Nixon’s Vietnam policyNixon’s Vietnam policy

Bombing:Bombing: A secret bombing campaign began on the Ho Chi Minh trail. This A secret bombing campaign began on the Ho Chi Minh trail. This involved bombing of neutral Cambodia.involved bombing of neutral Cambodia.

Pacification:Pacification: Basing United States personnel in villages so that they could work Basing United States personnel in villages so that they could work with and assist the South Vietnamese in their daily lives, thus improving relations with and assist the South Vietnamese in their daily lives, thus improving relations between the Americans and the South Vietnamese people (winning them over)between the Americans and the South Vietnamese people (winning them over)

Vietnamization:Vietnamization: The gradual removal of United States troops and their The gradual removal of United States troops and their replacement with South Vietnamese troops. The USA would continue to supply replacement with South Vietnamese troops. The USA would continue to supply weaponry to Sth Vietnam.weaponry to Sth Vietnam.

Phoenix Programme:Phoenix Programme: The United States trained South Vietnamese agents to The United States trained South Vietnamese agents to infiltrate the Viet Cong and compile information for arrests. There was no corruption infiltrate the Viet Cong and compile information for arrests. There was no corruption which saw innocent people suffer, however Phoenix did harm the Viet Cong.which saw innocent people suffer, however Phoenix did harm the Viet Cong.

Chapter 13:Chapter 13: Nixon’s War Nixon’s War FQ: FQ: Did Nixon achieve ‘Peace with honour’?Did Nixon achieve ‘Peace with honour’?

Peace TalksPeace Talks Due to protests Nixon was under pressure to reach a settlement (Boosted Due to protests Nixon was under pressure to reach a settlement (Boosted

by the My Lai massacre of 1968 when over 300 Sth Vietnamese villagers by the My Lai massacre of 1968 when over 300 Sth Vietnamese villagers were murdered by US soldiers).were murdered by US soldiers).

From Feb 1970 Henry Kissinger began talks with Le Duc Tho of Nth From Feb 1970 Henry Kissinger began talks with Le Duc Tho of Nth Vietnam. The talks were on the make-up of the South Vietnamese Vietnam. The talks were on the make-up of the South Vietnamese government.government.

Invasion of Cambodia and Laos:Invasion of Cambodia and Laos: April 1970 Nixon ordered troops into Cambodia April 1970 Nixon ordered troops into Cambodia

to attack communist bases.to attack communist bases. In 1971 the South Vietnamese army with US air In 1971 the South Vietnamese army with US air

support invaded Laos and tried to cut the Ho support invaded Laos and tried to cut the Ho Chi Minh trail.Chi Minh trail.

Both of these set off new protests in the USA Both of these set off new protests in the USA against the war against the war

The NVA strikes:The NVA strikes: In response to the Americans and to strengthen In response to the Americans and to strengthen

their own bargaining position the NVA launched their own bargaining position the NVA launched a major invasion of South Vietnam in March a major invasion of South Vietnam in March 1972. This lasted for several months and the 1972. This lasted for several months and the communists made many gains.communists made many gains.

Ceasefire:Ceasefire: In October 1972 Kissinger and Le Duc Tho In October 1972 Kissinger and Le Duc Tho

agreed on a draft treaty. President Thieu agreed on a draft treaty. President Thieu demanded amendments and the talks about demanded amendments and the talks about the treaty went until December.the treaty went until December.

In order to speed up the process Nixon ordered In order to speed up the process Nixon ordered a massive bombing attack on North Vietnam a massive bombing attack on North Vietnam from mid-December. This “Christmas” from mid-December. This “Christmas” bombing helped to bring about a ceasefire bombing helped to bring about a ceasefire which was as signed Paris on 27 January 1973.which was as signed Paris on 27 January 1973.

Chapter 13:Chapter 13: Nixon’s War Nixon’s War FQ: FQ: Did Nixon achieve ‘Peace with honour’?Did Nixon achieve ‘Peace with honour’?

American WithdrawlAmerican Withdrawl Despite the ceasefire of 1973 the struggle between North and South never really Despite the ceasefire of 1973 the struggle between North and South never really

stopped. From 1973 the South Vietnamese army was fighting on its own with the use stopped. From 1973 the South Vietnamese army was fighting on its own with the use of American weaponry.of American weaponry.

The USA wanted to forget the Vietnam war as soon as possible.The USA wanted to forget the Vietnam war as soon as possible. In August 1974 Nixon resigned over the Watergate scandal. His successor President In August 1974 Nixon resigned over the Watergate scandal. His successor President

Ford was keen to divorce the USA from Vietnam and from March 1975 no further Ford was keen to divorce the USA from Vietnam and from March 1975 no further American aid was given to Indochina.American aid was given to Indochina.

The fall of SaigonThe fall of Saigon During 1974 the NVA attacked South Vietnam’s northern provinces. As each During 1974 the NVA attacked South Vietnam’s northern provinces. As each

collapsed they came closer to Saigon.collapsed they came closer to Saigon. An airlift removing American citizens and friends from Saigon city took place.An airlift removing American citizens and friends from Saigon city took place. Many others who wanted to escape couldn’t and there were desperate scenes of Many others who wanted to escape couldn’t and there were desperate scenes of

people trying to escape in the streetspeople trying to escape in the streets

Saigon fell on April 30 1975. Saigon fell on April 30 1975. The second Indochina war was over.The second Indochina war was over.

Chapter 15:Chapter 15: The Fall of Saigon The Fall of Saigon FQ: FQ: Why did the Saigon regime fall so rapidly to the NVA?Why did the Saigon regime fall so rapidly to the NVA?

Things that peeved the Vietnamese:Things that peeved the Vietnamese:

Post Geneva Conference 1954Post Geneva Conference 1954

Eisenhower/KennedyDiem 1954-64

Johnson1964-68

Nixon1968-73

- Operated through Diem- Let Diem do what he wanted- Had Ho Chi Minh

assassinated- Family oligarchy- Strategic hamlets- Oppression of Buddists and

peasants.- Censored newspapers- Cancelled elections- Advisers sent in from USA

(16,000)

- Operation rolling thunder

- Tonkin Gulf incident & resultion

- Defoliation – Napalm

- Search and destroy- 200,000-500,000

1968 with allies (NZ,Oz etc)

- Bombing HCM trail

- Pacification- Phoenix

programme- Vietnamization- Invaded Laos

and Cambodia- Peace talks- Watergate

crisis