeLoss of Life Loss of VietnamLoss of Vietnam Loss of trust in govt., see Loss of trust in govt., see Pentagon PapersPentagon Papers Fall of Cambodia Fall of Cambodia Khmer Rouge Khmer Rouge Decline in Military Moral/ReadinessDecline in Military Moral/Readiness Challenge to American InternationalismChallenge to American Internationalism Split in Democratic Party (Split in Democratic Party (Hawks v. DovesHawks v. Doves)) Nixon Elected and Re-electedNixon Elected and Re-elected Social Unrest and DivisionSocial Unrest and Division Inflation and StagflationInflation and Stagflation

What lessons can be What lessons can be learned from the way that learned from the way that LBJ and Nixon handled LBJ and Nixon handled

Vietnam?Vietnam?

Do any of these lessons Do any of these lessons apply to Iraq?apply to Iraq?