The Tet Offensive, 1968The Tet Offensive, 1968

The Vietnam War’s Turning The Vietnam War’s Turning Point?Point?

The Tet Offensive: The Eddie The Tet Offensive: The Eddie Adams PictureAdams Picture

Background to Tet – January Background to Tet – January 19681968

1.) North Korean seizure of the USS 1.) North Korean seizure of the USS Pueblo – concern about another front Pueblo – concern about another front in Asia – (North Koreans had in Asia – (North Koreans had attempted assassination of South attempted assassination of South Korean leader the previous day) – Korean leader the previous day) – crew released in December, only crew released in December, only Navy ship still heldNavy ship still held

2.) Siege at Khe Sanh – begins 2.) Siege at Khe Sanh – begins January 21 (will last until April 8) – January 21 (will last until April 8) – fears of another Dien Binh Phufears of another Dien Binh Phu

Beginning of the Offensive 1.) Struck 36 of 44 provincial capitals, five of six

major cities, 64 district capitals, and 50 hamlets 2.) Raid on the US Embassy – got into the

compound – lasted about six hours - all 19 killed or severely wounded

3.) Also hit Saigon’s airport, presidential palace, and military headquarters

4.) Most successful attack in Hue – held the city for a month

Footage from Tet Offensive – CBS News

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=tm3WimttZjc&feature=related

Military Assessment of Military Assessment of Tet – a defeat for the Tet – a defeat for the CommunistsCommunists 1.) No collapse of Saigon – South 1.) No collapse of Saigon – South

Vietnamese did not welcome Vietnamese did not welcome them as liberatorsthem as liberators

2.) Losses – may have been as 2.) Losses – may have been as high as 40,000 – the Viet Cong high as 40,000 – the Viet Cong took the brunt of the losses – took the brunt of the losses – Hanoi expected to do betterHanoi expected to do better

For the U.S. – A “Costly For the U.S. – A “Costly Victory”Victory”

1.) US losses more than 1100, ARVN 23001.) US losses more than 1100, ARVN 2300 2.) More than 12, 500 civilians killed2.) More than 12, 500 civilians killed 3.) Devastating Effect on American public 3.) Devastating Effect on American public

opinion – 78 percent of Americans said no opinion – 78 percent of Americans said no progress was being made; 26 percent progress was being made; 26 percent approved Johnson’s handling of the warapproved Johnson’s handling of the war

4.) Increase in the credibility gap – Tet 4.) Increase in the credibility gap – Tet seemed to show LBJ’s progress offensive seemed to show LBJ’s progress offensive was an exaggeration, to some a lie – was an exaggeration, to some a lie – Kennedy speechKennedy speech

Tet’s Impact on WashingtonTet’s Impact on Washington

1.) Shock at the White House – divided 1.) Shock at the White House – divided the staff, Rostow still hawkish, the staff, Rostow still hawkish, McPherson and others more dovishMcPherson and others more dovish

2.) Military – wanted Johnson to take 2.) Military – wanted Johnson to take important decisions – perception of important decisions – perception of being stretched thin – wanted a being stretched thin – wanted a reserve call-upreserve call-up

3.) Westmoreland – wanted to expand 3.) Westmoreland – wanted to expand the war into Laos and Cambodia, the war into Laos and Cambodia, southern North Vietnamsouthern North Vietnam

VietnamVietnam

Impact of TetImpact of Tet

4.) Military Request for 206,000 more 4.) Military Request for 206,000 more men – half to Vietnam, half to reserve men – half to Vietnam, half to reserve – effort to persuade the president but – effort to persuade the president but was more pessimistic in order to was more pessimistic in order to persuadepersuade

5.) Defense Secretary Clark Clifford – 5.) Defense Secretary Clark Clifford – ordered a full scale review – influenced ordered a full scale review – influenced by civilian strategists in the Pentagon by civilian strategists in the Pentagon – pushed for a change in strategy, de-– pushed for a change in strategy, de-escalation, getting Saigon to do moreescalation, getting Saigon to do more

Consideration of a bombing Consideration of a bombing halthalt

1.) Secretary of State Dean Rusk – 1.) Secretary of State Dean Rusk – now pushed for a bombing halt – now pushed for a bombing halt – thought Hanoi damaged by Tet – thought Hanoi damaged by Tet – chance for peace talkschance for peace talks

2.) Johnson – thought US might now 2.) Johnson – thought US might now be able to act from strengthbe able to act from strength

3.) Uncertainty at the White House 3.) Uncertainty at the White House reflected in the public moodreflected in the public mood

““Atmosphere of Gloom”Atmosphere of Gloom”

1.) Robert Kennedy’s speech1.) Robert Kennedy’s speech2.) Media reporting on the war – 2.) Media reporting on the war –

image of chaos and defeatimage of chaos and defeat3.) Walter Cronkite -YouTube - Walter 3.) Walter Cronkite -YouTube - Walter

Cronkite Remembers His Tet Cronkite Remembers His Tet Offensive EditorialOffensive Editorial

4.) NYTimes story – March 10, 1968 – 4.) NYTimes story – March 10, 1968 – Westmoreland’s request for 206,000 Westmoreland’s request for 206,000 – produced an uproar– produced an uproar

Antiwar momentumAntiwar momentum 1.) Congress – 139 House members call for a 1.) Congress – 139 House members call for a

review of policyreview of policy 2.) March 12, 1968 - New Hampshire primary 2.) March 12, 1968 - New Hampshire primary

– McCarthy almost upsets Johnson– McCarthy almost upsets Johnson 3.) March 16, 1968 – Robert Kennedy enters 3.) March 16, 1968 – Robert Kennedy enters

the race YouTube - Robert Kennedy for the race YouTube - Robert Kennedy for PresidentPresident

4.) “Gold Crisis” intensifies fears of escalation4.) “Gold Crisis” intensifies fears of escalation Unknown at the time – March 16, 1968, the Unknown at the time – March 16, 1968, the

My Lai massacreMy Lai massacre 5.) Johnson meets with the Wise Men – they 5.) Johnson meets with the Wise Men – they

urge de-escalationurge de-escalation

Johnson’s withdrawalJohnson’s withdrawal

Johnson proposes a bombing halt north of Johnson proposes a bombing halt north of the 20the 20thth parallel parallel

YouTube - Lyndon Johnson - Remarks on YouTube - Lyndon Johnson - Remarks on Decision to not seek ReelectionDecision to not seek Reelection

YouTube - Lyndon B. Johnson I Will Not Run YouTube - Lyndon B. Johnson I Will Not Run AddressAddress

North Vietnam agrees to Peace talks in North Vietnam agrees to Peace talks in Paris – immediate problem, Saigon and the Paris – immediate problem, Saigon and the NLFNLF

1968 – after Tet in Vietnam1968 – after Tet in Vietnam

1.) Military action in Vietnam remains 1.) Military action in Vietnam remains stepped up – offensives in May and stepped up – offensives in May and AugustAugust

2.) US accelerates Pacification 2.) US accelerates Pacification Program and Chieu Hoi program – Program and Chieu Hoi program – amnesty to Viet Congamnesty to Viet Cong

3.) Phoenix Program developed by CIA3.) Phoenix Program developed by CIA4.) Expansion in size of South 4.) Expansion in size of South

Vietnamese ArmyVietnamese Army

1968 – Violence in America1968 – Violence in America

1.) Assassination of Martin Luther 1.) Assassination of Martin Luther King in Memphis, April 1968King in Memphis, April 1968

2.) Assassination of Robert Kennedy 2.) Assassination of Robert Kennedy in June YouTube - Robert Kennedy's in June YouTube - Robert Kennedy's assasinationassasination

3.) Chicago Democratic convention – 3.) Chicago Democratic convention – riots and protests YouTube - 1968 riots and protests YouTube - 1968 DNC: Democratic nightmare in DNC: Democratic nightmare in ChicagoChicago

Humphrey vs. Nixon vs. Humphrey vs. Nixon vs. WallaceWallace

http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/http://www.livingroomcandidate.org/commercials/1968commercials/1968

The Bombing HaltThe Bombing Halt

1.) Prague Spring – Soviets Invade 1.) Prague Spring – Soviets Invade Czechoslovakia – Cancellation of Summit – Czechoslovakia – Cancellation of Summit – the Cold War is still therethe Cold War is still there

2.) Johnson Halts the Bombing of North 2.) Johnson Halts the Bombing of North Vietnam before the election,Vietnam before the election,

3.) Nixon – secret contacts with Thieu – 3.) Nixon – secret contacts with Thieu – warns him about the negotiationswarns him about the negotiations

4.) Saigon won’t negotiate yet4.) Saigon won’t negotiate yet 5.) Nixon wins5.) Nixon wins 6.) Stalemated War, Stalemated Peace 6.) Stalemated War, Stalemated Peace

TalksTalks

Electoral MapElectoral Map

Nixon “Bring us together”Nixon “Bring us together”