presidential decisions during the vietnam war
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PresidentialDecisionsDuringtheVietnamWarOverviewInthislesson,studentswillbeassignedanAmericanpresidentduringtheUnitedStates’involvementintheVietnamconflict.Usingspeeches,declassifiedmemosandotherprimarysources,studentswillhavetomakeadecisionregardingtheUnitedState’sactionsinVietnam.Aftermakingtheirdecisionusingtheavailableinformation,theymustjustifytheiractionstotheirsmallgroup.StudentswillthenreceiveacomprehensiveoverviewoftheconflictinVietnamviapowerpointandclassdiscussion.ThelessonculminateswithagroupdiscussioncomparingandanalyzingpresidentialdecisionsregardingVietnam.(AsanalternativetothislessonorasanadditionalassignmentonVietnam,seealsoCarolinaK-12’s“TheVietnamWarandProtestMusic”,availableintheDatabaseofK-12Resources:k12database.unc.edu)Grade11NorthCarolinaEssentialStandardsforAmericanHistoryII• AH2.H.2.1Analyzekeypolitical,economic,andsocialturningpointssincetheendofReconstructionin
termsofcausesandeffects• AH2.H.2.2EvaluatekeyturningpointssincetheendofReconstructionintermsoftheirlastingimpact• AH2.H.4.3Analyzethesocialandreligiousconflicts,movementsandreformsthatimpactedtheUnited
StatessinceReconstructionintermsofparticipants,strategies,opposition,andresults• AH2.H.6.2ExplainthereasonsforUnitedStatesinvolvementinglobalwarsandtheinfluenceeach
involvementhadoninternationalaffairs• AH2.H.7.1ExplaintheimpactofwarsonAmericanpoliticssinceReconstruction• AH2.H.7.3ExplaintheimpactofwarsonAmericansocietyandculturesinceReconstructionMaterials• PresidentandVietnamHandouts(attached)
o Therearefivetotal.OneforeachofthefollowingPresidents:Truman,Eisenhower,Kennedy,Johnson,andNixon.
o PresidentandVietnamRelatedDocuments(attached)o PresidentialScenarioQuestionsHandout(attached)
• “TheVietnamWar”PowerPoint,availableinCarolinaK-12’sDatabaseofK-12Resources(inPDFformat)o http://civics.sites.unc.edu/files/2012/05/VietnamWarPPT3.pdfo ToviewthisPDFasaprojectablepresentation,savethefile,click“View”inthetopmenubarofthe
file,andselect“FullScreenMode”o TorequestaneditablePPTversionofthispresentation,sendarequesttoCarolinaK12@unc.edu
• VietnamWarOverviewGuidedNotes(attached)• “TheStrategist”PoliticalCartoon(attached)• TheVietnamWarQuizandAnswerKey(attached)• LBJPoliticalCartoon(attached)EssentialQuestions:• WhydidtheUnitedStatesgetinvolvedintheconflictinVietnam?• InwhatwaysandwhydidtheUnitedStatesescalatetheconflictinVietnam?• WhateffectsdidtheVietnamWarhaveonUSsociety?• Howdoesmusicrelatetovarioussocialmovements?
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DurationTwo90minuteperiodsTeacherNoteTheintentofthisassignmentistosimulatethePresidentialdecisionmakingprocessregardingtheVietnamWarwithoutthebenefitofhindsight.Studentsbeginthelessonwithanactivitythatgivesthemalimitedamountofinformationandtheyhavetomakeadecisionusingtheinformationgiven.ProcedureDayOne
DifficultDecisionsWarmUp1. Asawarmup,askstudentsiftheyhaveeverhadtomakeadifficultdecisionintheirlife.Askstudentsto
considerthefollowingquestionswhilethinkingoftheirdecisions.• Whatwasthedecisionyouhadtomake?• Whatinformationdidyouusetomakeyourdecision?• Didyouaskpeopleforadviceaboutyourdecision?• Whenyoumadeyourdecisiondidyouconsideralltheconsequences?• Didyouregretyourdecisioninhindsight?
2. Allowafewstudentstosharetheirexperiences.Afterdiscussingtheabovequestions,explainthatmany
presidentsfacedifficultdecisionsmultipletimesthroughouttheirpresidency.Manytimesthesedecisionsweremadeinacertainerawhenvaluesandideasweredifferent.Thesedecisionsmayseemfoolishormisguidednow,butatthetimetheyweremadetheyseemedliketherightone.Somedecisionsweremetwithunforeseenconsequencesandsomeweremadewithoutenoughinformation.TransitiontothenextactivitybyexplainingthatAmericaninvolvementinVietnamisoneofthemostcontroversialpresidentialdecisionsevermadeandletstudentsknowtheywillbefocusingonthistopicintoday’slesson.
PresidentialDecisionsandVietnam
3. DividestudentsintogroupsoffiveandwithineachgroupassignoneofthefollowingUSPresidents:Truman,Eisenhower,Kennedy,Johnson,orNixon.Passoutthe“President_____andVietnam”handouts(attached)andreviewtheinstructionsbelowandexpectationsforgroupworkbeforeallowingthestudentstostarttheirindependentwork.
PresidentialDecisionsandVietnamInstructions:
ThepurposeofthisassignmentistoplaceyourselfintheshoesofyourassignedUSPresidentandmakeadecisionregardingtheVietnamConflict.Individuallyreadthescenarioanddocumentsprovided,answertheattachedquestions,andcreateashortpresentationthatyourwillgivetothereminderofyoursmallgroupthatwillteachthemthefactssurroundingthescenarioandyourdecisionregardingthescenario.Yourpresentationshouldbe3–5minutesandrequiresatleastoneprop(map,chart,graph,picture,cartoon,etc.)Youcanbecreative,butmakesureyoucoverallpresentationrequirementsandeffectivelyteachyourclassmatesaboutthescenario.Youwillhave30minutestocompletethisactivity.Youwillbegradedonhavinganorganized,quality,andcomprehensivepresentationthatteachesyourclassmatesabouttheimportantpointsofyourscenario.Youwillhave3-5minutestopresentyourscenarioandthentakequestionsfromyourgroupmates.4. Activelymonitorstudentswhiletheyareworkingindependentlytoensurethattheystayontaskandto
answeranyquestionsthatmayarise.
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5. Oncestudentshavecompletedtheirresearchandspeeches,alloweachgroup20minutes(approximatelyfiveminutesforeachstudent)topresenttotheirsmallgroups.Whilethepresenterisspeakinghis/hergroupmatesshouldwritedownquestionstoaskthepresenterregardingtheirdecision.Afterpresenting,thepresentershoulddefendtheirdecisiontotheirgroup’squestions.
6. Aftereachstudenthaspresentedwithintheirgroup,bringtheclassbacktogether.Debriefbyaskingthe
followingquestions:• Whatwasthedecisionyouhadtomake?• Whatinformationdidyouusetomakeyourdecision?• Didyouvalueonedocumenthigherthananotherdocument?• Whenyoumadeyourdecisiondidyouconsideralltheconsequences?
OverviewofVietnam-PowerPoint
7. Asstudentsshouldnowknow,thesituationinVietnamiscomplicatedandcanbequiteconfusing.LetstudentsknowtheywillnowlearnsomebasicfactsregardingtheconflictandabouttheactualdecisionsPresidentshavemaderegardingtheconflict.PassouttheattachedguidednotessheetsthataccompanythePowerpoint,whichwillhelpstudentswhohavedifficultytakingnotesandwillalsostreamlinethenotetakingprocessinaclasswithlimitedtime.Instructstudentstofollowalongandposequestionsastheyhavethem.WhilestudentswillbetakingnotesthroughoutthePPT,itisimportantteachersusethisasaconversationalpieceratherthansimplylecture.
8. TeacherNotes:ThispowerpointisintendedtobeabriefoverviewoftheVietnamWar.Itincludesmanyofthemajormilitaryandpoliticalfigures,events,andterminologyassociatedwiththeVietnamWar.Discussionpointsandcorrespondingslidesarelistedbelow.Itislikelythatteacherswillwanttobreakthispresentationupovertwoclassperiods.Thepresentationnotesastoppingplaceatslide21,thoughteachersshouldusetheirdiscretionastowheretostop.)• Slide3–WhatothereventscouldhaveinfluencedthecreationoftheDominoTheory?
o SpreadofcommunistgovernmentstoEasternEuropeafterWorldWarII.o Chinabecomingacommunistnationo KoreanWar
• Slide13–AdditionalinformationregardingTheGulfofTonkinIncident:o TheGulfofTonkinIncidentwasactuallytwoseparateevents.OnAugust2nd1964Vietnamese
torpedoboatsattackedagroupofUSdestroyers.TwodayslateritwasreportedthatagroupofUSdestroyerswasagain“deliberatelyattacked.”ThissecondattackwastheimpetusfortheGulfofTokinResolutionandfortheescalationofUSmilitarypresenceinVietnam.AdeclassifiedNSAreportfrom2005allegedthatthefirstattackagainstUSshipswasunderquestionablecircumstancesandthatthesecondincidentneveroccurred.Atthetime,itwasnotentirelycertaintoJohnsonandhisstaffthatthesecondattackedoccurred,yettheystillpressedaheadinaskingCongressforauthorizationtoescalatethewar.(Source:http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB132/)
o WhydoyouthinkthatPresidentJohnsonwouldusefaultyintelligenceasabasisfortroopescalationinVietnam?
• Slide14–WhydoyouthinkCongressdecidedtoallowaresolutionofforceratherthanofficiallydeclaringwaronVietnam?o Possibleanswersinclude:
§ Ifanofficialwarwasdeclared,Chinaand/orRussiamightdeclarewarontheUSleadingtoanotherpotentialWorldWar.
§ Theresolutionallowedforalimitedratherthanatotalwar.Johnsonhimselfsaidthat"theUnitedStates...seeksnowiderwar".
§ TheUnitedStatesfeltthattheincreasedmilitarypresenceinVietnamwouldbringaquickendtotheconflictandaverttheneedforadeclarationofwar.
• Slide16–WhatotherwarswereVCstyletacticsusedin?
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o IraqWar,WarinAfghanistan,AmericanRevolution• Slide19–WhatdoestheKilledinActioncharttellyouabouttheenemytheUnitedStateswasfacingin
Vietnam?o TheVietnamesewerereadytodietodefendtheirhomeland.Thismakesthemanextremely
difficultopponenttodefeat.9. CompleteparttwoofthePowerpointduringthenextclass.Ifthereistimeremainingintheclassperiod,
writethefollowingquestionontheboardandhavestudentsrespondinwriting:• LeVanBang,formerVietnameseAmbassadortotheUnitedStates,said:“Vietnamisacountry,nota
war.”Whatmessagedoyouthinkhewastryingtoconvey?DayTwo
WarmUp–PoliticalCartoonAnalysis10. Asawarmup,projecttheattachedpoliticalcartoon.Askstudentsthefollowingquestions:
• Arethereanyimagesoffamousplacesorfamouspeople?Ifnot,whatimagesarepresent?• Areanyoftheimagesbeingusedasasymboltostandforalargerconceptoridea?Ifso,whatisthe
meaningofthesymbol?• Isthecartoonistusinganyotherartistictechniques(e.g.,ironyorexaggeration)toexpresshisorher
opiniononanissue?• Doesthewriterlabelanythinginthecartoon?Ifso,whatistheimportanceofthelabel?• Whatmessageistheauthortryingtoconveyinthiscartoon?• Whatevidenceinthecartoonsupportsyouropinion?• HowdoyouthinkthiscartoonrelatestopresidentialdecisionsduringtheVietnamWar?
OverviewofVietnamPowerpoint–PartTwo
11. Havestudentstakeouttheirguidednotessheetsandcompleteparttwoofthepowerpoint.Belowarestoppingpointsanddiscussionquestionstoaccompanythepowerpoint.• Slide26–Canyouthinkofanothertechnologythathasinfluencedhowwarisreported?
o Theinternet,cellphones,twitter,etc.• Slide29–Whydoyouthinkasignificantanti-WarmovementneverdevelopedduringWorldWarII?
o Possibleanswersinclude:§ Governmenthadbettercontroloverinformationthatwaspassedalongtothegeneralpublic.§ AmericanpublicsupportedthewarbecausetheUnitedStateswasprovokedatPearlHarbor.
o TrytohelpstudentsmaketheconnectionbetweentheCivilRightsMovementandtheanti-warmovement.§ Mostlyyoungpeopleparticipatedinbothmovements.§ Protestmusicplayedacentralroleinbothmovements.§ Thetimingofbothmovementsoverlapped.§ Predominantly,peacefulprotesttacticswereused.
• Pauseatslide31anddiscussthefollowingbeforecontinuing:o Whatdoyouthinkishappeninghere?o Whodoyouthinkthemanwiththegunis?o Whodoyouthinkthemanbeingshotis?o Whydoyouthinkhe’sbeingshot?o Howdoesthisphotomakeyoufeel?o HowdoyouthinkAmericansreactedwhentheyfirstsawthisphotoin1968?o AdditionalInformationRegardingthePhoto:
§ WithNorthVietnam'sTetOffensivebeginning,NguyenNgocLoan,SouthVietnam'snationalpolicechief,wasdoingallhecouldtokeepVietCongguerrillasfromSaigon.AsLoanexecutedaprisonerwhowassaidtobeaVietCongcaptain,APphotographerEddieAdamsopenedtheshutter.AdamswonaPulitzerPrizeforapicturethat,asmuchasanythingelse,turnedpublicopinionagainstthewar.Adamsfeltthatmanymisinterpretedthescene,andwhentoldin
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1998thattheimmigrantLoanhaddiedofcancerathishomeinBurke,Va.,hesaid,"Theguywasahero.Americashouldbecrying.Ijusthatetoseehimgothisway,withoutpeopleknowinganythingabouthim."Source:http://www.cs.brown.edu/courses/cs024/imagesHistoric.html#06.jpg
• Slide32–Chooseonestudenttoreadthequoteregardingthepictureonthepreviousslide.Askthefollowingquestions:o Doyouagreewiththeauthor’ssentimentsthat“stillphotographsarethemostpowerfulweapon
intheworld?”o Doyoufeeldifferentlyaboutthephotographafterreadingtheauthor’squote?o Whatdothephotographandthequotetellyouaboutthenatureofthemedia?
• Slide37–Askthefollowingquestions:o WhatweresomemajorAmericanpoliticaleventsthattookplacein1968?
§ TheCivilRightsmovementlostitsmostrecognizablefigureinDr.King.§ TheDemocraticPartylostastrongpresidentialcandidateinRobertKennedy.§ TheTetOffensivehelpedtoturnagreatdealoftheAmericanpublicagainsttheVietnamWar.§ RichardNixonwinsthepresidency.§ 1968wasthedeadliestyearforAmericantroopsinVietnamfurtherturningAmericanpublic
opinionagainstthewar.• Attheconclusionofthepresentation:
o HowwasNixon’sVietnamstrategysimilartoJohnson’s?§ Theybothexpandedthewar,NixonbybombingCambodiaandLBJbyincreasingtheamount
ofgroundtroops.o HowwasNixon’sstrategydifferentthanJohnson’s?
§ NixonfeltthatgraduallywithdrawingtroopsandturningthewarovertotheS.Vietnamesewouldbringa“peacewithhonor.”
PresidentialDecisionsDebriefing
12. Afterconcludingthepowerpoint,groupstudentsbasedupontheirpresidentfromthepreviousday.Havestudentscomparetheirdecisionstotheactualpresident’sdecisions.Haveeachgroupanswerthefollowingquestionsandpresenttheiranswerstotheclass.Studentsmayusetextbooksandothersupplementalmaterialinordertogainadeeperunderstandingoftheeventspresentedinthepowerpoint.• Howwasyourdecisiondifferentfromtheactualdecision?• Ifyourdecisionwasdifferent,whichdecisiondoyouthinkwasbetter?• Whataresomelimitationsyoufeltwhenmakingyourdecision?• Withthebenefitofhindsight,wouldyouchangeyourdecision?• Whataresomeotherdifficultpresidentialdecisions?• Canpastpresidentialdecisionshelpourcurrentpresidentmakesmarterdecisions?
13. Optionalculminatingassignments:
• DistributetheattachedquizregardingVietnam.• HavestudentsanalyzethatattachedLBJpoliticalcartoon.• AssigntheDBQonVietnamavailableat
http://www.historyteacher.net/USProjects/DBQs2001/Vietnam-Tomlin.htm Resources• HistoricImages:http://www.cs.brown.edu/courses/cs024/imagesHistoric.html#06.jpg• TheNationalSecurityArchive:http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB132/
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PresidentTrumanandVietnamInstructions:ThepurposeofthisassignmentistoplaceyourselfintheshoesofUSPresidentHarryTrumanandmakeadecisionregardingtheVietnamConflict.Readthescenarioanddocumentsprovidedtoyou,answertheattachedquestions,andcreateashortpresentationthatteachesyoursmallgroupaboutthefactssurroundingthescenarioandyourdecisionregardingthescenario.Yourpresentationshouldbe3–5minutesandrequiresatleastoneprop(map,chart,graph,picture,cartoon,etc.)Youcanbecreative,butmakesureyoucoverallpresentationrequirementsandeffectivelyteachyourclassmatesaboutthescenario.Youwillhave30minutestocompletethisactivity.Youwillbegradedonhavinganorganized,quality,andcomprehensivepresentationthatteachesyourclassmatesabouttheimportantpointsofyourscenario.Youwillhave3-5minutestopresentyourscenarioandthentakequestionsfromyourgroupmates.Scenario:WorldWarTwoleftmanyglobalchangesinitswake:theweakeningofEuropeancolonialempires,theemergenceoftheUSSRandUSassuperpowers,andtheirsubsequentColdWarthatdominatedpost-WWIIglobalpolitics.AfterWWII,FranceattemptedtoregaincontrolofitscoloniesinIndochina(presentdayVietnam,Laos,andCambodia).TheVietMinh,ledbyHoChiMinh,wereacommunistnationalistmovementthatwantedtoexpeltheFrenchfromIndochinaandgainindependencefortheVietnamese.USPresidentHarryTrumanfacedadifficultdecisionregardingthesituationinIndochina.Ononehand,hesupporteddecolonization.Ontheotherhand,heneededFranceasanallyagainsttheSovietUnion.IfyouwerePresidentHarryTruman,whatwouldyoudo?Importantinformationtoconsiderwhenmakingyourdecision:
• TheUnitedStatespracticedapolicycalled“containment.”Thispolicywasintendedtostopthespreadofcommunismbeyonditscurrentborders.Itwasoutlinedinthe“TrumanDoctrine.”
• In1949,Chinabecameacommunistnation.• In1950,CommunistNorthKoreainvadednon-CommunistSouthKoreastartingtheKoreanWar.Thiswasthe
first“hot”conflictoftheColdWar.TheUnitedStatescurrentlyhasover100,000troopscommittedinKorea.• Seeinghowthepolicyof“appeasement”failedtostopWorldWarII,worldleadersareoftheviewthat
aggressiveexpansionmustbestoppedquicklyanddecisively.• AmajorityoftheVietnamesepeoplesupportedHoChiMinhinhisfightagainsttheFrench.
Importantdocumentstoreadanddiscussbeforemakingyourdecision:
• “TrumanDoctrine”excerpt• “DeclarationofIndependenceoftheDemocraticRepublicofVietnam”
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PresidentTrumanDocuments
TheTrumanDoctrine,March12,1947(Excerpt)
OneoftheprimaryobjectivesoftheforeignpolicyoftheUnitedStatesisthecreationofconditionsinwhichweandothernationswillbeabletoworkoutawayoflifefreefromcoercion.ThiswasafundamentalissueinthewarwithGermanyandJapan.Ourvictorywaswonovercountrieswhichsoughttoimposetheirwill,andtheirwayoflife,uponothernations…Thepeopleofanumberofcountriesintheworldhaverecentlyhadtotalitarianregimesforceduponthemagainsttheirwill.TheGovernmentoftheUnitedStateshasmadefrequentprotestsagainstcoercionandintimidation,inviolationoftheYaltaagreement,inPoland,Romania,andBulgaria.Imustalsostatethatinanumberofothercountriestherehavebeensimilardevelopments.Atthepresentmomentinworldhistorynearlyeverynationmustchoosebetweenalternativewaysoflife.Thechoiceistoooftennotafreeone.Onewayoflifeisbaseduponthewillofthemajority,andisdistinguishedbyfreeinstitutions,representativegovernment,freeelections,guaranteesofindividualliberty,freedomofspeechandreligion,andfreedomfrompoliticaloppression.Thesecondwayoflifeisbaseduponthewilloftheminorityforciblyimposeduponthemajority.Itreliesuponterrorandoppression,acontrolledpressandradio,fixedelections,andthesuppressionofpersonalfreedoms.IbelievethatitmustbethepolicyoftheUnitedStatestosupportfreepeopleswhoareresistingattemptedsubjugationbyarmedminoritiesoroutsidepressures.Ibelievethatwemustassistfreepeoplestoworkouttheirowndestiniesintheirownway.Ibelievethatourhelpshouldbeprimarilythrougheconomicandfinancialaidwhichisessentialtoeconomicstabilityandorderlypoliticalprocesses.Theworldisnotstatic,andthestatusquoisnotsacred.ButwecannotallowchangesinthestatusquoinviolationoftheCharteroftheUnitedNationsbysuchmethodsascoercion,orbysuchsubterfugesaspoliticalinfiltration.Inhelpingfreeandindependentnationstomaintaintheirfreedom,theUnitedStateswillbegivingeffecttotheprinciplesoftheCharteroftheUnitedNations.Source:PublicPapersofthePresidentsoftheUnitedStates:HarryS.Truman,1947(Washington,CD:GovernmentPrintingOffice,1963),176-80.
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PresidentTrumanDocuments
PoetNguyenThuongHienontheFateofVillagersWhoPleadedWithFrenchColonialOfficialsforLowerTaxesAround
1914
InQuangNam,aprovincesouthofourcapital,theinhabitantsweresoheavilytaxedthattheycametotheResident’sHeadquarterstoaskhimtoexemptthemfromthenewtaxincrease.TheResidentdidnotlistentothem,butinsteadorderedhissoldierstochargeagainstthem.Amongthosedrivenbackintotheriver,threedrowned.Theinhabitants’angerwasaroused,sotheybroughtthethreecorpsesbeforetheResident’sHeadquarters,andforthewholeweekseveralthousandpeopledressedinmourninggarmentssatonthegroundsurroundingthethreecorpses,shoutingandwailingcontinuously.TheResidentreportedthemattertotheResidentGeneral,whocameandinquiredoftheinhabitants:“Whyareyoupeoplerebelling?”Theinhabitantsreplied:“Wedonothaveasinglestickofironinourhands,whydoyousaythatwearerebelling?Itisonlybecausethetaxesaretoohighandwearenotabletopaythemthatwemustvoiceouropiniontogether.”TheResidentGeneralthensaid:“Ifyourpeoplearesopoorthatyoucannotpaytaxestothegovernment,thenyoumightaswellallbedead.”Whenhefinishedsayingthis,theResidentGeneralorderedhisFrenchsoldierstofireintothecrowd.Onlyafterseveralhundredpersonshadbeenkilled,sheddingtheirbloodinpuddles,didthecrowddisperse.Source:NgoVinhLong,BeforetheRevolution:TheVietnamesePeasantsUndertheFrench,2ded.(NewYork:ColumbiaUniversity
Press,1991).71-72
DeclarationofIndependenceoftheDemocraticRepublicofVietnam,September2,1945.(Excerpt)“Allmenarecreatedequal.TheyareendowedbytheirCreatorwithcertaininalienablerights,amongtheseareLife,Liberty,andthepursuitofHappiness.”ThisimmortalstatementwasmadeintheDeclarationofIndependenceoftheUnitedStatesofAmericain1776.Inabroadersense,thismeans:Allthepeoplesontheearthareequalfrombirth,allthepeopleshavearighttolive,tobehappy,andtobefree.TheDeclarationoftheFrenchRevolutionmadein1791ontheRightsofManandtheCitizenalsostates:“Allmenarebornfreeandwithequalrights,andmustalwaysremainfreeandhaveequalrights.”Thoseareundeniabletruths.Neverthelessformorethaneightyyears,theFrenchimperialists,abusingthestandardofLiberty,Equality,andFraternity,haveviolatedourFatherlandandoppressedourfellow-citizens.Theyhaveactedcontrarytoidealsofhumanityandjustice…Fromtheautumnof1940,ourcountryhadinfactceasedtobeaFrenchcolonyandhadbecomeaJapanesepossession.AftertheJapanesehadsurrenderedtotheAllies,ourwholepeoplerosetoregainournationalsovereigntyandtofoundtheDemocraticRepublicofVietnam. ThetruthisthatwehavewrestedourindependencefromtheJapaneseandnotfromtheFrench. TheFrenchhavefled,theJapanesehavecapitulated,EmperorBaoDaihasabdicated.OurpeoplehavebrokenthechainswhichfornearlyacenturyhavefetteredthemandhavewonindependencefortheFatherland.Ourpeopleatthesametimehaveoverthrownthemonarchicregimethathasreignedsupremeforadozencenturies.InitsplacehasbeenestablishedthepresentDemocraticRepublic… Forthesereasons,we,membersoftheProvisionGovernmentoftheDemocraticRepublicofVietnam,solemnlydeclaretotheworldthatVietnamhastherighttobeafreeandindependentcountry–andinfactitissoalready.TheentireVietnamesepeoplearedeterminetomobilizealltheirphysicalandmentalstrength,tosacrificetheirlivesandpropertyinordertosafeguardtheirindependenceandliberty.
Source:HoChiMinh,SelectedWorks,3:17–21.
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PresidentEisenhowerandVietnamInstructions:ThepurposeofthisassignmentistoplaceyourselfintheshoesofUSPresidentDwightD.EisenhowerandmakeadecisionregardingtheVietnamConflict.Readthescenarioanddocumentsprovided,answertheattachedquestions,andcreateashortpresentationthatteachesyoursmallgroupaboutthefactssurroundingthescenarioandyourdecisionregardingthescenario.Yourpresentationshouldbe3–5minutesandrequiresatleastoneprop(map,chart,graph,picture,cartoon,etc.)Youcanbecreative,butmakesureyoucoverallpresentationrequirementsandeffectivelyteachyourclassmatesaboutthescenario.Youwillhave30minutestocompletethisactivity.Youwillbegradedonhavinganorganized,quality,andcomprehensivepresentationthatteachesyourclassmatesabouttheimportantpointsofyourscenario.Youwillhave3-5minutestopresentyourscenarioandthentakequestionsfromyourgroupmates.Scenario:AfterWWII,FranceattemptedtoregaincontrolofitscoloniesinIndochina(presentdayVietnam,Laos,andCambodia).TheVietMinh,ledbyHoChiMinh,wereacommunistnationalistmovementthatwantedtoexpeltheFrenchfromIndochinaandgainindependencefortheVietnamese.In1954,followingadefeatattheBattleofDienBienPhu,theFrenchgrantedtheVietnamesetheirindependence.TheGenevaAccords,signedin1954,officiallyendedthefightingbetweenFranceandtheVietMinh.Itlaidoutthefollowingconditions:
• DividedIndochinaintothreeseparatenations:Vietnam,Laos,andCambodia.• DividedVietnamintotwoseparatesections:CommunistNorth,ledbyHoChiMinh,andthePro-WesternSouthledby
NgoDinhDiem.• FreeelectionsweretobeheldinVietnamin1956toreunifythecountryunderonegovernment.
NgoDinhDiem,thepresidentofSouthVietnam,wasanardentnationalistandanti-communist.AlthoughhewasunpopularamongtheVietnamesepeople,hisanti-communistcredentialsguaranteedhimAmericansupport.Whenitcametimeforthe1956elections,AmericanintelligenceanalystspredictedthatDiemwouldlose,andasaresult,Diemrefusedtoparticipate.AcommunistrebelgroupintheSouth,knownastheNationalLiberationFront(NLF),committedthemselvestooverthrowingDiemandunitingVietnam.TheNLFfighters,calledVietcong,launchedaninsurgencywheretheykilledgovernmentofficialsanddestroyedinfrastructure.WithbackingfromtheNorthVietnamese,theyessentiallystartedacivilwar.DiemdidlittletohelphispopularityinSouthVietnam.HewasaRomanCatholicinalargelyBuddhistnation.Heenactedanti-Buddhistlegislationandrefusedtoenactlandreforms.TheonlythingkeepinghiminpowerwasthesupportoftheUnitedStates.PresidentEisenhowerfacedadifficultdecisionregardingthesituationinVietnam.Ononehand,hetheoreticallysupportedtheideaofself-determination,ortherightofapeopletochoosetheirowngovernment.Ontheotherhand,hedidnotwanttoallowVietnamtofalltocommunism.IfyouwerePresidentDwightD.Eisenhower,whatwouldyoudo?Importantinformationtoconsiderwhenmakingyourdecision:
• TheUnitedStatespracticedapolicycalled“containment.”Thispolicywasintendedtostopthespreadofcommunismbeyonditscurrentborders.Itwasoutlinedinthe“TrumanDoctrine.”
• TheUSalsobelievedinthe“DominoTheory,”ortheideathatifonecountryfallstocommunism,thesurroundingcountrieswillfalltoo.
• In1949,Chinabecameacommunistnation.• In1950,CommunistNorthKoreainvadednon-CommunistSouthKoreastartingtheKoreanWar.Theconflictendedin
astalematewiththeoriginaldividinglinebetweenNorthKoreaandSouthKorearemainingintact.• Seeinghowthepolicyof“appeasement”failedtostopWorldWarII,worldleadersareoftheviewthataggressive
expansionmustbestoppedquicklyanddecisively.Importantdocumentstoreadanddiscussbeforemakingyourdecision:
• DwightD.Eisenhower’s“FallingDomino”StatementtothePressontheStrategicImportanceofIndochina,April7,1954
• SoutheastAsiaCollectiveDefenseTreaty,September8,1954• DwightD.Eisenhower’sSpeechonthe“NeedforMutualSecurityinWagingthePeace,”May21,1957• ManifestooftheSouthVietNamNationalFrontforLiberation,December1960
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PresidentEisenhowerDocuments
DwightD.Eisenhower’s“FallingDomino”StatementtothePressontheStrategicImportanceofIndochina,April7,
1954
Youhave,ofcourse,boththespecificandthegeneralwhenyoutalkaboutsuchthings.Firstofall,youhavethespecificvalueofalocalityinitsproductionofmaterialsthattheworldneeds.Thenyouhavethepossibilitythatmanyhumanbeingspassunderadictatorshipthatisinimicaltothefree
world.Finally,youhavebroaderconsiderationsthatmightfollowwhatyouwouldcallthe“fallingdomino”principle.
Youhavearowofdominoessetup,youknockoverthefirstone,andwhatwillhappentothelastoneisthecertaintythatitwillgooververyquickly.Soyoucouldhaveabeginningofadisintegrationthatwouldhavethemostprofoundinfluences.
Now,withrespecttothefirstone,twooftheitemsfromthisparticularareathattheworldusesaretinand
tungsten.Theyareveryimportant.Thereareothers,ofcourse,therubberplantationsandsoon.Thenwithrespecttomorepeoplepassingunderthisdomination,Asia,afterall,hasalreadylostsome450
millionofitspeoplestotheCommunistdictatorship,andwesimplycan’taffordgreaterlosses.But,whenwecometothepossiblesequenceofevents,thelossofIndochina,ofBurma,ofThailand,ofthe
Peninsula,andIndonesiafollowing,nowyoubegintotalkaboutareasthatnotonlymultiplythedisadvantagesthatyouwouldsufferthroughlossofmaterials,sourcesofmaterials,butnowyouaretalkingaboutmillionsandbillionsofpeople.
Finally,thegeographicalpositionachievedtherebydoesmanythings.Itturnstheso-calledislanddefensive
chainofJapan,Formosa,ofthePhilippinesandtothesouthward;itmovesintothreatenAustraliaandNewZealand.Ittakesaway,initseconomicaspects,thatregionthatJapanmusthaveasatradingareaorJapan,inturn,will
haveonlyoneplaceintheworldtogo–thatis,towardtheCommunistareasinordertolive.So,thepossibleconsequencesofthelossarejustincalculabletothefreeworld.
Source:PublicPapersofthePresidentsoftheUnitedStates.DwightD.Eisenhower,1954.(Washington,DC.GovernmentPrinting Office,1958),332–33.
ManifestooftheSouthVietNamNationalFrontforLiberation,December1960(excerpt)
Atpresent,ourpeopleareurgentlydemandinganendtothecrueldictatorialrule;theyaredemandingindependenceanddemocracy,enoughfoodandclothing,andpeacefulreunificationofthecountry.
Tomeettheaspirationsofourcompatriots,theSouthVietNamnationalFrontforLiberationcameintobeing,pledgingitselftoshoulderthehistorictaskofliberationourpeoplefromthepresentyokeofslavery.
TheSouthVietNamNationalFrontforLiberationundertakestouniteallsectionsofthepeople,allsocialclasses,nationalities,politicalparties,organizations,religiouscommunitiesandpatrioticpersonalities,withoutdistinctionoftheirpoliticaltendencies,inordertostrugglefortheoverthrowoftheruleoftheUSimperialistsandtheirstooges–theNgoDinhDiemclique–andfortherealizationofindependence,democracy,peaceandneutralitypendingthepeacefulreunificationofthefatherland.
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PresidentEisenhowerDocuments
SoutheastAsiaCollectiveDefenseTreaty,September8,1954(Excerpt)
ArticleIV
1. Eachpartyrecognizesthataggressionbymeansofarmedattackinthetreatyareaagainstanyofthepartiesoragainstanystateorterritorywhichthepartiesbyunanimousagreementmayhereafterdesignate,wouldendangeritsownpeaceandsafety,andagreesthatitwillinthateventacttomeetthecommondangerinaccordancewithitsconstitutionalprocesses.MeasurestakenunderthisparagraphshallbeimmediatelyreportedtotheSecurityCounciloftheUnitedNations.
2. If,intheopinionofanyoftheparties,theinviolabilityoftheintegrityoftheterritoryorthesovereigntyorpoliticalindependenceofanypartyinthetreatyareaorofanystateorterritorytowhichtheprovisionsofparagraph1ofthisarticlefromtimetotimeapplyisthreatenedinanywayotherthanbyarmedattackorisaffectedorthreatenedbyanyfactorsituationwhichmightendangerthepeaceofthearea,thePartiesshallconsultimmediatelyinordertoagreeonthemeasureswhichshouldbetakenforthecommondefense.
3. Itisunderstoodthatnoactionontheterritoryofanystatedesignatedbyunanimousagreementunderparagraph1ofthisarticleoronanyterritorysodesignatedshallbetakenexceptattheinvitationortheconsentofthegovernmentconcerned…DesignationofStatesandTerritoryastoWhichProvisionsofArticleIVandArticleIIIAretoBeApplicableThepartiestotheSoutheastAsiaCollectiveDefenseTreatyunanimouslydesignateforthepurposesofArticleIVoftheTreatythestatesofCambodiaandLaos,andthefreeterritoryunderthejurisdictionofthestateofVietnam…
Source:DepartmentofStateBulletin(September20,1954),394-96.
DwightD.Eisenhower’sSpeechonthe“NeedforMutualSecurityinWagingthePeace,”May21,1957(excerpt)
ThisisapolicyforAmericathatbegantenyearsagowhenaDemocraticPresidentandaRepublicanCongress
unitedinanhistoricdeclaration.TheythendeclaredthattheindependenceandsurvivaloftwocountriesmenacedbyCommunistaggression–GreeceandTurkey–weresoimportanttothesecurityofAmericathatwewouldgivethemmilitaryandeconomicaid. Thatpolicysavedthosenations.AnditdidsowithoutthecostofAmericanlives. Thatpolicyhassincebeenextendedtoallcriticalareasoftheworld.ItrecognizesthatAmericacannotexistasanislandoffreedominasurroundingseaofCommunism.Itisexpressedconcretelybymutualsecuritytreatiesembracing42othernations.AndthesetreatiesreflectasolemnfindingbythePresidentandtheSenatethatourownpeacewouldbeendangeredifanyofthesecountriesweretobeconqueredbyInternationalCommunism. ThelessonofthedefenseofGreeceandTurkeytenyearsagohassincebeenrepeatedinthesavingofotherlandsandpeoples.ArecentexampleistheSoutheastAsiancountryofViet-Nam,whosePresidenthasjustvisitedasourhonoredguest. TwoyearsagoitappearedthatallofSoutheastAsiamightbeover-runbytheforcesofInternationalCommunism.ThefreedomandsecurityofnationsforwhichwehadfoughtthroughoutWorldWarIIandtheKoreanWaragainstoodindanger.ThepeopleofViet-Namrespondedbravely–understeadfastleadership. Butbraveryalonecouldnothaveprevailed. WegavemilitaryandeconomicassistancetotheRepublicofViet-Nam.Weenteredintoatreaty–theSoutheastAsiaSecurityTreaty–whichplainlywarnedthatanarmedattackagainstthisareawouldendangerourownpeaceandsafety,andthatwewouldactaccordingly.ThusViet-Namhasbeensavedforfreedom.Source:PublicPapersofthePresidentsoftheUnitedStates:DwightD.Eisenhower,1957(Washington,DC:GovernmentPrintingOffice, 1958),397–88.
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PresidentKennedyandVietnamInstructions:ThepurposeofthisassignmentistoplaceyourselfintheshoesofUSPresidentJohnF.KennedyandmakeadecisionregardingtheVietnamConflict.Readthescenarioanddocumentsprovided,answertheattachedquestions,andcreateashortpresentationthatteachesyoursmallgroupaboutthefactssurroundingthescenarioandyourdecisionregardingthescenario.Yourpresentationshouldbe3–5minutesandrequiresatleastoneprop(map,chart,graph,picture,cartoon,etc.)Youcanbecreative,butmakesureyoucoverallpresentationrequirementsandeffectivelyteachyourclassmatesaboutthescenario.Youwillhave30minutestocompletethisactivity.Youwillbegradedonhavinganorganized,quality,andcomprehensivepresentationthatteachesyourclassmatesabouttheimportantpointsofyourscenario.Youwillhave3-5minutestopresentyourscenarioandthentakequestionsfromyourgroupmates.Scenario:WhenKennedytakesoverasPresidentin1961,theColdWarbetweentheUSSRandUShasreachedacriticalpoint.Therehasalreadybeena“hot”conflict:theKoreanWar(1950-53),whichendedinstalemate.Another“hot”conflictisshapingupinVietnamwhereacivilwarhasbeenragingbetweenNorthandSouthVietnamfor5years.A1954resolution,theGenevaAccords,dividedtheVietnamintotwoparts:acommunistNorthVietnam,ledbyHoChiMinhandanon-communistSouthVietnam,ledbyNgoDinhDiem.Anelectionin1956wassupposedtounifythecountryunderonegovernment.Whenitcametimeforthe1956elections,AmericanintelligenceanalystspredictedthatDiemwouldlose,andasaresult,Diemrefusedtoparticipate.AlthoughhewasunpopularamongtheVietnamesepeople,hisanti-communistcredentialsguaranteedhimAmericansupport.AcommunistrebelgroupintheSouth,knownastheNationalLiberationFront(NLF),committedthemselvestooverthrowingDiemandunitingVietnam.TheNLFfighters,calledVietcong,launchedaninsurgencywheretheykilledgovernmentofficialsanddestroyedinfrastructure.WithbackingfromtheNorthVietnamese,theyessentiallystartedacivilwar.DiemdidlittletohelphispopularityinSouthVietnam.HewasaRomanCatholicinalargelyBuddhistnation.Heenactedanti-Buddhistlegislationandrefusedtoenactlandreforms.ManyVietnamesepeoplewerewithdrawingtheirsupportforDiem.TheonlythingkeepinghiminpowerwasthesupportoftheUnitedStates,whichwasquicklyfading.Upuntilthispoint,theUnitedStateshashadapolicyofsupportingDiem’sgovernment,bysendingmonetaryaid.PresidentKennedyfaceddifficultdecisionsregardingthesituationinVietnam.Ononehand,hedidnotwanttoexpandtheUnitedStates’roleinthewar,buthefeltthatDiemcouldnothandleitwithoutUSassistance.IfyouwerePresidentKennedy,wouldyoudocontinueonthesamestrategyofonlysendingmonetaryaid?Wouldyousendmilitaryaid?WouldyoukeepDieminpower?Importantinformationtoconsiderwhenmakingyourdecision:
• TheUnitedStatespracticedapolicycalled“containment.”Thispolicywasintendedtostopthespreadofcommunismbeyonditscurrentborders.Itwasoutlinedinthe“TrumanDoctrine.”
• TheUSalsobelievedinthe“DominoTheory,”ortheideathatifonecountryfallstocommunism,thesurroundingcountrieswillfalltoo.
• In1949,Chinabecameacommunistnation.• In1950,CommunistNorthKoreainvadednon-CommunistSouthKoreastartingtheKoreanWar.Theconflict
endedinastalematewiththeoriginaldividinglinebetweenNorthKoreaandSouthKorearemainingintact.• Seeinghowthepolicyof“appeasement”failedtostopWorldWarII,worldleadersareoftheviewthat
aggressiveexpansionmustbestoppedquicklyanddecisively.Importantdocumentstoreadanddiscussbeforemakingyourdecision:
• GeneralMaxwellTaylor’sReporttoPresidentJohnF.Kennedy,November1,1961(excerpt)• SecretaryofStateDeanRuskTelegramtoAmbassadorHenryCabotLodge,October5,1963(excerpt)• JohnF.KennedyInterviewwithChetHuntleyandDavidBrinkley,September10,1963
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PresidentKennedyDocuments
GeneralMaxwellTaylor’sReporttoPresidentJohnF.Kennedy,November1,1961(excerpt)
TheintroductionofUSforcesmayincreasetensionsandriskescalationintoamajorwarinAsia.
Ontheothersideoftheargument,therecanbenoactionsoconvincingofUSseriousnessofthepurposeandhencesoreassuringtothepeopleandGovernmentofSVN[SouthVietnam]andtoourotherfriendsandalliesinSEA[SoutheastAsia]astheintroductionofUSforcesinSVN… ThesizeoftheUSforceintroducedneednotbegreattoprovidethemilitarypresencenecessarytoproducethedesiredeffectonnationalmoraleinSVNandoninternationalopinion.Abaretoken,however,willnotsuffice;itmusthaveasignificantvalue…
TherisksofbackingintoamajorwarbywayofSVNarepresentbutarenotimpressive.NVN[NorthVietnam]isextremelyvulnerabletoconventionalbombing,aweaknesswhichshouldbeexploiteddiplomaticallyinconvincingHanoitolayoffSVN.BorhtheD.R.V.[DemocraticRepublicofVietnam]andtheChicoms[ChineseCommunists]wouldfaceseverlogisticaldifficultiesintryingtomaintainstrongforcesinthefieldinSEA,difficultieswhichwesharebutbynomeanstothesamedegree…
Bytheforegoinglineofreasoning,IhavereachedtheconclusionthattheintroductionofUSmilitaryTaskForcewithoutdelayoffersdefinitelymoreadvantagethanitcreatesrisksanddifficulties.Infact,IdonotbelievethatourprogramtosaveSVNwillsucceedwithoutit.Iftheconceptisapproved,theexactsizeandcompositionoftheforceshouldbedeterminedbytheSecretaryofDefenseinconsultationwiththeJCS[JointChiefsofStaff],theChiefMAAG[MilitaryAssistanceAdvisoryGroup],andtheCINCIPAC[CommanderinChief,Pacific].Myownfeelingisthattheinitialsizeshouldnotexceedabout8,000,ofwhichapreponderantnumberwouldbeinlogistical-typeunitsSource:UnitedStates-VietnamRelations,1945–1967,11:337-42
SecretaryofStateDeanRuskTelegramtoAmbassadorHenryCabotLodge,October5,1963(excerpt)
1. FollowingisoverallinstructionresultingfromNSC[NationalSecurityCouncil]considerationofMcNamara/Taylorreportandrecommendationstogetherwiththoseyouhavesubmittedinrecentweeks.TheseinstructionshavethePresident’spersonalapproval.AtanytimeyoufeelitnecessaryyoumaystatetoGVN[GovernmentofVietnam]thatyouareactingunderthespecificinstructionsofthePresidentasrecommendedbytheNationalSecurityCouncil.
2. ActionsaredesignedtoindicatetoDiemGovernmentourdispleasureatitspoliticalpoliciesandactivitiesandtocreatesignificanthaveatmostslightimpactonmilitaryorcounterinsurgencyeffortagainstVietCong,atleastinshortrun.
3. TherecommendationsonnegotiationsareconcernedwithwhatUSisafter,i.e.,GVNactiontoincreaseeffectivenessofitsmilitaryeffort;toensurepopularsupporttowinwar;andtoeliminatestrainsonUSGovernmentandpublicconfidence.Thenegotiatingpostureisdesignednottolaydownspecifichardandfastdemandsortosetadeadline,buttoproducemovementinVietnameseGovernmentalongtheselines…
12. If,aswehope,DiemseeksclarificationofUSpoliciesandactions,youshouldpresentanexpositionofhowouractionsarerelatedtoourfundamentalobjectiveofvictory.TherearethreeissuesatrootofstrainedrelationsbetweenGVNandUSandofourjudgmentthatvictorymaybejeopardized.Thefirstconcernsmilitaryeffort;GVNmusttakestepstomakethismoreeffective.ThesecondisacrisisofconfidenceamongVietnamesepeoplewhichiserodingpopularsupportforGVNthatisvitalforvictory.ThethirdisacrisisofconfidenceonpartoftheAmericanpublicandGovernment.HeartoftheproblemisformofgovernmentthathasbeenevolvinginViet-Nam.Diem’sregimehastrappingsofdemocracy,butinrealityithasbeenevolvingintoauthoritariangovernmentmaintainedbypoliceterroristmethods.WhatGVNmustdoisreversethisprocessofevolution.
Source:ForeignRelationsoftheUnitedStates,1961-1963,vol.4,VietnamAugust–December1963(WashingtonDC,Government PrintingOffice,1991),372-74.
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PresidentKennedyDocuments
JohnF.KennedyInterviewwithChetHuntleyandDavidBrinkley,September10,1963
Mr.Huntley:ArewelikelytoreduceouraidtoSouthViet-Namnow?ThePresident:Idon’tthinkwethinkthatwouldbehelpfulatthistime.Ifyoureduceyouraid,itispossibleyoucouldhavesomeeffectuponthegovernmentstructurethere.Ontheotherhand,youmighthaveasituationwhichcouldbringaboutcollapse.StronglyinourmindiswhathappenedinthecaseofChinaattheendofWorldWarII,whereChinawaslost–aweakgovernmentbecameincreasinglyunabletocontrolevents.Wedon’twantthat.Mr.Brinkley:Mr.President,haveyouhadanyreasontodoubtthissocalled“dominotheory,”thatifSouthViet-Namfalls,therestofSoutheastAsiawillgobehindit?ThePresident:No,Ibelieveit.Ibelieveit.Ithinkthatthestruggleiscloseenough.Chinaissolarge,loomssohighjustbeyondthefrontiers,thatifSouthViet-Namwent,itwouldnotonlygivethemanimprovedgeographicpositionforaguerrillaassaultonMalayabutwouldalsogivetheimpressionthatthewaveofthefutureinSoutheastAsiawasChinaandtheCommunists.SoIbelieveit…ThefactofthematteristhatwiththeassistanceoftheUnitedStatesandSEATO[SouthEastAsiaTreatyOrganization],SoutheastAsiaandindeedallofAsiahasbeenmaintainedindependentagainstapowerfulforce,theChineseCommunists.WhatIamconcernedaboutisthatAmericanswillgetimpatientandsay,becausetheydon’tlikeeventsinSoutheastAsiaortheydon’tliketheGovernmentinSaigon,thatweshouldwithdraw.Weshoulduseourinfluenceinaseffectiveawayaswecan,butshouldnotwithdraw.Source:PublicPapersofthePresidentsoftheUnitedStates.JohnF.Kennedy,1963(Washington,DC:GovernmentPrintingOffice, 1964),659–60.
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PresidentJohnsonandVietnam
Instructions:ThepurposeofthisassignmentistoplaceyourselfintheshoesofUSPresidentLyndonJohnsonandmakeadecisionregardingtheVietnamConflict.Readthescenarioanddocumentsprovided,answertheattachedquestions,andcreateashortpresentationthatteachesyoursmallgroupaboutthefactssurroundingthescenarioandyourdecisionregardingthescenario.Yourpresentationshouldbe3–5minutesandrequiresatleastoneprop(map,chart,graph,picture,cartoon,etc.)Youcanbecreative,butmakesureyoucoverallpresentationrequirementsandeffectivelyteachyourclassmatesaboutthescenario.Youwillhave30minutestocompletethisactivity.Youwillbegradedonhavinganorganized,quality,andcomprehensivepresentationthatteachesyourclassmatesabouttheimportantpointsofyourscenario.Youwillhave3-5minutestopresentyourscenarioandthentakequestionsfromyourgroupmates.Scenario:LyndonJohnsontakesoverasPresidentin1963,aftertheassassinationofPresidentJohnF.Kennedy.Atthispoint,theColdWarbetweentheUSSRandUShasreachedacriticalpoint.Therehasalreadybeena“hot”conflict:theKoreanWar(1950-53),whichendedinstalemate.Another“hot”conflictisshapingupinVietnamwhereacivilwarhasbeenragingbetweentheCommunistNorthVietnamandanti-CommunistSouthVietnamfor7years.UpuntilthispointtheUnitedStateshadsupportedanti-CommunistforcesinVietnambysendingmonetaryaid.Additionally,PresidentKennedysentinover11,000military“advisers”tohelptheSouthVietnameseintheirfightagainsttheNorth.WhenJohnsontakesoffice,theunpopularSouthVietnamesePresident,NgoDinhDiem,hasjustbeenassassinated.ThenewleadershipinSouthVietnamisextremelyunpopularaswellandmanyofJohnson’sadvisersfeelthatitisonlyamatteroftimebeforeCommunistsdominatetheentirenationwithoutUShelp.PresidentJohnsonwasnotopposedtosendingmoreaidortroopstoVietnam,buthewasunsureiftheAmericanpublicwouldsupportsuchanincreaseofUSinvolvementinaconflicthalfaworldaway.InAugustof1964,VietnamesetorpedoboatsattackedaUSdestroyerpatrollingthecoastsofVietnamintheGulfofTonkin.Theyallegedlyattackasecondtimeafewdayslater;thereissomeconfusionregardingwhethertheVietnameseactuallyattackedorifitwasamisreadingofinformationbythedestroyercrew.Thisbecameknownasthe“GulfofTonkinIncident.”PresidentJohnsonfaceddifficultdecisionsregardingthesituationinVietnam.Ononehand,hedidnotwanttoexpandtheUnitedStates’militaryroleinthewar,buthefeltthatSouthVietnamwouldnotlastwithoutUSassistance.ItalsoappearedthattheVietnamesehadattackedUSshipsininternationalwaterswithcouldbeconsideredadeclarationofwar.IfyouwerePresidentJohnson,wouldyouincreasesendingmonetaryaid?Wouldyousendmoremilitaryaid?WouldyouwaitformoreinformationregardingtheGulfofTonkinincidentbeforeacting?Importantinformationtoconsiderwhenmakingyourdecision:
• TheUnitedStatespracticedapolicycalled“containment.”Thispolicywasintendedtostopthespreadofcommunismbeyonditscurrentborders.Itwasoutlinedinthe“TrumanDoctrine.”
• TheUSalsobelievedinthe“DominoTheory,”ortheideathatifonecountryfallstocommunism,thesurroundingcountrieswillfalltoo.
• In1949,Chinabecameacommunistnation.• In1950,CommunistNorthKoreainvadednon-CommunistSouthKoreastartingtheKoreanWar.Theconflict
endedinastalematewiththeoriginaldividinglinebetweenNorthKoreaandSouthKorearemainingintact.• Seeinghowthepolicyof“appeasement”failedtostopWorldWarII,worldleadersareoftheviewthat
aggressiveexpansionmustbestoppedquicklyanddecisively.Importantdocumentstoreadanddiscussbeforemakingyourdecision:• GulfofTonkinResolution,August10,1964• McGeorgeBundy[NationalSecurityAdvisor],“APolicyofSustainedReprisal,”February7,1965(Extract)
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• GeorgeBall[UnderSecretaryofStateforEconomicandAgriculturalAffairs],MemorandumtoLyndonJohnson,July1,1965
• RobertMcNamara[SecretaryofDefense]MemorandumtoLyndonJohnson,July20,1965(excerpt)
PresidentJohnsonDocuments
GulfofTonkinResolution,August10,1964
WhereasnavalunitsoftheCommunistregimeinVietnam,inviolationoftheprinciplesoftheCharteroftheUnitedNationsandofinternationallaw,havedeliberatelyandrepeatedlyattackedUnitedStatesnavalvesselslawfullypresentininternationalwaters,andhavetherebycreatedaseriousthreatininternationalpeace;andWhereas,theseattacksarepartofadeliberateandsystematiccampaignofaggressionthatCommunistregimeofNorthVietnamhasbeenwagingagainstitsneighborsandthenationsjoinedwiththeminthecollectivedefenseoftheirfreedom;andWhereastheUnitedStatesisassistingthepeoplesofSoutheastAsiatoprotecttheirfreedomandhasnoterritorial,militaryorpoliticalambitionsinthatarea,butdesiresonlythatthesepeopleshouldbeleftinpeacetoworkouttheirowndestiniesintheirownway.Now,thereforebeitResolvedbytheSenateandtheHouseofRepresentativesoftheUnitedStatesofAmericainCongressassembled.ThattheCongressapprovesandsupportsthedeterminationofthePresidentasCommanderinChief,totakallnecessarymeasuretorepelanyarmedattackagainsttheforcesoftheUnitedStatesandtopreventfurtheraggression.Sec.2.TheUnitedStatesregardsasvitaltoitsnationalinterestandtoworldpeacethemaintenanceofinternationalpeaceandsecurityinsoutheastAsia.ConsonantwiththeConstitutionoftheUnitedStatesandthecharteroftheUnitedNationsandinaccordancewithitsobligationsundertheSoutheastAsiaCollectiveDefenseTreaty,theUnitedStatesistherefore,prepared,asthePresidentdetermines,totakeallnecessarysteps,includingtheuseofarmedforce,toassistanymemberorprotocolstateoftheSoutheastAsiaCollectiveDefenseTreatyrequestingassistanceindefenseofitsfreedom.Sec3.ThisresolutionshallexpirewhenthePresidentshalldeterminethatthepeaceandsecurityoftheareaisreasonablyassuredbyinternationalconditionscreatedbyactionoftheUnitedStatesorotherwise,exceptthatitmaybeterminatedearlierbyconcurrentresolutioninCongress.Source:CongressionalRecord,88thCong,2ndSess.,vol.110,part14.P.18,132
McGeorgeBundy[NationalSecurityAdvisor],“APolicyofSustainedReprisal,”February7,1965(Extract)
WebelievethatthebestavailablewayofincreasingourchanceofsuccessinVietnamisthedevelopmentandexecutionofapolicyofsustainedreprisalagainstNorthVietnam–apolicyinwhichairandnavalactionagainsttheNorthisjustifiedbyandrelatedtothewholeVietCongcampaignofviolenceandterrorintheSouth… Thisreprisalpolicyshouldbeginatalowlevel.Itslevelofforceandpressureshouldbeincreasedonlygradually–andasindicatedaboveitshouldbedecreasedifVCterrorvisiblydecreases.Theobjectwouldnotbeto“win”anairwaragainstHanoi,butrathertoinfluencethecourseofthestruggleintheSouth… Weareconvincedthatthepoliticalvaluesofreprisalrequireacontinuousoperation.Episodicresponsesgearedonaone-for-onebasisto“spectacular”outrageswouldlackthepersuasiveforceofsustainedpressure.Moreimportantstill,theywouldleaveitopentotheCommuniststoavoidreprisalsentirelybygivinguponlyasmallelementoftheirownprogram.TheGulfofTonkinaffairproducedasharpupturninmoraleinSouthVietnam.Whenitremainedanisolatedepisode,however,therewasasevererelapse.ItisthegreatmeritoftheproposedschemethattostopittheCommunistswouldhavetostopenoughoftheiractivityintheSouthtopermittheprobablysuccessofadeterminepacificationeffort… WeemphasizethatourprimarytargetinadvocatingareprisalpolicyistheimprovementofthesituationinSouthVietnam.ActionagainsttheNorthisusuallyurgedasameansofaffectingthewillofHanoitodirectandsupporttheVC.Weconsiderthisanimportantbutlonger-rangepurpose.TheimmediateandcriticaltargetsareintheSouth–inthemindsoftheSouthVietnameseandinthemindsoftheVietCongcadres.Source:ForeignRelationsoftheUnitedStates,1964–1965,vol.2,VietnamJanuary–June1965(WashingtonDC:GovernmentPrinting Office,1996),181–183.
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PresidentJohnsonDocuments
GeorgeBall[UnderSecretaryofStateforEconomicandAgriculturalAffairs],MemorandumtoLyndonJohnson,July1,
1965(excerpt)
ACompromiseSolutioninSouthVietnam
1. ALosingWar.TheSouthVietnamesearelosingthewartotheVietCong.NoonecanassureyouthatwecanbeattheVietCongorevenforcethemtotheconferencetableonourterms,nomatterhowmanyhundredthousandwhiteforeign(US)troopswedeploy.Noonehasdemonstratedthatawhitegroundforceofwhateversizecanwinaguerrillawar–whichisatthesametimeacivilwarbetweenAsians–injungleterraininthemidstofapopulationthatrefusescooperationtothewhiteforce(andtheSVN)andthusprovidesagreatintelligenceadvantagetotheotherside…
2. TheQuestiontoDecide:ShouldwelimitourliabilitiesinSouthVietnamandtrytofindawayoutwithminimallong-termcosts?Thealternative–nomatterwhatwemaywishittobe–isalmostcertainlyaprotractedwarinvolvinganopen-endedcommitmentofUSforces,mountingUScasualties,noassuranceofasatisfactorysolution,andaseriousdangerofescalationattheendoftheroad.
3. NeedforaDecisionNow.SolongasourforcesarerestrictedtoadvisingandassistingtheSouthVietnamese,thestrugglewillremainacivilwarbetweenAsianpeoples.OncewedeploysubstantialnumbersoftroopsincombatitwillbecomeawarbetweentheUSandalargepartofthepopulationofSouthViet-Nam,organizedanddirectedfromNorthViet-NamandbackedbytheresourcesofMoscowand[Beijing].Thedecisionyoufacenow,therefore,iscrucial.OncelargenumbersofUStroopsarecommittedtodirectcombattheywillbegintotakeheavycasualtiesinawartheyareill-equippedtofightinnon-cooperativeifnotdownrighthostilecountryside.Oncewesufferlargecasualties,wewillhavestartedawell-nighirreversibleprocess.Ourinvolvementwillbesogreatthatwecannot–withoutnationalhumiliation–stopshortofachievingourcompleteobjectives.OfthetwopossibilitiesIthinkhumiliationwouldbemorelikelythantheachievementofourobjectives–evenafterwehavepaidterriblecosts.
4. ACompromiseSolution:ShouldwecommitUSmanpowerandprestigetoaterrainsounfavorableastogiveaverylargeadvantagetotheenemy–orshouldweseekacompromisesettlementwhichachieveslessthanourstatedobjectivesandthuscutourlosseswhilewestillhavethefreedomofmaneuvertodoso?
5. CostofCompromiseSolution:TheanswerinvolvesajudgmentastothecostoftheUntiedStatesofsuchacompromisesettlementintermsofourrelationswithcountriesintheareaofSouthViet-Nam,thecredibilityofourcommitments,andourprestigearoundtheworld.Inmyjudgment,ifweactbeforewecommitsubstantialUSforcestocombatinSouthViet-Namwecan,byacceptingsomeshort-termcosts,avoidwhatmaywellbealong-termcatastrophe.Ibelievewehavetendedgreatlytoexaggeratethecostsinvolvedinacompromisesettlement.
Source:ForeignRelationsoftheUnitedStates,1964–1965,vol3,VietnamJune-December1965(WashingtonDC:GovernmentPrinting Office,1996),106-8.
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PresidentJohnsonDocuments
RobertMcNamara[SecretaryofDefense]MemorandumtoLyndonJohnson,July20,1965(excerpt)
RecommendationofadditionaldeploymentstoVietnam:1) Introduction.OurobjectinVNistocreateconditionsforafavorableoutcomebydemonstratingtotheVC/DRVthat
theoddsareagainsttheirwinning.Wewanttocreatetheseconditions,ifpossible,withoutcausingthewartoexpandintoonewithChinaortheSovietUnionandinawaywhichpreservessupportoftheAmericanpeopleand,hopefully,ofouralliesandfriends…4. Optionsopentous.WemustchooseamongthreecoursesofactionwithrespecttoVietnamallofwhichinvolve
differentprobabilities,outcomes,andcosts:a. Cutourlossesandwithdrawunderthebestconditionsthatcanbearranged–almostcertainly
conditionshumiliatingtheUSandverydamagingtoourfutureeffectivenessontheworldscene.b. Continueataboutthepresentlevel,withUSforceslimitedtosay75,000,holdingonandplayingforthe
breaks–acourseofactionwhich,becauseourpositionwouldgrowweaker,almostcertainlywouldconfrontuslaterwithachoicebetweenwithdrawalandanemergencyexpansionofforces,perhapstoolatetodoanygood.
c. ExpandpromptlyandsubstantiallytheUSmilitarypressureagainsttheVietCongintheSouthandmaintainthemilitarypressureagainsttheVietCongintheSouthandmaintainthemilitarypressureagainsttheNVNeseintheNorthwhilelaunchingavigorouseffortonthepoliticalsidetolaythegroundworkforafavorableoutcomebyclarifyingourobjectivesandestablishingchannelsofcommunication.Thisalternativewouldstaveoffdefeatintheshortrunandofferagoodchanceofproducingafavorablesettlementinthelongerrun;atthesametime,itwouldimplyacommitmenttoseeafightingwarclearthroughatconsiderablecostincasualtiesandmaterielandwouldmakeanylaterdecisiontowithdrawevenmoredifficultandevenmorecostlythanwouldbethecasetoday.Myrecommendationinparagraph5belowarebasedonthechoiceofthethirdalternative(Optionc)asthecourseofactioninvolvingthebestoddsofthebestoutcomewiththemostacceptablecosttotheUnitedStates.
5. Militaryrecommendations.Therearenow15US(and1Australian)combatbattalionsinVietnam;theytogetherwithothercombatandnon-combatpersonnel,bringthetotalUSpersonnelinVietnamtoapproximately75,000.
a. IrecommendthatthedeploymentofUSgroundtroopsinVietnambeincreasedbyOctoberto34maneuverbattalions(or,iftheKoreansfailtoprovidetheexpected9battalionspromptly,to43battalions).Thebattalions---togetherwithincreasesinhelicopterlift,airsquadrons,navalunits,airdefense,combatsupportandmiscellaneouslogsupportandadvisorypersonnelwhichIalsorecommend–wouldbringthetotalUSpersonnelinVietnamtoapproximately175,000(200,000ifwemustmakeupfortheKoreanfailure).Itshouldbeunderstoodthatthedeploymentofmoremen(anadditionalperhaps100,000)maybenecessaryinearly1966andthatthedeploymentofadditionalforcesthereafterispossiblebutwilldependondevelopments.
Source:ForeignRelationsoftheUnitedStates,1964-1965,3:171-175.
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PresidentNixonandVietnamInstructions:ThepurposeofthisassignmentistoplaceyourselfintheshoesofUSPresidentRichardNixonandmakeadecisionregardingtheVietnamConflict.Readthescenarioanddocumentsprovided,answertheattachedquestions,andcreateashortpresentationthatteachesyoursmallgroupaboutthefactssurroundingthescenarioandyourdecisionregardingthescenario.Yourpresentationshouldbe3–5minutesandrequiresatleastoneprop(map,chart,graph,picture,cartoon,etc.)Youcanbecreative,butmakesureyoucoverallpresentationrequirementsandeffectivelyteachyourclassmatesaboutthescenario.Youwillhave30minutestocompletethisactivity.Youwillbegradedonhavinganorganized,quality,andcomprehensivepresentationthatteachesyourclassmatesabouttheimportantpointsofyourscenario.Youwillhave3-5minutestopresentyourscenarioandthentakequestionsfromyourgroupmates.Scenario:RichardNixonwinsthe1968electionandbecomesPresident.Atthispoint,theUnitedStateshasbeenheavilyinvolvedinVietnamsince1965.Nixon’spredecessor,LyndonJohnson,widelyincreasedtheUS’involvementbysendingover500,000troopstoVietnamtohelptheanti-CommunistSouthVietnameseintheircivilwaragainsttheCommunistNorthVietnamese.Inearly1968,theVietnameselaunchedasurpriseattack,calledtheTetOffensive,againstUSforcesandtheiralliesinVietnam.Althoughitwasamilitaryfailure,thisattackshockedmanyAmericansbackhomeandmarkedaturningpointforAmericansupportofthewar.AlthoughmanyAmericanssupportedtheUS’increasedmilitarypresencein1965,publicsupportfortheWarhasbeensteadilywaningsincethen.ManyofthenightlytelevisionreportspaintedagrimpictureofthesituationinVietnam.AfterreportsoftheTetOffensive,Americanpublicsupportdroppedrapidly,somuchsothatPresidentJohnsonchosetoforegorunningforreelection.Nixonwaselectedbypromisinga“peacewithhonor,”securityforAmerica’sallySouthVietnam,andinternationalrespectforUSforeignpolicy.Aftermorethanayearinoffice,NixonhadgrownimpatientwiththeslowpaceofpeacenegotiationsbetweenNorthVietnamandtheUnitedStates.OnesuggestedstrategyforbreakingthedeadlockwasexpandingthewarintoneighboringCambodiatobombNorthVietnamesesupplylinesandtoforcetheVietnameseintoacompromise.PresidentNixonfaceddifficultdecisionsregardingthesituationinVietnam.Ononehand,itwasclearthatmanyAmericansweretiredofthewarandwantedtoendit.Ontheotherhand,manyfeltthatUnitedStatescouldnotappeartolookweakandneededcertainconcessionsfromtheNorthVietnamese.IfyouwerePresidentNixonwouldyouendthewarnow?WouldyouexpandthewarintoCambodiainthehopesofforcingtheNorthVietnamesetonegotiate?Wouldyouattemptotherdiplomaticmeans?Importantinformationtoconsiderwhenmakingyourdecision:
• TheUnitedStatespracticedapolicycalled“containment.”Thispolicywasintendedtostopthespreadofcommunismbeyonditscurrentborders.Itwasoutlinedinthe“TrumanDoctrine.”
• TheUSalsobelievedinthe“DominoTheory,”ortheideathatifonecountryfallstocommunism,thesurroundingcountrieswillfalltoo.
• In1949,Chinabecameacommunistnation.• In1950,CommunistNorthKoreainvadednon-CommunistSouthKoreastartingtheKoreanWar.Theconflict
endedinastalematewiththeoriginaldividinglinebetweenNorthKoreaandSouthKorearemainingintact.• Seeinghowthepolicyof“appeasement”failedtostopWorldWarII,worldleadersareoftheviewthat
aggressiveexpansionmustbestoppedquicklyanddecisively.• Vietnam’sneighbor,Cambodia,wasstrugglingtosuppressacommunistinsurgencythatthreatenedtotakeover
thegovernment.ThisinsurgencywassupportedbytheNorthVietnamese.Importantdocumentstoreadanddiscussbeforemakingyourdecision:• RichardNixon’s“SilentMajority”Speech,November3,1969(excerpt)• PublicOpinionandtheVietnamWar(March1969)
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• MemorandumforthePresidentfromHenryKissinger:ContingencyMilitaryOperationsAgainstNorthVietnam• NationalSecurityDecisionMemorandum
PresidentNixonDocumentsRichardNixon’s“SilentMajority”Speech,November3,1969(excerpt)Goodevening,myfellowAmericans: TonightIwanttotalktoyouonasubjectofdeepconcerntoallAmericansandtomanypeopleinallpartsoftheworld–thewarinVietnam… Now,manybelievethatPresidentJohnson’sdecisiontosendAmericancombatforcestoSouthVietnamwaswrong.Andmanyothers–Iamongthem–havebeenstronglycriticalofthewaythewarhasbeenconducted. Butthequestionfacingustodayis:Nowthatweareinthewar,whatisthebestwaytoendit?... MyfellowAmericans,Iamsureyoucanrecognize…thatwereallyonlyhavetwochoicesopentousifwewanttoendthewar.-Icanorderanimmediate,precipitatewithdrawalofallAmericansfromVietnamwithoutregardtotheeffectsofthataction.-Orwecanpersistinoursearchforajustpeacethroughanegotiatedsettlementifpossible,orthroughcontinuedimplementationofourplanforVietnamizationifnecessary–aplaninwhichwewillwithdrawallourforcesfromVietnamonascheduleinaccordancewithourprogram,astheSouthVietnamesebecomestrongenoughtodefendtheirownfreedom.Ihavechosenthesecondcourse.Itisnottheeasyway.Itistherightway. Itisaplanwhichwillendthewarandservethecauseofpeace–notjustinVietnambutinthePacificandintheworld… InSanFranciscoafewweeksago,Isawdemonstratorscarryingsignsreading:“LoseinVietnam,bringtheboyshome.”Well,oneofthestrengthsofourfreesocietyisthatanyAmericanhasarighttoreachthatconclusionandtoadvocatethatpointofview.ButasPresidentoftheUnitedStates,IwouldbeuntruetomyoathofofficeifIallowedthepolicyofthisNationtobedictatedbytheminoritywhoholdthatpointofviewandwhotrytoimposeitontheNationbymountingdemonstrationsinthestreet.Foralmost200years,thepolicyofthisNationhasbeenmadeunderourConstitutionbythoseleadersintheCongressandtheWhiteHouseelectedbyallofthepeople.Ifavocalminority,howeverferventitscause,prevailsoverreasonandthewillofthemajority,thisNationhasnofutureasafreesociety…LethistoriansnotrecordthatwhenAmericawasthemostpowerfulnationintheworldwepassedontheothersideoftheroadandallowedthelasthopesforpeaceandfreedomofmillionsofpeopletobesuffocatedbytheforcesoftotalitarianism.Andsotonight–toyou,thegreatsilentmajorityofmyfellowAmericans–Iaskforyoursupport.IpledgedinmycampaignforthePresidencytoendthewarinawaythatwecouldwinthepeace.Ihaveinitiatedaplanofactionwhichwillenablemetokeepthatpledge.ThemoresupportIcanhavefromtheAmericanpeople,thesoonerthatpledgecanberedeemed;forthemoredividedweareathome,thelesslikelytheenemyistonegotiateatParis.Letusbeunitedforpeace.Letusalsobeunitedagainstdefeat.Becauseletusunderstand:NorthVietnamcannotdefeatorhumiliatetheUnitedStates.OnlyAmericanscandothat.PublicPapersofthePresidentoftheUnitedStates:RichardNixon,1969.(WashingtonDC:GovernmentPrintingOffice,1971), 901-09
21
PresidentNixonDocuments
PublicOpinionandtheVietnamWar(March1969)Question&ResponsesfromtheGallupPoll
InterviewDate:March12–17,1969WhatdoyouthinktheUnitedStatesshoulddonextinregardtotheVietnamsituation?Escalatewar,goallout 25%PullOut,letSouthVietnameseTakeOver 21%ContinuePresentPolicy;negotiate&stayaslongasnecessary 15%EndtheWarassoonaspossible 15%Otheroptions(volunteeredbyrespondent) 3%NoOpinion 21%InterviewDate:January22-28,1969InviewofthedevelopmentssinceweenteredthefightinginVietnam,doyouthinktheUnitedStatesmadeamistakesendingtroopstofightinVietnam?
Yes52%No39%NoOpinion9%
InterviewDate:March12-17,1969Intermsoftime--monthsoryears--howlongdoyouthinkthefightinginVietnamwilllast?
Undertwoyears27%Over2years49%Uncertain,noopinion24%
InterviewDate:February20-25,1969DoyouthinktheParispeacetalksaremakingheadway,ornot?
Yes17%No70%Noopinion13%
Source:TheGallupPoll,1935-1971(NewYork:RandomHouse,1972),p.2189.TheresultsofthesequestionswerereleasedtoGallupsubscribersonMarch23,1969.
22
PresidentNixonDocuments
October2,1969MemorandumforthePresidentFrom: HenryA.KissingerSubject: ContingencyMilitaryOperationsAgainstNorthVietnam
AttachedarepapersoncontingencymilitaryoperationsagainstNorthVietnampreparedundermydirectionbyaspecialworkinggroup.Thepapersdonotaddresstherelativemeritsofthisoptionasagainstthepresentpolicyorotherchoices.Mypurposeatthistimeisto:• Giveyouageneralideaofsuchanoptionintermsofobjectivesandconceptofoperation.• Provideinsomedetailcontingencymilitaryandpoliticalplansthusfardevelopedbythespecialworkinggrouponthis
question.• Giveyouourappreciationoftheissuesposedbysuchanaction.• Ifthiscourseofactionispursued,certainbasicprinciplesmust,Ibelieve,beaccepted:Toattemptthiscourseandtofailwouldbeacatastrophe.Itmustthereforebebasedonafirmresolvetodowhateverisnecessarytoachievesuccess.SincewecannotconfidentlypredicttheexactpointatwhichHanoiwouldbelikelytorespondpositively,wemustbepreparedtoplayoutwhateverstringnecessary.Hanoiwillheavilybaseitsdecisionsonitsviewoftheseriousnessofourintentiontoseeitthrough.We(includingthewholebureaucracy)mustthereforedemonstratethatdomesticandforeigncriticismwillnotdeterus.ToachieveitsfulleffectonHanoi’sthinking,theactionmustbebrutal.ThiswouldimpressHanoibothbyitsactualeffectandasasignalofourintent.Weshouldlimitthenumberofdecisionsyouwillface,inordertolimittheopportunitiesfordomesticcriticstoputpressureonyou.Eachactionmustthereforebeshortandcompact.Onceembarkedonthiscourse,weshouldnotallowourselvestobedeterredbyvague,conciliatorygesturesbyHanoi.Itmustachieveitsobjectives,orweshallhavedemonstratedtotheworldourweaknessratherthanourstrength.Thisrequires,ofcourse,aprecisedefinitionofourobjectives.
23
PresidentNixonDocuments
April1,1969NationalSecurityDecisionMemorandumTO: TheVicePresident
TheSecretaryofState TheSecretaryofDefense
TheDirectorofCentralIntelligenceTheDirector,OfficeofEmergencyPreparedness
SUBJECT: VietnamAsaresultoftheNationalSecurityCouncilmeetingonMarch28,1969,Ihavemadethefollowingdecisionontheissueslistedbelow:TheIssueofDe-escalation1) Therewillbenode-escalationexceptasanoutgrowthofmutualtroopwithdrawal.2) TheUSsidewillnotinitiateanyde-escalationproposalsintheParisnegotiations.3) IftheDRVraisetheissueofde-escalation,theUSsidewilllistenbutonlydiscussitinthecontextofmutual
withdrawal.TheIssueofUSForcesSubjecttoWithdrawal OnthedefinitionofUSForcessubjecttowithdrawal,IhavedecidedthatweshouldbepreparedtowithdrawallcombatforcesfromSouthVietnamifHanoimeetsspecificconditionsofamutualwithdrawalagreement.Theseconditionsshouldincludeprovisionsfor:1) Verificationandsupervisionofwithdrawal2) ThewithdrawalofNorthVietnameseforcesfromLaosandCambodia,aswellasfromSouthVietnam.3) Guaranteestomaintaintheagreement.TheIssueofaTimetableforCompletionofUSWithdrawalTherewillbenopublicrepudiationoftheformerUSpositionthatwewouldcompleteourwithdrawalwithinsixmonthsofthecompletionofHanoi’swithdrawal.Thispositionwillbeadoptedwiththerecognitionthat,inpractice,theUSwillbeinapositiontocontrolthetimingofthecompletionofourwithdrawal,sincewecandetermineifHanoihasfullymettheconditionsofmutualwithdrawalagreement.ThekeypointwillnotbethetimetablebutrathergettingHanoitocomplywiththeconditionsforwithdrawal.ThedraftpapersconsideredbytheNationalSecurityCouncilonMarch28,1969,areapprovedwithmodificationsreflectingtheabovedecisions.IhavealsodirectedthatthefollowingstudiesbeundertakenforwhichappropriateNSSMswillbeforthcoming:1) SpecificplantimetableforVietnamzingthewar.2) Phasedwithdrawalunderconditionsof:a.Mutualwithdrawal,or:b.Vietnamizingthewar.3) Verificationformutualwithdrawal.4) DetailedpoliticalsettlementforSVN.5) Internationalguaranteesforabove.
24
Name_____________________________________ Date______________________AssignedPresident:_________________________
PresidentialScenarioQuestions
Asyoureadyourscenarioanswerthefollowingquestionstohelpguideyourthinking1. Summarizethesituationassignedtoyou.Whatarethemajorfacts?2. Inyourownwords,whatdecisiondidyourPresidentface?
3. Afterreadingyourattacheddocuments,whichoneprovidesthemostpersuasiveargumentforacertaintypeofaction?
4. Whatisyourdecisionregardingyourscenario?Why?(Besuretociteinformationfromyourdocumentsandscenario
sheet)5. Didyoufinditdifficulttomakeyourdecision?Whyorwhynot?
25
Name:_________________________________________ Date:_______________
TheVietnamWar1. FranceandVietnam(1945-1953)
– ______________________________________wasaFrenchcolonyandafterWWIItheywantedtobefree
– FrancedeniedtheVietnameseindependence,sotheyfoughtback.– _________________________________________________________________________________
• Vietnamesefreedomfightersledby_____________________________________________
2. TheUSandVietnam
– TheUSdidnotgetinvolvedintheconflictuntil_______________________________________________.
– TheUSdidnotsupportFrench_______________________________,buttheydidnotsupportHoChiMinh’s_____________________________________________________.
– TwoeventscausedtheUStosupportFrance:1. _____________________________________________________________________________2. _____________________________________________________________________________
3. PresidentsTrumanandEisenhowerbelievedinthe
_____________________________________________________.– theideathatifonecountryfallstocommunism,the
_____________________________________________.
4. FranceFalls(1954-1956)– Francecouldnotdefeattheresistance–theVietminhguerillawartacticsweretoodifficulttodefend
against– ________________________________________________________________________
• battlewheretheFrenchwerebadlybeatenbytheVietminh.ThislossconvincedtheFrenchtoleaveVietnam
5. GenevaAccords(1956)
– AgreementtoendfightingbetweenFrenchandVietminh– DividedIndochinaintothreecountries
1. _______________________________________2. _______________________________________3. _______________________________________
– AlsodividedVietnamintotwosections:• _____________________________________ledby_______________________________• _____________________________________ledby_______________________________
6. GenevaAccords(1956)
– Electionsweretobeheldin1956todeterminethegovernmentsofNorthandSouthVietnam– _________________________________________refusedtoholdelectionsbecauseheknewhewould
lose.– Nowthecountrywasheadedtowards______________________________withtheUScaughtinthe
middle
7. Vietcong– Thenewlyorganized________________________________________________________thatwas
basedinS.Vietnam– Effectiveatstagingguerillaattacks
26
– Difficultto_________________,soDiembeganto______________________________formorehelpinfightingtheVC
8. JohnF.KennedyBecomesPresident
– Kennedyneededto____________________________________________________________,soheincreased___________________and________________toVietnam
– HealsourgedDiemtomakedemocraticreformstoincreasehispopularity-->thesereformshadlittleeffect
9. Diem’sUnpopularity
– Diemwasa__________________andhepersecutedthe____________________________asaresponsesomeBuddhistmonkscommitted_________________________________________________________
10. Diem’sDownfall– With______________________________________,hewasoverthrownandexecutedbyhisgenerals
onNov2,1963– Thisseverely___________________________________theS.Vietnamesegov’tandforcedtheUSto
getmoreinvolvedtohelptheS.Vietnamese– PresidentKennedywasassassinatedafewweekslateronNovember22nd.VP
__________________________replacesJFK.
11. GulfofTonkinIncident– August2ndand4th1964– PresidentLyndonJohnsontellsthenationthatVietnameseshipshave
_______________________________USdestroyers– HeasksCongresstoauthorizetheuseofforcetodefendAmericanforces.– In2005adeclassifiedstudystatedthatthesecondincident
___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
12. GulfofTonkinResolution
– August7,1964– GulfofTonkinResolutionauthorizedthepresidentto
“__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.”
13. War
– TheUSbegantoincreasetheamountoftroopsin1964-66– TheUSwassupremelyconfidentitwouldbean“easy”warandamajorityoftheUSpublicsupported
thewartoo– Butaswequicklyfoundout,thewarwasn’teasy
14. VCtactics
– ____________________________________________________________________________________• Whoisfriend?• Whoisfoe?
– ________________________________________________________________– ________________________________________________________________– ________________________________________________________________
15. USResponsetoVCtactics
– “__________________________________________________________________”missions– DestroylandscapetogetridofVCcover
1. ______________________________________________
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• Jelliedgasolinethatexplodesandstickstosurfaces.Itisverydifficulttoextinguish2. ______________________________________________
• achemicalthatdestroysthefoliagesotheUScouldseetroopmovementfromthesky
16. IncreasingDifficulties– TheVCdidnotsurrenderdespiteourtactics– Theywerenotgoingtogiveuptheir_____________________________easilyandtheywerewillingto
accept___________________________________________________________________________________.
– TheUSalsorefusedto___________________N.Vietnambecausewedidn’twantafullscalewarwith_______________
– ThismadeitverydifficulttowinfortheUS
17. HoChiMinTrail– TheN.Vietnamese’sseriesof___________________________________________________________– Passedthroughthecountriesof_______________________and___________________________– BecauseLaosandCambodiaweren’tinvolvedinthewar,LBJrefusedtheordertobombthetrail
18. PostGulfofTonkin
– ManyofthePresident’sadvisorssupportedanexpansionofthewar.– _________________________________________________theSecretaryofDefensewasoneofthe
biggestsupporters.– InMarch1965,JohnsonexpandedthewarbycontinuouslybombingNorthVietnam–thisbecame
knownas________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
19. OperationRollingThunder
– ________________________________________________________________________campaignagainstN.Vietnam
– Goalwasto_______________________________theN.VietnameseandconvincesthemtostopsupplyingtheVietCong.
20. TelevisionWar
– Atthebeginningofthewar,_____________________________________________________________keptdeclaringthattheenemyisonthebrinkofdefeat
– TheTVnewsreportsshowedadifferentstory.EverynightAmericanssawyoungmendyingandwoundedandbeganto_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
21. TelevisionWar
– A_______________________________________developed,meaningitwashardtobelievetherosygovernmentreports.
– VietnamwasthefirstTelevisionWarbecausefootageofcombatwasshownnightly.– Thishelpedleadtoan
__________________________________________________________________.
22. Anti-WarMovement– Theanti-warmovementwasheavilyinfluencedbythe
___________________________________________– ___________________________________________–studentsandteachersacrossUScolleges
abandonedtheirclassestodiscusstheVietnamWarandtheiroppositiontoit.– __________________________________________________________–manyyoungmendidnot
wanttofightinaconflicttheyfeltwaswrongsotheyburneddraftcardstoprotest.
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– Dr.KingProteststheWar–Kingbegantopubliclycriticizethewarwhenitbecameapparentthatmanyofthesoldiersfightinganddyingwere_______________________and_________________________________.
23. HawksandDoves
– By1968pollsshowedthatthecountrywasalmostsplitdownthemiddleonsupportforVietnam.1. _____________________________
• AmericanswhowantedtowithdrawfromVietnam2. _____________________________
• AmericanswhowantedtostayinVietnam
24. 1968-BoomGoestheDynamite– TetOffensive
1. TheyearstartedwithaVietcongsurpriseattackonUStroops2. TheVCmanagedtoattackalmostall______________________________________________
andmanySouthernVietnamese_________________________________–thisbecameknownastheTetOffensive.
3. TheTetOffensivewasahuge_______________________________________fortheVC,butitstill_________theAmericanpublic.
4. Howcouldanenemythatissoclosetodefeatlaunchanattackofthatsize?– Johnsondoesnotrunforre-election– Dueto___________________________________________________________________________
andtwostrongDemocraticcandidates,JohnsondecidesnottorunforPresident.
25. 1968– Dr.MartinLutherKing
• Dr.KingisassassinatedinMemphisby_________________________________________.– ________________________________________________________________________________
• JFK’syoungerbrotherandDemocraticpresidentialcandidateiskilledby______________.– ___________________________________________________________
• attheDemocraticNationalConventioninChicago,policeandprotestersclashedinahighlypublicizedriot–itwasalloverTV.
26. Electionof1968
– RichardNixon(Republican)vs.HubertHumphrey(Democrat)vs.GeorgeWallace(AmericanIndependent)
– Nixonwinsandhepromisesto“_________________________________________________,”andalsoendthewar.
27. MyLaiMassacre
– March16,1968– USSoldierskilled347to504unarmedcitizensinSouthVietnam– Whentheincidentbecamepublicknowledgein1969,itpromptedwidespreadoutragearoundthe
world.ThemassacrealsoreducedU.S.supportathomefortheVietnamWar.
28. Nixonand‘Nam– ______________________________________________________________________________
• Nixon’sstrategyfor“______________________________________________________”• agradual___________________________________________________ofUStroopsfrom
Vietnam• TurncontrolofthewarovertotheS.Vietnamese
– InvasionofCambodia• NixonexpandedthewarintoCambodiatostopVC• sparkedprotests
– KentStateUniversityProtests
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• Responseto_______________________________________________________________• __________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________________________________________– ___________________________________________________________
• January19,1973• USandN.Vietnamreachpeace
– SouthVietnamfalls1975
29. Legacyof‘Nam– Cost$150Billion– Over
________________________________________________________________________________– Over3milliontotalVietnamesedeaths(civilians/military)– ConsideredbymanytobethefirstUSmilitarydefeat– Disrespectoftroopsuponreturninghome
• “Thatwasthefeelingintheairthatwewereunclean.”–JanScruggs,founderofVietnamVeteransMemorial
– Americansbecamemoredistrustfulofgovernment
• ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
• RevealedthatAmericanleaders___________________toCongressandtheAmericanpeopleregardingVietnam
– WarPowersAct• _____________________________________________,hadtogetconsentfromCongress
beforesendingtroopsAdditionalNotesorQuestions:
30
VietnamWarPoliticalCartoon
31
Name___________________________________________ Date________________1. What1954battlewasacrushingdefeatforFrance?
A:DienBienPhuB.Hanoi
C.SaigonD.AngkorWat
2. TheUSentryintotheVietnamWarwasprecipitatedby:
A:TheMyLaimassacreB:TheGulfofTonkinIncidentC:TheassassinationofPresidentDiemofSouth
VietnamD:TheassassinationofPresidentKennedy
3. ThisVietCong/NorthVietnameseoffensivewasamilitarycatastropheforthecommunistsandanevenworse
politicalcatastropheforPresidentJohnson:A:TheYearoftheRatOffensive.B:TheTetOffensive.
C:TheBattleofKheSanh.D:TheBattleofHue.
4. WhowastheUSbackedleaderofSouthVietnamuntil1963?
A:HoChiMinhB:LeDucTho
C:NgoDinhDiemD:VoNguenGiap
5. Whatdidthedominotheorystate?
A:IfonecountryfelltoCommunism,othernearbywouldsoonfollow.B:Useofnuclearweaponsinonecountrywouldleadtouseinothers.
C:IftheeconomyofoneAsiancountryfell,othernearbywouldsoonfollowD:TheUnitedStatesshouldincreasedefensespendingtocrippletheSovieteconomy.
6. In1963,aBuddhistmonkprotestingDiem’sregimekilledhimselfinpublicby:A:JumpingoffacliffB:Settinghimselfonfire
C:RefusingtomoveoutofthewayofatankD:Drinkingpoison
7. ThepolicyofVietnamizationcalledfor
A:BombingNorthVietnamaroundtheclocktoconvinceittosurrenderB:EscalatingthewarandputtingasmanytroopsinVietnamaspossible
C:ReducingthenumberofAmericantroopsinSouthVietnamandturningcontrolofthewarovertotheSouthVietnameseD:BombingLaosandCambodiainordertodestroyNVAsupplyline
8. Whatdidthe1964GulfofTonkinResolutiondo?
A:GavethepresidentmorefreedomtoconductmilitaryoperationsinVietnamB:Gavethepresidentalmostunlimitedfundingtowagewar
C:EffectivelydeclaredwaragainstN.VietnamD:Alloftheabove
9. TheVietCongprovedaformidableenemyforallofthefollowingreasonsexcept:
A:ItsmembersbelievedpassionatelyintheVietnamesenationalistcauseB:ItsmemberscoulddisappeareasilyintotheVietnamesepeasantpopulation
C:ItsfirepowerwasfarsuperiortoUSfirepowerD:Ithadconstructedavastnetworkofundergroundtunnelsandhideouts
10. TheMyLaiMassacreof1968helpedturnAmericanpublicopinionagainst
A:TheSouthVietnameseB:TheNorthVietnamese
C:PresidentRichardNixonD:TheUSmilitary
32
11. WhichConstitutionalamendmentloweredtheUSvotingagefromtwenty-onetoeighteen?
A:TheTwenty-FourthAmendmentB:TheTwenty-FifthAmendment
C:TheNineteenthAmendmentD:TheTwenty-SixthAmendment
12. SouthVietnamfinallyfelltotheNorthVietnamesein
A:1971B:1973
C:1975D:1980
13. Whatisnapalm?
A:AtypeofairplaneB:Poisonthatisappliedtothetipsofbullets
C:Aflammablegasoline-basedgelD:Achemicalherbicideanddefoliant
14. TheUSbombingcampaignofNorthVietnamwascalled:A:OperationRollingThunderB:TheTetOffensive
C:OperationOverlordD:Vietnamization
15. ThedisparitybetweennightlyTVreportsandgovernmentreportsaboutprogressconcerningthewarhelpedlead
toa:A:SilentMajorityB:MyLaiMassacre
C:CredibilityGapD:DominoTheory
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VietnamQuizAnswerKey1. What1954battlewasacrushingdefeatforFranceA:DienBienPhu2. TheUSentryintotheVietnamWarwasprecipitatedbyB:TheGulfofTonkinIncident3. ThisVietCong/NorthVietnameseoffensivewasamilitarycatastropheforthecommunistsandanevenworsepolitical
catastropheforPresidentJohnson:B:TheTetOffensive.
4. WhowastheUSbackedleaderofSouthVietnamuntil1963?C:NgoDinhDiem
5. Whatdidthedominotheorystate?A:IfonecountryfelltoCommunism,othernearbywouldsoonfollow.
6. In1963,aBuddhistmonkprotestingDiem’sregimekilledhimselfinpublicby:B:Settinghimselfonfire
7. ThepolicyofVietnamizationcalledforC:ReducingthenumberofAmericantroopsinSouthVietnamandturningcontrolofthewarovertotheSouthVietnamese
8. Whatdidthe1964GulfofTonkinResolutiondo?D:Alloftheabove
9. TheVietCongprovedaformidableenemyforallofthefollowingreasonsexceptC:Itsfirepowerwasfarsuperiorto
USfirepower
10. TheMyLaiMassacreof1968helpedturnAmericanpublicopinionagainst:D:TheUSMilitary
11. WhichConstitutionalamendmentloweredtheUSvotingagefromtwenty-onetoeighteen?D:TheTwenty-SixthAmendment
12. SouthVietnamfinallyfelltotheNorthVietnameseinC:197513. Whatisnapalm?C:Aflammablegasoline-basedgel
14. TheUSbombingcampaignofNorthVietnamwascalled:A:OperationRollingThunder15. ThedisparitybetweennightlyTVreportsandgovernmentreportsaboutprogressconcerningthewarhelpedleadtoa
C:CredibilityGap
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LBJPoliticalCartoon
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