Vietnam

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Vietnam

• Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson and Nixon

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The Eisenhower YearsHorror of Vietnam Begins Here

• At the end of WWII, Vietnam was liberated from
  the Japanese with help from Communist Ho Chi
  Minh.
• The French, long colonizers of the area, didnt
  want to leave and forced Ho into hiding-Vietminh
• To contain communism, the US helps France
  maintain a democratic govt
• In a standoff at Dienbienphu, the French are
  defeated
• 54 at Geneva Conference, Vietnam is divided

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North and South Separate

• North Vietnam established communist government
  under Ho Chi Minh-very popular with
  people-guerillas are Vietminh
• South Vietnam established US backed dictatorship
  with promise of elections-56
• South Vietnam leader-Ngo Dinh Diem refused to
  allow elections
• Although a fellow Catholic, Kennedy support CIA
  assassination of Diem, 63

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Kennedy Continues Fight Against Domino Effect

• After losing face over Bay of Pigs, Berlin Wall
  so needs a home run
• Strong against spread of communism by sending
  more advisors- Vietnam (16,000)
• 63-Buddhists monks protest Diem w/self
  immolation-JFK wants to pull out-but dies
• LBJ continues support of Vietnam to look strong
  on communism also

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Buddhist Monks Protest
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Vietnam Chooses Sides

• NVA North Vietnamese Army helped supply
  communist sympathizers in South called Viet Cong
• Both fought against US backed ARVN South
  Vietnamese Army
• Used jungle trails through neighboring countries
  of Laos and Cambodia to transport guns etc from
  North to South

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LBJ Wants to Win in 64

• LBJ needs to continue to support war on communism
  to get approval of his widespread domestic
  policies
• Looks for a reason to go in big
• Finds it in Gulf of Tonkin Incident-single bullet
  or whale fart-now provoked in international
  waters-Resolution already written-just needed
  incident so could fill in date
• 64-Congress gave LBJ blank check-do whatever
  necessary to repel further action

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Vietnam War Kicks It Up a Notch

• Tonkin incident excuse to launch assault called
  Rolling Thunder -air and troops
• 65 68 dropped more bombs than all of WWII on
  country size of TX-credibility gap
• Defoliated jungle with toxic Agent Orange
• Draft Poor mans war, by 68-no volunteers
• -by 68, 500,000 troops in country

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1968 Tet Offensive

• Tet- Buddhist Lunar New Year- 1/30/68
• Violated no action holiday rule
• Vietcong planned strategic attacks on sensitive
  targets like US Embassy-temp takeover
• US rallys and defeats Vietcong in attacks but is
  psychologically devastated
• How can poor, ill-equipped side win?

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My Lai Massacre

• Lt. William Calley convicted of killing 500
  unarmed civilians in village
• Whole company only Calley convicted
• Taught to hate-mines
• Pardoned by Nixon
• S/have recvd medal?

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LBJ- Deflated, Declines to Run

• Gen Westmoreland wants to increase troops to
  defeat VC
• LBJ says no, and refused to run for
  re-election-Dems left hanging in 68
• Eugene McCarthy and Robert Kennedy are
  contenders-Kennedy assassinated by Sirhan angry
  at US support of Israel in 67 Six Day War
• LBJs VP-Hubert Humphrey gets nominated vs
  Richard Nixon vs George Wallace-independent
  racist

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Nixon Peace W/Honor

• Secretly expands the war by bombing Cambodia to
  rid Ho Chi Minh Trail
• Massive protests including Kent State 4 students
  shot dead by National Guard
• Negotiations North Vietnam wants full
  withdrawal- US vacilates-Vietnamize War
• US carpet bombs North-Hanoi for 13 days called
  Christmas Bombings

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U.S. Pulls out 1975