the reluctant empire? u.s. foreign relations in the 20th century

Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg

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Ruprecht-Karls-Universität HeidelbergCurt-Engelhorn Chair in American History Prof. Dr. Manfred BergWinter Term 2008/2009

The Reluctant Empire?

U.S. Foreign Relations in the 20th Century

Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg

The Vietnam War The Origins of American Involvement The Escalation of the War The Conduct of the War In Search of Peace with Honor The War at Home

Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg

The Domino Theory “You have a row of dominoes set up. You

knock over the first one, and what will happen to the last one is the certainty that it will go over very quickly. So you could have the beginning of a disintegration that would have the most profound influences.”

U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower, 1954

Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg

The Historians’ Vietnam Debate

Quagmire Flawed Containment Bureaucratic Blundering Imperialism

Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg

Ho Chi Minh, 1890-1969 “The entire Vietnamese

people are determined to mobilize all their physical and mental strength, to sacrifice their lives and property in order to safeguard their independence and liberty.”

Vietnamese Declaration of Independence, 1945

Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg

Indochina

Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg

Ngo Dinh Diem, 1901-1963 Appointed Prime Minister of

South Vietnam by Emperor Bảo Đại in 1954

President Republic of Vietnam, 1955-1963

Executed during successful coup d'état led by Gen. Dương Văn Minh, Nov. 1, 1963

Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg

Lyndon B. Johnson, 1908-1973 U.S. Rep., 1937-1949

U.S. Senator, 1949-1961

U.S. Vice President, 1961-1963

U.S. President, 1963-1969

Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

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

U.S. Congress, August 10, 1964

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Operation Rolling Thunder

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General William Westmoreland, 1914-2005 Served in U.S. Army from

1936 to 1972

Deputy Commander of Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV), 1964-1968

U.S. Army Chief of Staff, 1968-1972

Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg

Robert McNamara, b.1916

U.S. Sec. of Defense, 1961-1968

President of the World Bank, 1968-1981

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Search and Destroy

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My Lai, May 1968

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Napalm

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Tet Offensive, January 1968

The U.S. military suffers casualties during a VC attack near Tan Son Nhut Airport on January 31, 1968.

Two U.S. Marines battle Communist troops inside the walls of the Citadel at Hue.

Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg

Richard Nixon, 1913-1994

U.S. Rep., 1947-1950

U.S. Senator, 1950-1953

U.S. Vice President , 1953-1961

U.S. President, 1969-1974

Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg

The Paris Peace Talks

North Vietnamese Diplomat, Le Duc Tho, and then National Security Advisor, Henry Kissinger, meet in Paris, 1973.

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Christmas Bombings, 1972

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Saigon, April 1975

Helicopters transport the last remaining U.S. officials and citizens from the roof of the U.S. Embassy, 1975

U.S. soldiers attempt to maintain order at the U.S. Embassy during the evacuation.

Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg

Senator J. William Fulbright, 1905-1995

U.S. Rep., 1943-1945

U.S. Senator, 1945-1974

Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, 1959-1974

Historisches Seminar der Universität Heidelberg

Draft Card Burning

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Kent State, May 4, 1970

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“Hanoi Jane” Fonda

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POW/MIA

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Rambo

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Vietnam Memorial Wall

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Vietnam Heroes

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Vietnam Nurses Memorial

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No More Vietnams

War Powers Act 1973 The Vietnam Syndrome

Post Vietnam Strategy:Popular SupportGuaranteed VictoryExit Strategy