The Tet Offensive and Its Impact on America: A Turning Point in the Vietnam War

1. 1968 & the Vietnam Legacy Chapter 30 Sections 4 & 5

2. I The Tet Offensive • January 30th in Vietnam marks beginning of Lunar new year festivities known as Tet = to our New Years • Agreed on truce for festivities  ppl pouring into cities • Tet Offensive= Vietcong launch surprise attack on over 100 cities in S Vietnam • Was military failure but frightened Amer. Pop who believed war was almost over  openly criticized war • LBJ- “If iv’e lost Walter (Cronkite), then its over. I’ve lost Mr. Average Citizen”

3. II Democratic Party Fractures • Group within Dem sought to unseat LBJ as pres. In next election • Robert Kennedy refuses but McCarthy accepts  Pres primary gains speed after Tet • LBJ wins by only 6% in NH  Kennedy announcing his candidacy • LBJ speech – announces US in peace negotiations & will not seek re-election • RFK wins crucial Cali primary race shot by Palestinian immigrant who was angered by his support of Israel • All while campus protests kept raging http://www.history.com/videos/johnson-says-he-wont-run#johnson-says-he-wont-run

4. III Turbulent Race for President • LBJ resigned & RFK dead left McCarthy v Humphrey for Dem. Pres nominee • SDS protester arrive at Dem. National convention to force anti-war platform • Yippies ( Youth International Party) came to provoke violence & discredit Dem. Party • Dem convention  massive riot  disorder and violence of Dem convention sticks in ppls minds • Nixon runs on restoring LAW & ORDER • Wallace (Ind.) wins 5 southern states • Nixon Wins (43% pop vote but over 100 electoral)

5. IV President Nixon & Vietnamization • Nixon comes to office w/ peace talks going nowhere & institutes Vietnamization strategy • Gradual withdrawal of US troops so that the S Vietnamese take more combat role • “Peace with Honor” = maintaining US dignity while withdrawing troops & preserve US power at negotiation table • Nixon order secret bombing campaign of N and neighboring Laos & Cambodia • Wanted enemy to believe he was capable of anything

6. V Trouble Continues at Home • Nixon appeals to “silent majority’ to pass his policies  further divided country • Moderate mainstream Americans • My Lai Massacre shocked the nation • 1970- Nixon announces US troops invade Cambodia  college campuses erupt in protest • Kent State protest Nat’l Guard fires into crowd and kills students

7. Nixon looses support of Congress • Bombing & invading of Cambodia Congress repeals Tonkin Gulf Resolution • Pentagon Papers= doc. Written for Sec. of Def. that revealed the gov’t was making plans to enter Vietnam even as LBJ was promising not to send troops • Also no plan to end war If N Vietnamese continued their campaign • Pentagon paper  ppl viewing the gov’t not being honest • Vietnam War ends after short lived peace broken and another bombing raid

8. VI Veterans return Home • Vietnam vets did not get welcomed back with parade but with hostility • Ppl still bitter and divided on the war • Delayed stress syndrome – recurring nightmares, headaches, memory lapses, drug & alcohol abuse, etc. • Vietnam Veterans Memorial in DC

9. VII Khmer Rouge & Vietnam’s effect of America • US invasion of Cambodia Civil war  Khmer Rouge • Communist group who committed genocide in Cambodia in order t transform country into a communist peasant led society • War Powers act (1973) pres. Must inform Congress within 48 hrs. if US forces are sent into hostile area w/o declaration of war • Can stay up to 90 days unless congress approves actions or declares war • Vietnam Syndrome- Americans weigh poss risks before intervening in other countries • Cynicism of political leaders