Chapter 22:Chapter 22:The Vietnam War The Vietnam War

YearsYears

Section 4:Section 4:1968: A 1968: A

Tumultuous YearTumultuous Year

CCalifornia alifornia AAcademic cademic SStandardstandards:: 11.9.3 & 11.9.411.9.3 & 11.9.4

11.9 Students analyze U.S. foreign 11.9 Students analyze U.S. foreign policy since World War II. policy since World War II.

.3.3 Trace the origins and geopolitical Trace the origins and geopolitical consequences (foreign and domestic) consequences (foreign and domestic) of the Cold War and containment of the Cold War and containment policy, including the following: policy, including the following: The Vietnam War The Vietnam War

.4.4 List the effects of foreign policy on List the effects of foreign policy on domestic policies and vice versa (e.g., domestic policies and vice versa (e.g., protests during the war in Vietnam, protests during the war in Vietnam, the "nuclear freeze" movement).the "nuclear freeze" movement).

Objectives:Objectives:Following lecture and Following lecture and reading of this section, reading of this section, students will be able to:students will be able to:

1.1.Describe the Tet offensive Describe the Tet offensive and its effects on American and its effects on American public opinion.public opinion.

2.2.Explain the domestic Explain the domestic turbulence of 1968.turbulence of 1968.

3.3.Describe the 1968 Describe the 1968 presidential election.presidential election.

Overview:Overview:A surprise attack by the A surprise attack by the Vietcong begins the year of Vietcong begins the year of 1968.1968.

Two assassinations, urban Two assassinations, urban riots, and campus protests riots, and campus protests rocked the nation.rocked the nation.

The chaotic Democratic The chaotic Democratic convention helps pave the way convention helps pave the way for Republican Richard for Republican Richard Nixon’s win in November’s Nixon’s win in November’s presidential election.presidential election.

The Tet Offensive Turns The Tet Offensive Turns the Warthe War

Early in 1968, North Early in 1968, North Vietnam and the Vietcong Vietnam and the Vietcong launch a surprise attack, it launch a surprise attack, it became known as the Tet became known as the Tet offensive.offensive.

Tet is the Vietnamese term Tet is the Vietnamese term for New Year and a week for New Year and a week long truce was agreed upon long truce was agreed upon to celebrate the New Year.to celebrate the New Year.

As a result of that truce many As a result of that truce many villagers fled back into towns villagers fled back into towns and cities.and cities.

During this time many During this time many funerals were being held for funerals were being held for the victims of the war in South the victims of the war in South Vietnam.Vietnam.

The Vietcong knowing this brought The Vietcong knowing this brought in weapons in coffins disguised in weapons in coffins disguised themselves as villagers and surprise themselves as villagers and surprise attacked nearly 100 cities in South attacked nearly 100 cities in South Vietnam, as well as 12 U.S. air Vietnam, as well as 12 U.S. air bases, and the U.S. embassy in bases, and the U.S. embassy in Saigon killing 5 Americans there.Saigon killing 5 Americans there.

It took over a month for U.S. It took over a month for U.S. and South Vietnamese forces and South Vietnamese forces to regain control of the cities.to regain control of the cities.

The Vietcong lost about 32,000 The Vietcong lost about 32,000 soldiers, while the U.S. and soldiers, while the U.S. and ARVN only lost about 3,000.ARVN only lost about 3,000.

A 10:1 advantage for the U.S.A 10:1 advantage for the U.S.The Tet offensive changed The Tet offensive changed public opinion about the war public opinion about the war and contributed to Johnson’s and contributed to Johnson’s decision not to seek reelection.decision not to seek reelection.

Many Americans believed the Many Americans believed the Vietcong was close to defeat Vietcong was close to defeat and this display of surprise and this display of surprise attack seemed to tell people attack seemed to tell people otherwise.otherwise.

The credibility gap of The credibility gap of Johnson’s administration grew Johnson’s administration grew even wider than it already waseven wider than it already was

A poll before the Tet offensive A poll before the Tet offensive showing that only 28% of people showing that only 28% of people considered themselves doves and considered themselves doves and 56% considered themselves hawks 56% considered themselves hawks changed to a 40-40 split following changed to a 40-40 split following the Tet offensive.the Tet offensive.

The Tet offensive sours the The Tet offensive sours the media’s and the public’s view of media’s and the public’s view of the war.the war.

Walter Cronkite and other news Walter Cronkite and other news agencies began to criticize the agencies began to criticize the war and claim it was going to war and claim it was going to end in a bloody stalemate.end in a bloody stalemate.

Clark Clifford, the new Clark Clifford, the new Secretary of Defense who was Secretary of Defense who was replacing Robert McNamara and replacing Robert McNamara and strongly agreed with Johnson’s strongly agreed with Johnson’s Vietnam War policy, reached the Vietnam War policy, reached the conclusion that the…conclusion that the…

……war was unwinnable and war was unwinnable and that to put more U.S. that to put more U.S. soldiers in Vietnam would soldiers in Vietnam would only force the Vietcong to only force the Vietcong to match them and continue match them and continue losing lives.losing lives.

By the end of February, By the end of February, President Johnson’s President Johnson’s popularity has plummetedpopularity has plummeted and he knew he was in and he knew he was in trouble.trouble.

Days of Loss and Days of Loss and RageRage

Some Democrats wanted to Some Democrats wanted to oust President Johnson from oust President Johnson from office.office.

Robert Kennedy was asked to Robert Kennedy was asked to run against him, but he would run against him, but he would not do it because he wanted to not do it because he wanted to be loyal to his party.be loyal to his party.

Eugene McCarthy was willing Eugene McCarthy was willing to try to unseat Johnson as to try to unseat Johnson as the…the…

……Democratic party’s Democratic party’s candidate for the 1968 candidate for the 1968 election.election.

The impressive showing of The impressive showing of an antiwar candidate, an antiwar candidate, Eugene McCarthy, in the Eugene McCarthy, in the New Hampshire Democratic New Hampshire Democratic primary in which he primary in which he received 42% and Johnson received 42% and Johnson only received 48% prompts only received 48% prompts Robert Kennedy to join the Robert Kennedy to join the presidential race.presidential race.

On March 31, 1968, President On March 31, 1968, President Johnson announced a Johnson announced a dramatic change in Vietnam dramatic change in Vietnam policypolicy (ending escalation, (ending escalation, ceasing the bombing of North ceasing the bombing of North Vietnam, and ensuring South Vietnam, and ensuring South Vietnam played a larger part Vietnam played a larger part in “their” war) in “their” war) and Johnson and Johnson decided to bow out of the decided to bow out of the presidential racepresidential race and not seek and not seek or accept the nomination of or accept the nomination of the Democratic Party for the Democratic Party for president.president.

Martin Luther King Jr. and Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy are Robert Kennedy are assassinated and campus assassinated and campus protests surge.protests surge.

MLK Jr. was assassinated just MLK Jr. was assassinated just days after Johnson announced days after Johnson announced he was stepping down on he was stepping down on April 4, 1968.April 4, 1968.

Riots erupted as followers of Riots erupted as followers of Dr. King burned buildings Dr. King burned buildings and destroyed neighborhoods and destroyed neighborhoods in nearly 100 U.S. cities.in nearly 100 U.S. cities.

At the end of the week 46 At the end of the week 46 people were dead 3,000 were people were dead 3,000 were injured, and 27,000 were injured, and 27,000 were arrested.arrested.

Robert Kennedy had become Robert Kennedy had become very popular and after very popular and after winning the California winning the California Primary election and giving Primary election and giving his victory speech, he was his victory speech, he was shot and killed by a shot and killed by a Palestinian immigrant who Palestinian immigrant who disliked his support of Israel.disliked his support of Israel.

College campuses College campuses continued there continued there protests with 40,000 protests with 40,000 students on over 100 students on over 100 campuses taking part in campuses taking part in more than 221 more than 221 demonstrations people demonstrations people began to feel as if the began to feel as if the country was ripping country was ripping apart at its seems.apart at its seems.

A Turbulent Race for A Turbulent Race for PresidentPresident

Protests spark rioting in Protests spark rioting in Chicago during the Chicago during the Democratic National Democratic National Convention.Convention.

The protests showed the The protests showed the nation that the nation that the Democratic Party was in Democratic Party was in upheaval and upheaval and disagreement.disagreement.

Protesters began a riot in Protesters began a riot in Chicago which scared many Chicago which scared many people away from the party.people away from the party.

Delegates at the Democratic Delegates at the Democratic convention bitterly debate the convention bitterly debate the party’s antiwar plank.party’s antiwar plank.

Vice-President Hubert Vice-President Hubert Humphrey wins the Humphrey wins the Democratic Party’s Democratic Party’s presidential nominationpresidential nomination in the in the face face of controversy that he was of controversy that he was nominated before the convention nominated before the convention had taken place.had taken place.

The Republican The Republican presidential presidential candidate, candidate, Richard Nixon, Richard Nixon, wins the 1968 wins the 1968 election.election.