nixon moves to end the vietnam war -...
TRANSCRIPT
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???????