RAH Day 23 AgendaRAH Day 23 AgendaRAH Day 23 AgendaRAH Day 23 Agenda

Goal – to understand the legacy of the war in Vietnam and the lessons to be learned. To understand the rise of Richard Nixon and his foreign policy

1. Complete p 15p 15 regarding the end of the war in VietnamVietnam2. Complete p 16-17p 16-17 regarding geography of the war in VietnamVietnam3. Actively Read p 11-12p 11-12 regarding lessons of the war in Vietnam Vietnam

for the US1. Identify the lessons American Presidents should have learned

from the War in Vietnam.2. How may these lessons be applied to the current wars in

Afghanistan and Iraq?4. Analyze cartoon VietnamVietnam packet p 18packet p 18 – who is missing from the

cartoon?

5. In CR packet (blue) – read p 22 – how did conservatives respond to the New Left? Why? How does this reaction relate to Nixon’s ’68 election?

6.6. Unit 4 packet (buff) complete p 7 boxes 1-6Unit 4 packet (buff) complete p 7 boxes 1-6 about Nixon’s domestic and foreign policies

7. Nixon video

The End of the War and its LegacyThe End of the War and its Legacy1.Nixon continues Vietnamization – •unpopularity of the war, •the stalled negotiations to end war•increasing casualties

2.My Lai Massacre shocks US – March 16, 1968 Charlie company, after heavy casualties in prior weeks, kills 300 villagers. Seymour Hersh reports on the story Nov. 1969. Americans are outraged at the atrocity of killing the people we were fighting to save3.Nixon order

invasion of Cambodia – April 30, 1970. NVA was using Ho Chi Minh trail to increasing supply to the VC in the South

4.First student strike in US history occurs to protest the Cambodia invasion – 1200 campuses shut down – like in Kent State where 4 were killed & 9 wounded and Jackson State with 2 dead and 12 wounded

5. Congress repeals Tonkin Gulf Resolution Jan 1971– to limit the power of the president to widen the war like in Cambodia and give war powers back to Congress

6. The Christmas bombings take place Dec 1972 because peace talks had broken down due to South’s General Thieu’s refusal to go along with the US proposal. Nixon then orders the very heavy bombing of the North to bring them back to negotiate terms Thieu could accept

The End of the War and its LegacyThe End of the War and its Legacy

7. RVN surrenders to NV – the US had pulled out all of its troops by 1973, but continued to fund ARVN. 1974 Congress cut all new aid to RVN and the NVA invaded – ARVN could not hold on – Saigon fell April 30, 1975 the war was over.

8. Vietnam veterans receive cold homecoming – as the war became more unpopular, and events like My Lai were known, many people took out their displeasure on the troops coming home.

9. Cambodia erupts into civil war – the US and NV operated in Cambodia to address the Ho Chi Minh trail, each wanted a compliant gov’t – so each side supported a different group – NV supported communist Khmer Rouge, US supports Lon Nol.

10. To limit the power of the pres in starting and running wars like in Vietnam – Congress requires approval within 60 days of combat or the troops must be brought home. Pentagon Papers showed that the war was not fought to win and the Pres had too much power

11. The draft is abolished in 1973 because the war was winding down and new troops were not needed, and war and the draft were very unpopular due to its inequality

12. Pentagon Papers made clear that the people had been lied to by gov’t, promises were not kept, the war was not run well, the US gov’t did nasty things in the war like My Lai, Agent Orange, napalm, assassinations

The Ceasefire, The Ceasefire, 19731973

The Ceasefire, The Ceasefire, 19731973

Conditions:Conditions:1.1. U.S. to remove all troopsU.S. to remove all troops2.2. North Vietnam could leave troops already North Vietnam could leave troops already

in S.V.in S.V.3.3. VC will be part of political solutionVC will be part of political solution4.4. General Thieu will remain as President of General Thieu will remain as President of

RVNRVN5.5. POWs must be returnedPOWs must be returned6.6. Democratic elections will be held Democratic elections will be held

Results:Results: Last American troops left South Last American troops left South

Vietnam on March 29, 1973 Vietnam on March 29, 1973 North Vietnam would resume warNorth Vietnam would resume war 1975: North Vietnam defeats South Vietnam1975: North Vietnam defeats South Vietnam Saigon renamed Saigon renamed Ho Chi Minh CityHo Chi Minh City

South Vietnamese South Vietnamese Attempt to Flee the CountryAttempt to Flee the Country

The Fall of SaigonThe Fall of Saigon

America Abandons Its America Abandons Its

EmbassyEmbassy

April 30, 1975April 30, 1975

The Fall of SaigonThe Fall of Saigon

North Vietnamese North Vietnamese at the Presidential Palaceat the Presidential Palace

The Fall of SaigonThe Fall of Saigon

Formerly Formerly SaigonSaigon

A United VietnamA United Vietnam

The CostsThe CostsThe CostsThe Costs

1.1. 1.5 to 3 million Vietnamese killed1.5 to 3 million Vietnamese killed

2.2. 58,000 Americans killed; 300,000 wounded58,000 Americans killed; 300,000 wounded

3.3. Under-funding of Great Society programsUnder-funding of Great Society programs

4.4. $150,000,000,000 in U.S. spending$150,000,000,000 in U.S. spending

5.5. U.S. morale, self-confidence, trust of government U.S. morale, self-confidence, trust of government decimateddecimated

6.6. Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia fell to communist Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia fell to communist regimesregimes

7.7. Cambodia is decimated by civil war and the evil Cambodia is decimated by civil war and the evil brutality of Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge – almost ¼ of brutality of Pol Pot’s Khmer Rouge – almost ¼ of the population is killedthe population is killed

8.8. President Johnson’s presidency is destroyed and President Johnson’s presidency is destroyed and his Great Society weakened and less successfulhis Great Society weakened and less successful

9.9. President Nixon is involved in Watergate scandalPresident Nixon is involved in Watergate scandal

The ImpactThe ImpactThe ImpactThe Impact 2626thth Amendment Amendment: 18-year-olds vote: 18-year-olds vote Congress abolished the draftCongress abolished the draft

all-volunteer armyall-volunteer army War Powers Act, War Powers Act, 19731973 ٭٭

President must notify Congress within 48 President must notify Congress within 48 hours of deploying military forcehours of deploying military force

President must withdraw forces unless he President must withdraw forces unless he gains Congressional approval within 60-90 gains Congressional approval within 60-90 daysdays

Disregard for Veterans Disregard for Veterans seen as “baby seen as “baby killers”killers”

POW/MIA issue lingeredPOW/MIA issue lingered Vietnam has been an issue in electionsVietnam has been an issue in elections Most Americans saw the war as a tragic Most Americans saw the war as a tragic

mistakemistake

Senator John Senator John McCainMcCain(R-AZ)(R-AZ)

Some American POWs Returned Some American POWs Returned from the from the

“Hanoi Hilton”“Hanoi Hilton”

If we have to fight, If we have to fight, wewe will fight. You will kill will fight. You will kill ten of our men and we will kill ten of our men and we will kill one of yours, and in the end it will be one of yours, and in the end it will be youyou who tires of it. who tires of it.

AndAndin the End….in the End….

AndAndin the End….in the End….

Ho Chi Ho Chi Minh:Minh:

Lessons for FutureLessons for FutureAmerican PresidentsAmerican PresidentsLessons for FutureLessons for Future

American PresidentsAmerican Presidents1.1. Strategy for war must be to use all of the Strategy for war must be to use all of the

necessary resources to win within the context of necessary resources to win within the context of the history and culture of the enemy and allies.the history and culture of the enemy and allies.

2.2. Wars must yield few American casualties.Wars must yield few American casualties.3.3. Planners must develop specific and viable plans Planners must develop specific and viable plans

for how to bring the troops home.for how to bring the troops home.4.4. Develop and maintain Congressional and public Develop and maintain Congressional and public

support.support.5.5. Set clear, winnable goals and match the strategy Set clear, winnable goals and match the strategy

to achieve the goals, including planning for to achieve the goals, including planning for contingencies.contingencies.

6.6. Can’t win a war against a people in their own Can’t win a war against a people in their own country who have a suicidal devotion to their country who have a suicidal devotion to their causecause

7.7. Leaders must be open and honest about costs, Leaders must be open and honest about costs, reasons, length of effort and shared sacrificesreasons, length of effort and shared sacrifices

Problems Nixon’s Policies

1. Size and power of the federal gov’t

As a “conservative” Nixon believed the gov’t had gotten too big under LBJ. Instituted New Federalism, a plan to keep many programs have the states run the programs and share the costs (revenue sharing). The states would put up money and the fed would give block grants of money to the states.

Wanted to limit federal spending so Nixon chose not to spend money by law Congress authorized him to spend, impoundment

2. Inefficiency of the welfare system

The Nixon AdministrationThe Nixon Administration

Abolished the Office of Economic Opportunity – wanted to kill of most of the welfare programs LBJ instituted

Cut urban renewal and some job training programs

Backed Family Assistance Plan publicly, but worked quietly to kill it

Created the Urban Affairs Council

Signed into law the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act

Expanded SS to include Supplemental Security Income for disabled people

However, he signed into law several significant expansions of federal power – OSHA, CPSC, the Environmental Protection Agency, expanded - SS, low income housing, the job corps, Medical Care, Clean Air, Clean Water, Resource Conservation and Recovery Acts

Problems Nixon’s Policies

3. Vietnam War and domestic disorder

4. Nixon’s reelection

5. Liberalism on the Supreme Ct

The Nixon AdministrationThe Nixon Administration

Deescalated the war through LBJ’s Vietnamization

Had numerous peace talks that resulted in the Cease Fire Agreement of 1973

Used the FBI, the CIA and the “Plumbers” to use illegal wiretaps, infiltrated the groups, built an enemies list, to investigate groups and people who Nixon thought were his enemies involved in opposing his policies like SDS, John Lennon, Daniel Ellsberg, the Democrat Party

Sent out VP Spiro Agnew to denounce opponents

Elected first in 1968 by trying to appeal to the Silent Majority, but also to Southern Conservatives. Tried to win in ‘72 the Wallace supporters of ’68 – the segregationists - using the Southern Strategy. Nixon publicly railed against busing for integration, argued for slowing integration, opposed expanding the VRA and ordered the Dept of Housing, Education and Welfare to stop integrating public housing.

However, in terms of actual policy, Nixon worked very hard to expand affirmative action, signed the Equal Employment Act and the Equal Pay Act

Replaced 4 “liberal” justices with Blackmun, Powell, Rhenquist and Burger. Even tried putting two segregationists Carswell and Haynsworth on the court – but the Senate rejected them

Problems Nixon’s Policies

6. Stagflation and recession

1st Monetarism

2nd – Keynesian policies like FDR

7. US- China Relations

8. US-Soviet relation

The Nixon AdministrationThe Nixon Administration

Stagflation is the unique situation with high unemployment, high inflation and low economic growth

1st Nixon attempted conservative methods like getting the federal reserve board to raise interest rates and taxes, while cutting the federal budget, but that did not work, so

2nd, in the run-up to the ’72 election, he instituted the New Economic Policy - wage and price controls, devalued the dollar, ended the gold standard, cut interest rates, increased government spending and increased import tariffs.

Détente – Nixon becomes first President to go to China – opens China to US trade, signed agreements to cooperate to end Vietnam War, recognized Taiwan as a part of China, began process to recognize PRC officially, promised to withdraw US forces from Taiwan, relates with PRC to try to separate PRC and USSR

Realpolitik – balance of power politics - relate to other nations based the goal of national interests: cooperating where we can, avoiding force when possible, ignore weak countries, but deal with strong countries flexibly, directly and with strength – no ideologyDétente – Nixon goes to Moscow – signs Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty, Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty 1 (halts production of new nukes for 5 years, agrees to Berlin-Germany plan,

The Nixon AdministrationThe Nixon AdministrationThe Nixon AdministrationThe Nixon Administration

7 - US- China Relations – US had not recognized the People’s Republic of China, publicly supporting the idea that Jiang Jieshi’s Guo Mindong party on Taiwan was the true government of all of China. Détente (respect for the interest of the other, not taking

unilateral advantage, be restrained in the use of power – to manage conflict to keep it from flaring into war) with China – Nixon went to China after secret negotiations through Kissinger paved the way for the trip

Paradoxically, détente with China resulted from the US taking advantage of local conflict between China and USSR

Signed agreement to cooperate Opened the door to trade with China Recognized Taiwan as part of PRC and started on path to

normalized relations and recognition of the Beijing government as the official gov’t of PRC

Promised to withdraw US forces from Taiwan

The Nixon AdministrationThe Nixon AdministrationThe Nixon AdministrationThe Nixon Administration

8 - US- Soviet Relations – Détente with USSR – Nixon went to Moscow and held

negotiations through Kissinger Signed agreement of Basic Principles – essentially the two

countries agreed to détente. Also agreed to share information, technology and trade Signed agreement on Germany Strategic Arms Limitations Talks treaty (SALT I) to have a

temporary moratorium on the expansion of nuclear weapons Signed Anti-Ballistic Missile Treaty to enshrine the idea of

nuclear deterrence

The Nixon DoctrineThe Nixon Doctrine• The Nixon Doctrine was put forth in a press conference in

Guam on July 25, 1969 by Richard Nixon. He stated that the United States henceforth expected its allies to take care of their own military defense. The Doctrine argued for the pursuit of peace through a partnership with American allies.

• In Nixon's own words (Address to the Nation on the War in Vietnam November 3, 1969):[1]

1. First, the United States will keep all of its treaty commitments. 2. 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 we consider vital to our security.

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