Download - Presidential Decisions During the Vietnam War

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PresidentialDecisionsDuringtheVietnamWarOverviewInthislesson,studentswillbeassignedanAmericanpresidentduringtheUnitedStates’involvementintheVietnamconflict.Usingspeeches,declassifiedmemosandotherprimarysources,studentswillhavetomakeadecisionregardingtheUnitedState’sactionsinVietnam.Aftermakingtheirdecisionusingtheavailableinformation,theymustjustifytheiractionstotheirsmallgroup.StudentswillthenreceiveacomprehensiveoverviewoftheconflictinVietnamviapowerpointandclassdiscussion.ThelessonculminateswithagroupdiscussioncomparingandanalyzingpresidentialdecisionsregardingVietnam.(AsanalternativetothislessonorasanadditionalassignmentonVietnam,seealsoCarolinaK-12’s“TheVietnamWarandProtestMusic”,availableintheDatabaseofK-12Resources:k12database.unc.edu)Grade11NorthCarolinaEssentialStandardsforAmericanHistoryII• AH2.H.2.1Analyzekeypolitical,economic,andsocialturningpointssincetheendofReconstructionin

termsofcausesandeffects• AH2.H.2.2EvaluatekeyturningpointssincetheendofReconstructionintermsoftheirlastingimpact• AH2.H.4.3Analyzethesocialandreligiousconflicts,movementsandreformsthatimpactedtheUnited

StatessinceReconstructionintermsofparticipants,strategies,opposition,andresults• AH2.H.6.2ExplainthereasonsforUnitedStatesinvolvementinglobalwarsandtheinfluenceeach

involvementhadoninternationalaffairs• AH2.H.7.1ExplaintheimpactofwarsonAmericanpoliticssinceReconstruction• AH2.H.7.3ExplaintheimpactofwarsonAmericansocietyandculturesinceReconstructionMaterials• PresidentandVietnamHandouts(attached)

o Therearefivetotal.OneforeachofthefollowingPresidents:Truman,Eisenhower,Kennedy,Johnson,andNixon.

o PresidentandVietnamRelatedDocuments(attached)o PresidentialScenarioQuestionsHandout(attached)

• “TheVietnamWar”PowerPoint,availableinCarolinaK-12’sDatabaseofK-12Resources(inPDFformat)o http://civics.sites.unc.edu/files/2012/05/VietnamWarPPT3.pdfo ToviewthisPDFasaprojectablepresentation,savethefile,click“View”inthetopmenubarofthe

file,andselect“FullScreenMode”o TorequestaneditablePPTversionofthispresentation,[email protected]

• VietnamWarOverviewGuidedNotes(attached)• “TheStrategist”PoliticalCartoon(attached)• TheVietnamWarQuizandAnswerKey(attached)• LBJPoliticalCartoon(attached)EssentialQuestions:• WhydidtheUnitedStatesgetinvolvedintheconflictinVietnam?• InwhatwaysandwhydidtheUnitedStatesescalatetheconflictinVietnam?• WhateffectsdidtheVietnamWarhaveonUSsociety?• Howdoesmusicrelatetovarioussocialmovements?

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DurationTwo90minuteperiodsTeacherNoteTheintentofthisassignmentistosimulatethePresidentialdecisionmakingprocessregardingtheVietnamWarwithoutthebenefitofhindsight.Studentsbeginthelessonwithanactivitythatgivesthemalimitedamountofinformationandtheyhavetomakeadecisionusingtheinformationgiven.ProcedureDayOne

DifficultDecisionsWarmUp1. Asawarmup,askstudentsiftheyhaveeverhadtomakeadifficultdecisionintheirlife.Askstudentsto

considerthefollowingquestionswhilethinkingoftheirdecisions.• Whatwasthedecisionyouhadtomake?• Whatinformationdidyouusetomakeyourdecision?• Didyouaskpeopleforadviceaboutyourdecision?• Whenyoumadeyourdecisiondidyouconsideralltheconsequences?• Didyouregretyourdecisioninhindsight?

2. Allowafewstudentstosharetheirexperiences.Afterdiscussingtheabovequestions,explainthatmany

presidentsfacedifficultdecisionsmultipletimesthroughouttheirpresidency.Manytimesthesedecisionsweremadeinacertainerawhenvaluesandideasweredifferent.Thesedecisionsmayseemfoolishormisguidednow,butatthetimetheyweremadetheyseemedliketherightone.Somedecisionsweremetwithunforeseenconsequencesandsomeweremadewithoutenoughinformation.TransitiontothenextactivitybyexplainingthatAmericaninvolvementinVietnamisoneofthemostcontroversialpresidentialdecisionsevermadeandletstudentsknowtheywillbefocusingonthistopicintoday’slesson.

PresidentialDecisionsandVietnam

3. DividestudentsintogroupsoffiveandwithineachgroupassignoneofthefollowingUSPresidents:Truman,Eisenhower,Kennedy,Johnson,orNixon.Passoutthe“President_____andVietnam”handouts(attached)andreviewtheinstructionsbelowandexpectationsforgroupworkbeforeallowingthestudentstostarttheirindependentwork.

PresidentialDecisionsandVietnamInstructions:

ThepurposeofthisassignmentistoplaceyourselfintheshoesofyourassignedUSPresidentandmakeadecisionregardingtheVietnamConflict.Individuallyreadthescenarioanddocumentsprovided,answertheattachedquestions,andcreateashortpresentationthatyourwillgivetothereminderofyoursmallgroupthatwillteachthemthefactssurroundingthescenarioandyourdecisionregardingthescenario.Yourpresentationshouldbe3–5minutesandrequiresatleastoneprop(map,chart,graph,picture,cartoon,etc.)Youcanbecreative,butmakesureyoucoverallpresentationrequirementsandeffectivelyteachyourclassmatesaboutthescenario.Youwillhave30minutestocompletethisactivity.Youwillbegradedonhavinganorganized,quality,andcomprehensivepresentationthatteachesyourclassmatesabouttheimportantpointsofyourscenario.Youwillhave3-5minutestopresentyourscenarioandthentakequestionsfromyourgroupmates.4. Activelymonitorstudentswhiletheyareworkingindependentlytoensurethattheystayontaskandto

answeranyquestionsthatmayarise.

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5. Oncestudentshavecompletedtheirresearchandspeeches,alloweachgroup20minutes(approximatelyfiveminutesforeachstudent)topresenttotheirsmallgroups.Whilethepresenterisspeakinghis/hergroupmatesshouldwritedownquestionstoaskthepresenterregardingtheirdecision.Afterpresenting,thepresentershoulddefendtheirdecisiontotheirgroup’squestions.

6. Aftereachstudenthaspresentedwithintheirgroup,bringtheclassbacktogether.Debriefbyaskingthe

followingquestions:• Whatwasthedecisionyouhadtomake?• Whatinformationdidyouusetomakeyourdecision?• Didyouvalueonedocumenthigherthananotherdocument?• Whenyoumadeyourdecisiondidyouconsideralltheconsequences?

OverviewofVietnam-PowerPoint

7. Asstudentsshouldnowknow,thesituationinVietnamiscomplicatedandcanbequiteconfusing.LetstudentsknowtheywillnowlearnsomebasicfactsregardingtheconflictandabouttheactualdecisionsPresidentshavemaderegardingtheconflict.PassouttheattachedguidednotessheetsthataccompanythePowerpoint,whichwillhelpstudentswhohavedifficultytakingnotesandwillalsostreamlinethenotetakingprocessinaclasswithlimitedtime.Instructstudentstofollowalongandposequestionsastheyhavethem.WhilestudentswillbetakingnotesthroughoutthePPT,itisimportantteachersusethisasaconversationalpieceratherthansimplylecture.

8. TeacherNotes:ThispowerpointisintendedtobeabriefoverviewoftheVietnamWar.Itincludesmanyofthemajormilitaryandpoliticalfigures,events,andterminologyassociatedwiththeVietnamWar.Discussionpointsandcorrespondingslidesarelistedbelow.Itislikelythatteacherswillwanttobreakthispresentationupovertwoclassperiods.Thepresentationnotesastoppingplaceatslide21,thoughteachersshouldusetheirdiscretionastowheretostop.)• Slide3–WhatothereventscouldhaveinfluencedthecreationoftheDominoTheory?

o SpreadofcommunistgovernmentstoEasternEuropeafterWorldWarII.o Chinabecomingacommunistnationo KoreanWar

• Slide13–AdditionalinformationregardingTheGulfofTonkinIncident:o TheGulfofTonkinIncidentwasactuallytwoseparateevents.OnAugust2nd1964Vietnamese

torpedoboatsattackedagroupofUSdestroyers.TwodayslateritwasreportedthatagroupofUSdestroyerswasagain“deliberatelyattacked.”ThissecondattackwastheimpetusfortheGulfofTokinResolutionandfortheescalationofUSmilitarypresenceinVietnam.AdeclassifiedNSAreportfrom2005allegedthatthefirstattackagainstUSshipswasunderquestionablecircumstancesandthatthesecondincidentneveroccurred.Atthetime,itwasnotentirelycertaintoJohnsonandhisstaffthatthesecondattackedoccurred,yettheystillpressedaheadinaskingCongressforauthorizationtoescalatethewar.(Source:http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB132/)

o WhydoyouthinkthatPresidentJohnsonwouldusefaultyintelligenceasabasisfortroopescalationinVietnam?

• Slide14–WhydoyouthinkCongressdecidedtoallowaresolutionofforceratherthanofficiallydeclaringwaronVietnam?o Possibleanswersinclude:

§ Ifanofficialwarwasdeclared,Chinaand/orRussiamightdeclarewarontheUSleadingtoanotherpotentialWorldWar.

§ Theresolutionallowedforalimitedratherthanatotalwar.Johnsonhimselfsaidthat"theUnitedStates...seeksnowiderwar".

§ TheUnitedStatesfeltthattheincreasedmilitarypresenceinVietnamwouldbringaquickendtotheconflictandaverttheneedforadeclarationofwar.

• Slide16–WhatotherwarswereVCstyletacticsusedin?

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o IraqWar,WarinAfghanistan,AmericanRevolution• Slide19–WhatdoestheKilledinActioncharttellyouabouttheenemytheUnitedStateswasfacingin

Vietnam?o TheVietnamesewerereadytodietodefendtheirhomeland.Thismakesthemanextremely

difficultopponenttodefeat.9. CompleteparttwoofthePowerpointduringthenextclass.Ifthereistimeremainingintheclassperiod,

writethefollowingquestionontheboardandhavestudentsrespondinwriting:• LeVanBang,formerVietnameseAmbassadortotheUnitedStates,said:“Vietnamisacountry,nota

war.”Whatmessagedoyouthinkhewastryingtoconvey?DayTwo

WarmUp–PoliticalCartoonAnalysis10. Asawarmup,projecttheattachedpoliticalcartoon.Askstudentsthefollowingquestions:

• Arethereanyimagesoffamousplacesorfamouspeople?Ifnot,whatimagesarepresent?• Areanyoftheimagesbeingusedasasymboltostandforalargerconceptoridea?Ifso,whatisthe

meaningofthesymbol?• Isthecartoonistusinganyotherartistictechniques(e.g.,ironyorexaggeration)toexpresshisorher

opiniononanissue?• Doesthewriterlabelanythinginthecartoon?Ifso,whatistheimportanceofthelabel?• Whatmessageistheauthortryingtoconveyinthiscartoon?• Whatevidenceinthecartoonsupportsyouropinion?• HowdoyouthinkthiscartoonrelatestopresidentialdecisionsduringtheVietnamWar?

OverviewofVietnamPowerpoint–PartTwo

11. Havestudentstakeouttheirguidednotessheetsandcompleteparttwoofthepowerpoint.Belowarestoppingpointsanddiscussionquestionstoaccompanythepowerpoint.• Slide26–Canyouthinkofanothertechnologythathasinfluencedhowwarisreported?

o Theinternet,cellphones,twitter,etc.• Slide29–Whydoyouthinkasignificantanti-WarmovementneverdevelopedduringWorldWarII?

o Possibleanswersinclude:§ Governmenthadbettercontroloverinformationthatwaspassedalongtothegeneralpublic.§ AmericanpublicsupportedthewarbecausetheUnitedStateswasprovokedatPearlHarbor.

o TrytohelpstudentsmaketheconnectionbetweentheCivilRightsMovementandtheanti-warmovement.§ Mostlyyoungpeopleparticipatedinbothmovements.§ Protestmusicplayedacentralroleinbothmovements.§ Thetimingofbothmovementsoverlapped.§ Predominantly,peacefulprotesttacticswereused.

• Pauseatslide31anddiscussthefollowingbeforecontinuing:o Whatdoyouthinkishappeninghere?o Whodoyouthinkthemanwiththegunis?o Whodoyouthinkthemanbeingshotis?o Whydoyouthinkhe’sbeingshot?o Howdoesthisphotomakeyoufeel?o HowdoyouthinkAmericansreactedwhentheyfirstsawthisphotoin1968?o AdditionalInformationRegardingthePhoto:

§ WithNorthVietnam'sTetOffensivebeginning,NguyenNgocLoan,SouthVietnam'snationalpolicechief,wasdoingallhecouldtokeepVietCongguerrillasfromSaigon.AsLoanexecutedaprisonerwhowassaidtobeaVietCongcaptain,APphotographerEddieAdamsopenedtheshutter.AdamswonaPulitzerPrizeforapicturethat,asmuchasanythingelse,turnedpublicopinionagainstthewar.Adamsfeltthatmanymisinterpretedthescene,andwhentoldin

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1998thattheimmigrantLoanhaddiedofcancerathishomeinBurke,Va.,hesaid,"Theguywasahero.Americashouldbecrying.Ijusthatetoseehimgothisway,withoutpeopleknowinganythingabouthim."Source:http://www.cs.brown.edu/courses/cs024/imagesHistoric.html#06.jpg

• Slide32–Chooseonestudenttoreadthequoteregardingthepictureonthepreviousslide.Askthefollowingquestions:o Doyouagreewiththeauthor’ssentimentsthat“stillphotographsarethemostpowerfulweapon

intheworld?”o Doyoufeeldifferentlyaboutthephotographafterreadingtheauthor’squote?o Whatdothephotographandthequotetellyouaboutthenatureofthemedia?

• Slide37–Askthefollowingquestions:o WhatweresomemajorAmericanpoliticaleventsthattookplacein1968?

§ TheCivilRightsmovementlostitsmostrecognizablefigureinDr.King.§ TheDemocraticPartylostastrongpresidentialcandidateinRobertKennedy.§ TheTetOffensivehelpedtoturnagreatdealoftheAmericanpublicagainsttheVietnamWar.§ RichardNixonwinsthepresidency.§ 1968wasthedeadliestyearforAmericantroopsinVietnamfurtherturningAmericanpublic

opinionagainstthewar.• Attheconclusionofthepresentation:

o HowwasNixon’sVietnamstrategysimilartoJohnson’s?§ Theybothexpandedthewar,NixonbybombingCambodiaandLBJbyincreasingtheamount

ofgroundtroops.o HowwasNixon’sstrategydifferentthanJohnson’s?

§ NixonfeltthatgraduallywithdrawingtroopsandturningthewarovertotheS.Vietnamesewouldbringa“peacewithhonor.”

PresidentialDecisionsDebriefing

12. Afterconcludingthepowerpoint,groupstudentsbasedupontheirpresidentfromthepreviousday.Havestudentscomparetheirdecisionstotheactualpresident’sdecisions.Haveeachgroupanswerthefollowingquestionsandpresenttheiranswerstotheclass.Studentsmayusetextbooksandothersupplementalmaterialinordertogainadeeperunderstandingoftheeventspresentedinthepowerpoint.• Howwasyourdecisiondifferentfromtheactualdecision?• Ifyourdecisionwasdifferent,whichdecisiondoyouthinkwasbetter?• Whataresomelimitationsyoufeltwhenmakingyourdecision?• Withthebenefitofhindsight,wouldyouchangeyourdecision?• Whataresomeotherdifficultpresidentialdecisions?• Canpastpresidentialdecisionshelpourcurrentpresidentmakesmarterdecisions?

13. Optionalculminatingassignments:

• DistributetheattachedquizregardingVietnam.• HavestudentsanalyzethatattachedLBJpoliticalcartoon.• AssigntheDBQonVietnamavailableat

http://www.historyteacher.net/USProjects/DBQs2001/Vietnam-Tomlin.htm Resources• HistoricImages:http://www.cs.brown.edu/courses/cs024/imagesHistoric.html#06.jpg• TheNationalSecurityArchive:http://www.gwu.edu/~nsarchiv/NSAEBB/NSAEBB132/

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PresidentTrumanandVietnamInstructions:ThepurposeofthisassignmentistoplaceyourselfintheshoesofUSPresidentHarryTrumanandmakeadecisionregardingtheVietnamConflict.Readthescenarioanddocumentsprovidedtoyou,answertheattachedquestions,andcreateashortpresentationthatteachesyoursmallgroupaboutthefactssurroundingthescenarioandyourdecisionregardingthescenario.Yourpresentationshouldbe3–5minutesandrequiresatleastoneprop(map,chart,graph,picture,cartoon,etc.)Youcanbecreative,butmakesureyoucoverallpresentationrequirementsandeffectivelyteachyourclassmatesaboutthescenario.Youwillhave30minutestocompletethisactivity.Youwillbegradedonhavinganorganized,quality,andcomprehensivepresentationthatteachesyourclassmatesabouttheimportantpointsofyourscenario.Youwillhave3-5minutestopresentyourscenarioandthentakequestionsfromyourgroupmates.Scenario:WorldWarTwoleftmanyglobalchangesinitswake:theweakeningofEuropeancolonialempires,theemergenceoftheUSSRandUSassuperpowers,andtheirsubsequentColdWarthatdominatedpost-WWIIglobalpolitics.AfterWWII,FranceattemptedtoregaincontrolofitscoloniesinIndochina(presentdayVietnam,Laos,andCambodia).TheVietMinh,ledbyHoChiMinh,wereacommunistnationalistmovementthatwantedtoexpeltheFrenchfromIndochinaandgainindependencefortheVietnamese.USPresidentHarryTrumanfacedadifficultdecisionregardingthesituationinIndochina.Ononehand,hesupporteddecolonization.Ontheotherhand,heneededFranceasanallyagainsttheSovietUnion.IfyouwerePresidentHarryTruman,whatwouldyoudo?Importantinformationtoconsiderwhenmakingyourdecision:

• TheUnitedStatespracticedapolicycalled“containment.”Thispolicywasintendedtostopthespreadofcommunismbeyonditscurrentborders.Itwasoutlinedinthe“TrumanDoctrine.”

• In1949,Chinabecameacommunistnation.• In1950,CommunistNorthKoreainvadednon-CommunistSouthKoreastartingtheKoreanWar.Thiswasthe

first“hot”conflictoftheColdWar.TheUnitedStatescurrentlyhasover100,000troopscommittedinKorea.• Seeinghowthepolicyof“appeasement”failedtostopWorldWarII,worldleadersareoftheviewthat

aggressiveexpansionmustbestoppedquicklyanddecisively.• AmajorityoftheVietnamesepeoplesupportedHoChiMinhinhisfightagainsttheFrench.

Importantdocumentstoreadanddiscussbeforemakingyourdecision:

• “TrumanDoctrine”excerpt• “DeclarationofIndependenceoftheDemocraticRepublicofVietnam”

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PresidentTrumanDocuments

TheTrumanDoctrine,March12,1947(Excerpt)

OneoftheprimaryobjectivesoftheforeignpolicyoftheUnitedStatesisthecreationofconditionsinwhichweandothernationswillbeabletoworkoutawayoflifefreefromcoercion.ThiswasafundamentalissueinthewarwithGermanyandJapan.Ourvictorywaswonovercountrieswhichsoughttoimposetheirwill,andtheirwayoflife,uponothernations…Thepeopleofanumberofcountriesintheworldhaverecentlyhadtotalitarianregimesforceduponthemagainsttheirwill.TheGovernmentoftheUnitedStateshasmadefrequentprotestsagainstcoercionandintimidation,inviolationoftheYaltaagreement,inPoland,Romania,andBulgaria.Imustalsostatethatinanumberofothercountriestherehavebeensimilardevelopments.Atthepresentmomentinworldhistorynearlyeverynationmustchoosebetweenalternativewaysoflife.Thechoiceistoooftennotafreeone.Onewayoflifeisbaseduponthewillofthemajority,andisdistinguishedbyfreeinstitutions,representativegovernment,freeelections,guaranteesofindividualliberty,freedomofspeechandreligion,andfreedomfrompoliticaloppression.Thesecondwayoflifeisbaseduponthewilloftheminorityforciblyimposeduponthemajority.Itreliesuponterrorandoppression,acontrolledpressandradio,fixedelections,andthesuppressionofpersonalfreedoms.IbelievethatitmustbethepolicyoftheUnitedStatestosupportfreepeopleswhoareresistingattemptedsubjugationbyarmedminoritiesoroutsidepressures.Ibelievethatwemustassistfreepeoplestoworkouttheirowndestiniesintheirownway.Ibelievethatourhelpshouldbeprimarilythrougheconomicandfinancialaidwhichisessentialtoeconomicstabilityandorderlypoliticalprocesses.Theworldisnotstatic,andthestatusquoisnotsacred.ButwecannotallowchangesinthestatusquoinviolationoftheCharteroftheUnitedNationsbysuchmethodsascoercion,orbysuchsubterfugesaspoliticalinfiltration.Inhelpingfreeandindependentnationstomaintaintheirfreedom,theUnitedStateswillbegivingeffecttotheprinciplesoftheCharteroftheUnitedNations.Source:PublicPapersofthePresidentsoftheUnitedStates:HarryS.Truman,1947(Washington,CD:GovernmentPrintingOffice,1963),176-80.

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PresidentTrumanDocuments

PoetNguyenThuongHienontheFateofVillagersWhoPleadedWithFrenchColonialOfficialsforLowerTaxesAround

1914

InQuangNam,aprovincesouthofourcapital,theinhabitantsweresoheavilytaxedthattheycametotheResident’sHeadquarterstoaskhimtoexemptthemfromthenewtaxincrease.TheResidentdidnotlistentothem,butinsteadorderedhissoldierstochargeagainstthem.Amongthosedrivenbackintotheriver,threedrowned.Theinhabitants’angerwasaroused,sotheybroughtthethreecorpsesbeforetheResident’sHeadquarters,andforthewholeweekseveralthousandpeopledressedinmourninggarmentssatonthegroundsurroundingthethreecorpses,shoutingandwailingcontinuously.TheResidentreportedthemattertotheResidentGeneral,whocameandinquiredoftheinhabitants:“Whyareyoupeoplerebelling?”Theinhabitantsreplied:“Wedonothaveasinglestickofironinourhands,whydoyousaythatwearerebelling?Itisonlybecausethetaxesaretoohighandwearenotabletopaythemthatwemustvoiceouropiniontogether.”TheResidentGeneralthensaid:“Ifyourpeoplearesopoorthatyoucannotpaytaxestothegovernment,thenyoumightaswellallbedead.”Whenhefinishedsayingthis,theResidentGeneralorderedhisFrenchsoldierstofireintothecrowd.Onlyafterseveralhundredpersonshadbeenkilled,sheddingtheirbloodinpuddles,didthecrowddisperse.Source:NgoVinhLong,BeforetheRevolution:TheVietnamesePeasantsUndertheFrench,2ded.(NewYork:ColumbiaUniversity

Press,1991).71-72

DeclarationofIndependenceoftheDemocraticRepublicofVietnam,September2,1945.(Excerpt)“Allmenarecreatedequal.TheyareendowedbytheirCreatorwithcertaininalienablerights,amongtheseareLife,Liberty,andthepursuitofHappiness.”ThisimmortalstatementwasmadeintheDeclarationofIndependenceoftheUnitedStatesofAmericain1776.Inabroadersense,thismeans:Allthepeoplesontheearthareequalfrombirth,allthepeopleshavearighttolive,tobehappy,andtobefree.TheDeclarationoftheFrenchRevolutionmadein1791ontheRightsofManandtheCitizenalsostates:“Allmenarebornfreeandwithequalrights,andmustalwaysremainfreeandhaveequalrights.”Thoseareundeniabletruths.Neverthelessformorethaneightyyears,theFrenchimperialists,abusingthestandardofLiberty,Equality,andFraternity,haveviolatedourFatherlandandoppressedourfellow-citizens.Theyhaveactedcontrarytoidealsofhumanityandjustice…Fromtheautumnof1940,ourcountryhadinfactceasedtobeaFrenchcolonyandhadbecomeaJapanesepossession.AftertheJapanesehadsurrenderedtotheAllies,ourwholepeoplerosetoregainournationalsovereigntyandtofoundtheDemocraticRepublicofVietnam. ThetruthisthatwehavewrestedourindependencefromtheJapaneseandnotfromtheFrench. TheFrenchhavefled,theJapanesehavecapitulated,EmperorBaoDaihasabdicated.OurpeoplehavebrokenthechainswhichfornearlyacenturyhavefetteredthemandhavewonindependencefortheFatherland.Ourpeopleatthesametimehaveoverthrownthemonarchicregimethathasreignedsupremeforadozencenturies.InitsplacehasbeenestablishedthepresentDemocraticRepublic… Forthesereasons,we,membersoftheProvisionGovernmentoftheDemocraticRepublicofVietnam,solemnlydeclaretotheworldthatVietnamhastherighttobeafreeandindependentcountry–andinfactitissoalready.TheentireVietnamesepeoplearedeterminetomobilizealltheirphysicalandmentalstrength,tosacrificetheirlivesandpropertyinordertosafeguardtheirindependenceandliberty.

Source:HoChiMinh,SelectedWorks,3:17–21.

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PresidentEisenhowerandVietnamInstructions:ThepurposeofthisassignmentistoplaceyourselfintheshoesofUSPresidentDwightD.EisenhowerandmakeadecisionregardingtheVietnamConflict.Readthescenarioanddocumentsprovided,answertheattachedquestions,andcreateashortpresentationthatteachesyoursmallgroupaboutthefactssurroundingthescenarioandyourdecisionregardingthescenario.Yourpresentationshouldbe3–5minutesandrequiresatleastoneprop(map,chart,graph,picture,cartoon,etc.)Youcanbecreative,butmakesureyoucoverallpresentationrequirementsandeffectivelyteachyourclassmatesaboutthescenario.Youwillhave30minutestocompletethisactivity.Youwillbegradedonhavinganorganized,quality,andcomprehensivepresentationthatteachesyourclassmatesabouttheimportantpointsofyourscenario.Youwillhave3-5minutestopresentyourscenarioandthentakequestionsfromyourgroupmates.Scenario:AfterWWII,FranceattemptedtoregaincontrolofitscoloniesinIndochina(presentdayVietnam,Laos,andCambodia).TheVietMinh,ledbyHoChiMinh,wereacommunistnationalistmovementthatwantedtoexpeltheFrenchfromIndochinaandgainindependencefortheVietnamese.In1954,followingadefeatattheBattleofDienBienPhu,theFrenchgrantedtheVietnamesetheirindependence.TheGenevaAccords,signedin1954,officiallyendedthefightingbetweenFranceandtheVietMinh.Itlaidoutthefollowingconditions:

• DividedIndochinaintothreeseparatenations:Vietnam,Laos,andCambodia.• DividedVietnamintotwoseparatesections:CommunistNorth,ledbyHoChiMinh,andthePro-WesternSouthledby

NgoDinhDiem.• FreeelectionsweretobeheldinVietnamin1956toreunifythecountryunderonegovernment.

NgoDinhDiem,thepresidentofSouthVietnam,wasanardentnationalistandanti-communist.AlthoughhewasunpopularamongtheVietnamesepeople,hisanti-communistcredentialsguaranteedhimAmericansupport.Whenitcametimeforthe1956elections,AmericanintelligenceanalystspredictedthatDiemwouldlose,andasaresult,Diemrefusedtoparticipate.AcommunistrebelgroupintheSouth,knownastheNationalLiberationFront(NLF),committedthemselvestooverthrowingDiemandunitingVietnam.TheNLFfighters,calledVietcong,launchedaninsurgencywheretheykilledgovernmentofficialsanddestroyedinfrastructure.WithbackingfromtheNorthVietnamese,theyessentiallystartedacivilwar.DiemdidlittletohelphispopularityinSouthVietnam.HewasaRomanCatholicinalargelyBuddhistnation.Heenactedanti-Buddhistlegislationandrefusedtoenactlandreforms.TheonlythingkeepinghiminpowerwasthesupportoftheUnitedStates.PresidentEisenhowerfacedadifficultdecisionregardingthesituationinVietnam.Ononehand,hetheoreticallysupportedtheideaofself-determination,ortherightofapeopletochoosetheirowngovernment.Ontheotherhand,hedidnotwanttoallowVietnamtofalltocommunism.IfyouwerePresidentDwightD.Eisenhower,whatwouldyoudo?Importantinformationtoconsiderwhenmakingyourdecision:


• TheUSalsobelievedinthe“DominoTheory,”ortheideathatifonecountryfallstocommunism,thesurroundingcountrieswillfalltoo.

• In1949,Chinabecameacommunistnation.• In1950,CommunistNorthKoreainvadednon-CommunistSouthKoreastartingtheKoreanWar.Theconflictendedin

astalematewiththeoriginaldividinglinebetweenNorthKoreaandSouthKorearemainingintact.• Seeinghowthepolicyof“appeasement”failedtostopWorldWarII,worldleadersareoftheviewthataggressive

expansionmustbestoppedquicklyanddecisively.Importantdocumentstoreadanddiscussbeforemakingyourdecision:

• DwightD.Eisenhower’s“FallingDomino”StatementtothePressontheStrategicImportanceofIndochina,April7,1954

• SoutheastAsiaCollectiveDefenseTreaty,September8,1954• DwightD.Eisenhower’sSpeechonthe“NeedforMutualSecurityinWagingthePeace,”May21,1957• ManifestooftheSouthVietNamNationalFrontforLiberation,December1960

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PresidentEisenhowerDocuments

DwightD.Eisenhower’s“FallingDomino”StatementtothePressontheStrategicImportanceofIndochina,April7,

1954

Youhave,ofcourse,boththespecificandthegeneralwhenyoutalkaboutsuchthings.Firstofall,youhavethespecificvalueofalocalityinitsproductionofmaterialsthattheworldneeds.Thenyouhavethepossibilitythatmanyhumanbeingspassunderadictatorshipthatisinimicaltothefree

world.Finally,youhavebroaderconsiderationsthatmightfollowwhatyouwouldcallthe“fallingdomino”principle.

Youhavearowofdominoessetup,youknockoverthefirstone,andwhatwillhappentothelastoneisthecertaintythatitwillgooververyquickly.Soyoucouldhaveabeginningofadisintegrationthatwouldhavethemostprofoundinfluences.

Now,withrespecttothefirstone,twooftheitemsfromthisparticularareathattheworldusesaretinand

tungsten.Theyareveryimportant.Thereareothers,ofcourse,therubberplantationsandsoon.Thenwithrespecttomorepeoplepassingunderthisdomination,Asia,afterall,hasalreadylostsome450

millionofitspeoplestotheCommunistdictatorship,andwesimplycan’taffordgreaterlosses.But,whenwecometothepossiblesequenceofevents,thelossofIndochina,ofBurma,ofThailand,ofthe

Peninsula,andIndonesiafollowing,nowyoubegintotalkaboutareasthatnotonlymultiplythedisadvantagesthatyouwouldsufferthroughlossofmaterials,sourcesofmaterials,butnowyouaretalkingaboutmillionsandbillionsofpeople.

Finally,thegeographicalpositionachievedtherebydoesmanythings.Itturnstheso-calledislanddefensive

chainofJapan,Formosa,ofthePhilippinesandtothesouthward;itmovesintothreatenAustraliaandNewZealand.Ittakesaway,initseconomicaspects,thatregionthatJapanmusthaveasatradingareaorJapan,inturn,will

haveonlyoneplaceintheworldtogo–thatis,towardtheCommunistareasinordertolive.So,thepossibleconsequencesofthelossarejustincalculabletothefreeworld.

Source:PublicPapersofthePresidentsoftheUnitedStates.DwightD.Eisenhower,1954.(Washington,DC.GovernmentPrinting Office,1958),332–33.

ManifestooftheSouthVietNamNationalFrontforLiberation,December1960(excerpt)

Atpresent,ourpeopleareurgentlydemandinganendtothecrueldictatorialrule;theyaredemandingindependenceanddemocracy,enoughfoodandclothing,andpeacefulreunificationofthecountry.

Tomeettheaspirationsofourcompatriots,theSouthVietNamnationalFrontforLiberationcameintobeing,pledgingitselftoshoulderthehistorictaskofliberationourpeoplefromthepresentyokeofslavery.

TheSouthVietNamNationalFrontforLiberationundertakestouniteallsectionsofthepeople,allsocialclasses,nationalities,politicalparties,organizations,religiouscommunitiesandpatrioticpersonalities,withoutdistinctionoftheirpoliticaltendencies,inordertostrugglefortheoverthrowoftheruleoftheUSimperialistsandtheirstooges–theNgoDinhDiemclique–andfortherealizationofindependence,democracy,peaceandneutralitypendingthepeacefulreunificationofthefatherland.

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PresidentEisenhowerDocuments

SoutheastAsiaCollectiveDefenseTreaty,September8,1954(Excerpt)

ArticleIV

1. Eachpartyrecognizesthataggressionbymeansofarmedattackinthetreatyareaagainstanyofthepartiesoragainstanystateorterritorywhichthepartiesbyunanimousagreementmayhereafterdesignate,wouldendangeritsownpeaceandsafety,andagreesthatitwillinthateventacttomeetthecommondangerinaccordancewithitsconstitutionalprocesses.MeasurestakenunderthisparagraphshallbeimmediatelyreportedtotheSecurityCounciloftheUnitedNations.

2. If,intheopinionofanyoftheparties,theinviolabilityoftheintegrityoftheterritoryorthesovereigntyorpoliticalindependenceofanypartyinthetreatyareaorofanystateorterritorytowhichtheprovisionsofparagraph1ofthisarticlefromtimetotimeapplyisthreatenedinanywayotherthanbyarmedattackorisaffectedorthreatenedbyanyfactorsituationwhichmightendangerthepeaceofthearea,thePartiesshallconsultimmediatelyinordertoagreeonthemeasureswhichshouldbetakenforthecommondefense.

3. Itisunderstoodthatnoactionontheterritoryofanystatedesignatedbyunanimousagreementunderparagraph1ofthisarticleoronanyterritorysodesignatedshallbetakenexceptattheinvitationortheconsentofthegovernmentconcerned…DesignationofStatesandTerritoryastoWhichProvisionsofArticleIVandArticleIIIAretoBeApplicableThepartiestotheSoutheastAsiaCollectiveDefenseTreatyunanimouslydesignateforthepurposesofArticleIVoftheTreatythestatesofCambodiaandLaos,andthefreeterritoryunderthejurisdictionofthestateofVietnam…

Source:DepartmentofStateBulletin(September20,1954),394-96.

DwightD.Eisenhower’sSpeechonthe“NeedforMutualSecurityinWagingthePeace,”May21,1957(excerpt)

ThisisapolicyforAmericathatbegantenyearsagowhenaDemocraticPresidentandaRepublicanCongress

unitedinanhistoricdeclaration.TheythendeclaredthattheindependenceandsurvivaloftwocountriesmenacedbyCommunistaggression–GreeceandTurkey–weresoimportanttothesecurityofAmericathatwewouldgivethemmilitaryandeconomicaid. Thatpolicysavedthosenations.AnditdidsowithoutthecostofAmericanlives. Thatpolicyhassincebeenextendedtoallcriticalareasoftheworld.ItrecognizesthatAmericacannotexistasanislandoffreedominasurroundingseaofCommunism.Itisexpressedconcretelybymutualsecuritytreatiesembracing42othernations.AndthesetreatiesreflectasolemnfindingbythePresidentandtheSenatethatourownpeacewouldbeendangeredifanyofthesecountriesweretobeconqueredbyInternationalCommunism. ThelessonofthedefenseofGreeceandTurkeytenyearsagohassincebeenrepeatedinthesavingofotherlandsandpeoples.ArecentexampleistheSoutheastAsiancountryofViet-Nam,whosePresidenthasjustvisitedasourhonoredguest. TwoyearsagoitappearedthatallofSoutheastAsiamightbeover-runbytheforcesofInternationalCommunism.ThefreedomandsecurityofnationsforwhichwehadfoughtthroughoutWorldWarIIandtheKoreanWaragainstoodindanger.ThepeopleofViet-Namrespondedbravely–understeadfastleadership. Butbraveryalonecouldnothaveprevailed. WegavemilitaryandeconomicassistancetotheRepublicofViet-Nam.Weenteredintoatreaty–theSoutheastAsiaSecurityTreaty–whichplainlywarnedthatanarmedattackagainstthisareawouldendangerourownpeaceandsafety,andthatwewouldactaccordingly.ThusViet-Namhasbeensavedforfreedom.Source:PublicPapersofthePresidentsoftheUnitedStates:DwightD.Eisenhower,1957(Washington,DC:GovernmentPrintingOffice, 1958),397–88.

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PresidentKennedyandVietnamInstructions:ThepurposeofthisassignmentistoplaceyourselfintheshoesofUSPresidentJohnF.KennedyandmakeadecisionregardingtheVietnamConflict.Readthescenarioanddocumentsprovided,answertheattachedquestions,andcreateashortpresentationthatteachesyoursmallgroupaboutthefactssurroundingthescenarioandyourdecisionregardingthescenario.Yourpresentationshouldbe3–5minutesandrequiresatleastoneprop(map,chart,graph,picture,cartoon,etc.)Youcanbecreative,butmakesureyoucoverallpresentationrequirementsandeffectivelyteachyourclassmatesaboutthescenario.Youwillhave30minutestocompletethisactivity.Youwillbegradedonhavinganorganized,quality,andcomprehensivepresentationthatteachesyourclassmatesabouttheimportantpointsofyourscenario.Youwillhave3-5minutestopresentyourscenarioandthentakequestionsfromyourgroupmates.Scenario:WhenKennedytakesoverasPresidentin1961,theColdWarbetweentheUSSRandUShasreachedacriticalpoint.Therehasalreadybeena“hot”conflict:theKoreanWar(1950-53),whichendedinstalemate.Another“hot”conflictisshapingupinVietnamwhereacivilwarhasbeenragingbetweenNorthandSouthVietnamfor5years.A1954resolution,theGenevaAccords,dividedtheVietnamintotwoparts:acommunistNorthVietnam,ledbyHoChiMinhandanon-communistSouthVietnam,ledbyNgoDinhDiem.Anelectionin1956wassupposedtounifythecountryunderonegovernment.Whenitcametimeforthe1956elections,AmericanintelligenceanalystspredictedthatDiemwouldlose,andasaresult,Diemrefusedtoparticipate.AlthoughhewasunpopularamongtheVietnamesepeople,hisanti-communistcredentialsguaranteedhimAmericansupport.AcommunistrebelgroupintheSouth,knownastheNationalLiberationFront(NLF),committedthemselvestooverthrowingDiemandunitingVietnam.TheNLFfighters,calledVietcong,launchedaninsurgencywheretheykilledgovernmentofficialsanddestroyedinfrastructure.WithbackingfromtheNorthVietnamese,theyessentiallystartedacivilwar.DiemdidlittletohelphispopularityinSouthVietnam.HewasaRomanCatholicinalargelyBuddhistnation.Heenactedanti-Buddhistlegislationandrefusedtoenactlandreforms.ManyVietnamesepeoplewerewithdrawingtheirsupportforDiem.TheonlythingkeepinghiminpowerwasthesupportoftheUnitedStates,whichwasquicklyfading.Upuntilthispoint,theUnitedStateshashadapolicyofsupportingDiem’sgovernment,bysendingmonetaryaid.PresidentKennedyfaceddifficultdecisionsregardingthesituationinVietnam.Ononehand,hedidnotwanttoexpandtheUnitedStates’roleinthewar,buthefeltthatDiemcouldnothandleitwithoutUSassistance.IfyouwerePresidentKennedy,wouldyoudocontinueonthesamestrategyofonlysendingmonetaryaid?Wouldyousendmilitaryaid?WouldyoukeepDieminpower?Importantinformationtoconsiderwhenmakingyourdecision:



• In1949,Chinabecameacommunistnation.• In1950,CommunistNorthKoreainvadednon-CommunistSouthKoreastartingtheKoreanWar.Theconflict

endedinastalematewiththeoriginaldividinglinebetweenNorthKoreaandSouthKorearemainingintact.• Seeinghowthepolicyof“appeasement”failedtostopWorldWarII,worldleadersareoftheviewthat

aggressiveexpansionmustbestoppedquicklyanddecisively.Importantdocumentstoreadanddiscussbeforemakingyourdecision:

• GeneralMaxwellTaylor’sReporttoPresidentJohnF.Kennedy,November1,1961(excerpt)• SecretaryofStateDeanRuskTelegramtoAmbassadorHenryCabotLodge,October5,1963(excerpt)• JohnF.KennedyInterviewwithChetHuntleyandDavidBrinkley,September10,1963

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PresidentKennedyDocuments

GeneralMaxwellTaylor’sReporttoPresidentJohnF.Kennedy,November1,1961(excerpt)

TheintroductionofUSforcesmayincreasetensionsandriskescalationintoamajorwarinAsia.

Ontheothersideoftheargument,therecanbenoactionsoconvincingofUSseriousnessofthepurposeandhencesoreassuringtothepeopleandGovernmentofSVN[SouthVietnam]andtoourotherfriendsandalliesinSEA[SoutheastAsia]astheintroductionofUSforcesinSVN… ThesizeoftheUSforceintroducedneednotbegreattoprovidethemilitarypresencenecessarytoproducethedesiredeffectonnationalmoraleinSVNandoninternationalopinion.Abaretoken,however,willnotsuffice;itmusthaveasignificantvalue…

TherisksofbackingintoamajorwarbywayofSVNarepresentbutarenotimpressive.NVN[NorthVietnam]isextremelyvulnerabletoconventionalbombing,aweaknesswhichshouldbeexploiteddiplomaticallyinconvincingHanoitolayoffSVN.BorhtheD.R.V.[DemocraticRepublicofVietnam]andtheChicoms[ChineseCommunists]wouldfaceseverlogisticaldifficultiesintryingtomaintainstrongforcesinthefieldinSEA,difficultieswhichwesharebutbynomeanstothesamedegree…

Bytheforegoinglineofreasoning,IhavereachedtheconclusionthattheintroductionofUSmilitaryTaskForcewithoutdelayoffersdefinitelymoreadvantagethanitcreatesrisksanddifficulties.Infact,IdonotbelievethatourprogramtosaveSVNwillsucceedwithoutit.Iftheconceptisapproved,theexactsizeandcompositionoftheforceshouldbedeterminedbytheSecretaryofDefenseinconsultationwiththeJCS[JointChiefsofStaff],theChiefMAAG[MilitaryAssistanceAdvisoryGroup],andtheCINCIPAC[CommanderinChief,Pacific].Myownfeelingisthattheinitialsizeshouldnotexceedabout8,000,ofwhichapreponderantnumberwouldbeinlogistical-typeunitsSource:UnitedStates-VietnamRelations,1945–1967,11:337-42

SecretaryofStateDeanRuskTelegramtoAmbassadorHenryCabotLodge,October5,1963(excerpt)

1. FollowingisoverallinstructionresultingfromNSC[NationalSecurityCouncil]considerationofMcNamara/Taylorreportandrecommendationstogetherwiththoseyouhavesubmittedinrecentweeks.TheseinstructionshavethePresident’spersonalapproval.AtanytimeyoufeelitnecessaryyoumaystatetoGVN[GovernmentofVietnam]thatyouareactingunderthespecificinstructionsofthePresidentasrecommendedbytheNationalSecurityCouncil.

2. ActionsaredesignedtoindicatetoDiemGovernmentourdispleasureatitspoliticalpoliciesandactivitiesandtocreatesignificanthaveatmostslightimpactonmilitaryorcounterinsurgencyeffortagainstVietCong,atleastinshortrun.

3. TherecommendationsonnegotiationsareconcernedwithwhatUSisafter,i.e.,GVNactiontoincreaseeffectivenessofitsmilitaryeffort;toensurepopularsupporttowinwar;andtoeliminatestrainsonUSGovernmentandpublicconfidence.Thenegotiatingpostureisdesignednottolaydownspecifichardandfastdemandsortosetadeadline,buttoproducemovementinVietnameseGovernmentalongtheselines…

12. If,aswehope,DiemseeksclarificationofUSpoliciesandactions,youshouldpresentanexpositionofhowouractionsarerelatedtoourfundamentalobjectiveofvictory.TherearethreeissuesatrootofstrainedrelationsbetweenGVNandUSandofourjudgmentthatvictorymaybejeopardized.Thefirstconcernsmilitaryeffort;GVNmusttakestepstomakethismoreeffective.ThesecondisacrisisofconfidenceamongVietnamesepeoplewhichiserodingpopularsupportforGVNthatisvitalforvictory.ThethirdisacrisisofconfidenceonpartoftheAmericanpublicandGovernment.HeartoftheproblemisformofgovernmentthathasbeenevolvinginViet-Nam.Diem’sregimehastrappingsofdemocracy,butinrealityithasbeenevolvingintoauthoritariangovernmentmaintainedbypoliceterroristmethods.WhatGVNmustdoisreversethisprocessofevolution.

Source:ForeignRelationsoftheUnitedStates,1961-1963,vol.4,VietnamAugust–December1963(WashingtonDC,Government PrintingOffice,1991),372-74.

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PresidentKennedyDocuments

JohnF.KennedyInterviewwithChetHuntleyandDavidBrinkley,September10,1963

Mr.Huntley:ArewelikelytoreduceouraidtoSouthViet-Namnow?ThePresident:Idon’tthinkwethinkthatwouldbehelpfulatthistime.Ifyoureduceyouraid,itispossibleyoucouldhavesomeeffectuponthegovernmentstructurethere.Ontheotherhand,youmighthaveasituationwhichcouldbringaboutcollapse.StronglyinourmindiswhathappenedinthecaseofChinaattheendofWorldWarII,whereChinawaslost–aweakgovernmentbecameincreasinglyunabletocontrolevents.Wedon’twantthat.Mr.Brinkley:Mr.President,haveyouhadanyreasontodoubtthissocalled“dominotheory,”thatifSouthViet-Namfalls,therestofSoutheastAsiawillgobehindit?ThePresident:No,Ibelieveit.Ibelieveit.Ithinkthatthestruggleiscloseenough.Chinaissolarge,loomssohighjustbeyondthefrontiers,thatifSouthViet-Namwent,itwouldnotonlygivethemanimprovedgeographicpositionforaguerrillaassaultonMalayabutwouldalsogivetheimpressionthatthewaveofthefutureinSoutheastAsiawasChinaandtheCommunists.SoIbelieveit…ThefactofthematteristhatwiththeassistanceoftheUnitedStatesandSEATO[SouthEastAsiaTreatyOrganization],SoutheastAsiaandindeedallofAsiahasbeenmaintainedindependentagainstapowerfulforce,theChineseCommunists.WhatIamconcernedaboutisthatAmericanswillgetimpatientandsay,becausetheydon’tlikeeventsinSoutheastAsiaortheydon’tliketheGovernmentinSaigon,thatweshouldwithdraw.Weshoulduseourinfluenceinaseffectiveawayaswecan,butshouldnotwithdraw.Source:PublicPapersofthePresidentsoftheUnitedStates.JohnF.Kennedy,1963(Washington,DC:GovernmentPrintingOffice, 1964),659–60.

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PresidentJohnsonandVietnam

Instructions:ThepurposeofthisassignmentistoplaceyourselfintheshoesofUSPresidentLyndonJohnsonandmakeadecisionregardingtheVietnamConflict.Readthescenarioanddocumentsprovided,answertheattachedquestions,andcreateashortpresentationthatteachesyoursmallgroupaboutthefactssurroundingthescenarioandyourdecisionregardingthescenario.Yourpresentationshouldbe3–5minutesandrequiresatleastoneprop(map,chart,graph,picture,cartoon,etc.)Youcanbecreative,butmakesureyoucoverallpresentationrequirementsandeffectivelyteachyourclassmatesaboutthescenario.Youwillhave30minutestocompletethisactivity.Youwillbegradedonhavinganorganized,quality,andcomprehensivepresentationthatteachesyourclassmatesabouttheimportantpointsofyourscenario.Youwillhave3-5minutestopresentyourscenarioandthentakequestionsfromyourgroupmates.Scenario:LyndonJohnsontakesoverasPresidentin1963,aftertheassassinationofPresidentJohnF.Kennedy.Atthispoint,theColdWarbetweentheUSSRandUShasreachedacriticalpoint.Therehasalreadybeena“hot”conflict:theKoreanWar(1950-53),whichendedinstalemate.Another“hot”conflictisshapingupinVietnamwhereacivilwarhasbeenragingbetweentheCommunistNorthVietnamandanti-CommunistSouthVietnamfor7years.UpuntilthispointtheUnitedStateshadsupportedanti-CommunistforcesinVietnambysendingmonetaryaid.Additionally,PresidentKennedysentinover11,000military“advisers”tohelptheSouthVietnameseintheirfightagainsttheNorth.WhenJohnsontakesoffice,theunpopularSouthVietnamesePresident,NgoDinhDiem,hasjustbeenassassinated.ThenewleadershipinSouthVietnamisextremelyunpopularaswellandmanyofJohnson’sadvisersfeelthatitisonlyamatteroftimebeforeCommunistsdominatetheentirenationwithoutUShelp.PresidentJohnsonwasnotopposedtosendingmoreaidortroopstoVietnam,buthewasunsureiftheAmericanpublicwouldsupportsuchanincreaseofUSinvolvementinaconflicthalfaworldaway.InAugustof1964,VietnamesetorpedoboatsattackedaUSdestroyerpatrollingthecoastsofVietnamintheGulfofTonkin.Theyallegedlyattackasecondtimeafewdayslater;thereissomeconfusionregardingwhethertheVietnameseactuallyattackedorifitwasamisreadingofinformationbythedestroyercrew.Thisbecameknownasthe“GulfofTonkinIncident.”PresidentJohnsonfaceddifficultdecisionsregardingthesituationinVietnam.Ononehand,hedidnotwanttoexpandtheUnitedStates’militaryroleinthewar,buthefeltthatSouthVietnamwouldnotlastwithoutUSassistance.ItalsoappearedthattheVietnamesehadattackedUSshipsininternationalwaterswithcouldbeconsideredadeclarationofwar.IfyouwerePresidentJohnson,wouldyouincreasesendingmonetaryaid?Wouldyousendmoremilitaryaid?WouldyouwaitformoreinformationregardingtheGulfofTonkinincidentbeforeacting?Importantinformationtoconsiderwhenmakingyourdecision:





aggressiveexpansionmustbestoppedquicklyanddecisively.Importantdocumentstoreadanddiscussbeforemakingyourdecision:• GulfofTonkinResolution,August10,1964• McGeorgeBundy[NationalSecurityAdvisor],“APolicyofSustainedReprisal,”February7,1965(Extract)

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• GeorgeBall[UnderSecretaryofStateforEconomicandAgriculturalAffairs],MemorandumtoLyndonJohnson,July1,1965

• RobertMcNamara[SecretaryofDefense]MemorandumtoLyndonJohnson,July20,1965(excerpt)

PresidentJohnsonDocuments

GulfofTonkinResolution,August10,1964

WhereasnavalunitsoftheCommunistregimeinVietnam,inviolationoftheprinciplesoftheCharteroftheUnitedNationsandofinternationallaw,havedeliberatelyandrepeatedlyattackedUnitedStatesnavalvesselslawfullypresentininternationalwaters,andhavetherebycreatedaseriousthreatininternationalpeace;andWhereas,theseattacksarepartofadeliberateandsystematiccampaignofaggressionthatCommunistregimeofNorthVietnamhasbeenwagingagainstitsneighborsandthenationsjoinedwiththeminthecollectivedefenseoftheirfreedom;andWhereastheUnitedStatesisassistingthepeoplesofSoutheastAsiatoprotecttheirfreedomandhasnoterritorial,militaryorpoliticalambitionsinthatarea,butdesiresonlythatthesepeopleshouldbeleftinpeacetoworkouttheirowndestiniesintheirownway.Now,thereforebeitResolvedbytheSenateandtheHouseofRepresentativesoftheUnitedStatesofAmericainCongressassembled.ThattheCongressapprovesandsupportsthedeterminationofthePresidentasCommanderinChief,totakallnecessarymeasuretorepelanyarmedattackagainsttheforcesoftheUnitedStatesandtopreventfurtheraggression.Sec.2.TheUnitedStatesregardsasvitaltoitsnationalinterestandtoworldpeacethemaintenanceofinternationalpeaceandsecurityinsoutheastAsia.ConsonantwiththeConstitutionoftheUnitedStatesandthecharteroftheUnitedNationsandinaccordancewithitsobligationsundertheSoutheastAsiaCollectiveDefenseTreaty,theUnitedStatesistherefore,prepared,asthePresidentdetermines,totakeallnecessarysteps,includingtheuseofarmedforce,toassistanymemberorprotocolstateoftheSoutheastAsiaCollectiveDefenseTreatyrequestingassistanceindefenseofitsfreedom.Sec3.ThisresolutionshallexpirewhenthePresidentshalldeterminethatthepeaceandsecurityoftheareaisreasonablyassuredbyinternationalconditionscreatedbyactionoftheUnitedStatesorotherwise,exceptthatitmaybeterminatedearlierbyconcurrentresolutioninCongress.Source:CongressionalRecord,88thCong,2ndSess.,vol.110,part14.P.18,132

McGeorgeBundy[NationalSecurityAdvisor],“APolicyofSustainedReprisal,”February7,1965(Extract)

WebelievethatthebestavailablewayofincreasingourchanceofsuccessinVietnamisthedevelopmentandexecutionofapolicyofsustainedreprisalagainstNorthVietnam–apolicyinwhichairandnavalactionagainsttheNorthisjustifiedbyandrelatedtothewholeVietCongcampaignofviolenceandterrorintheSouth… Thisreprisalpolicyshouldbeginatalowlevel.Itslevelofforceandpressureshouldbeincreasedonlygradually–andasindicatedaboveitshouldbedecreasedifVCterrorvisiblydecreases.Theobjectwouldnotbeto“win”anairwaragainstHanoi,butrathertoinfluencethecourseofthestruggleintheSouth… Weareconvincedthatthepoliticalvaluesofreprisalrequireacontinuousoperation.Episodicresponsesgearedonaone-for-onebasisto“spectacular”outrageswouldlackthepersuasiveforceofsustainedpressure.Moreimportantstill,theywouldleaveitopentotheCommuniststoavoidreprisalsentirelybygivinguponlyasmallelementoftheirownprogram.TheGulfofTonkinaffairproducedasharpupturninmoraleinSouthVietnam.Whenitremainedanisolatedepisode,however,therewasasevererelapse.ItisthegreatmeritoftheproposedschemethattostopittheCommunistswouldhavetostopenoughoftheiractivityintheSouthtopermittheprobablysuccessofadeterminepacificationeffort… WeemphasizethatourprimarytargetinadvocatingareprisalpolicyistheimprovementofthesituationinSouthVietnam.ActionagainsttheNorthisusuallyurgedasameansofaffectingthewillofHanoitodirectandsupporttheVC.Weconsiderthisanimportantbutlonger-rangepurpose.TheimmediateandcriticaltargetsareintheSouth–inthemindsoftheSouthVietnameseandinthemindsoftheVietCongcadres.Source:ForeignRelationsoftheUnitedStates,1964–1965,vol.2,VietnamJanuary–June1965(WashingtonDC:GovernmentPrinting Office,1996),181–183.

17


GeorgeBall[UnderSecretaryofStateforEconomicandAgriculturalAffairs],MemorandumtoLyndonJohnson,July1,

1965(excerpt)

ACompromiseSolutioninSouthVietnam

1. ALosingWar.TheSouthVietnamesearelosingthewartotheVietCong.NoonecanassureyouthatwecanbeattheVietCongorevenforcethemtotheconferencetableonourterms,nomatterhowmanyhundredthousandwhiteforeign(US)troopswedeploy.Noonehasdemonstratedthatawhitegroundforceofwhateversizecanwinaguerrillawar–whichisatthesametimeacivilwarbetweenAsians–injungleterraininthemidstofapopulationthatrefusescooperationtothewhiteforce(andtheSVN)andthusprovidesagreatintelligenceadvantagetotheotherside…

2. TheQuestiontoDecide:ShouldwelimitourliabilitiesinSouthVietnamandtrytofindawayoutwithminimallong-termcosts?Thealternative–nomatterwhatwemaywishittobe–isalmostcertainlyaprotractedwarinvolvinganopen-endedcommitmentofUSforces,mountingUScasualties,noassuranceofasatisfactorysolution,andaseriousdangerofescalationattheendoftheroad.

3. NeedforaDecisionNow.SolongasourforcesarerestrictedtoadvisingandassistingtheSouthVietnamese,thestrugglewillremainacivilwarbetweenAsianpeoples.OncewedeploysubstantialnumbersoftroopsincombatitwillbecomeawarbetweentheUSandalargepartofthepopulationofSouthViet-Nam,organizedanddirectedfromNorthViet-NamandbackedbytheresourcesofMoscowand[Beijing].Thedecisionyoufacenow,therefore,iscrucial.OncelargenumbersofUStroopsarecommittedtodirectcombattheywillbegintotakeheavycasualtiesinawartheyareill-equippedtofightinnon-cooperativeifnotdownrighthostilecountryside.Oncewesufferlargecasualties,wewillhavestartedawell-nighirreversibleprocess.Ourinvolvementwillbesogreatthatwecannot–withoutnationalhumiliation–stopshortofachievingourcompleteobjectives.OfthetwopossibilitiesIthinkhumiliationwouldbemorelikelythantheachievementofourobjectives–evenafterwehavepaidterriblecosts.

4. ACompromiseSolution:ShouldwecommitUSmanpowerandprestigetoaterrainsounfavorableastogiveaverylargeadvantagetotheenemy–orshouldweseekacompromisesettlementwhichachieveslessthanourstatedobjectivesandthuscutourlosseswhilewestillhavethefreedomofmaneuvertodoso?

5. CostofCompromiseSolution:TheanswerinvolvesajudgmentastothecostoftheUntiedStatesofsuchacompromisesettlementintermsofourrelationswithcountriesintheareaofSouthViet-Nam,thecredibilityofourcommitments,andourprestigearoundtheworld.Inmyjudgment,ifweactbeforewecommitsubstantialUSforcestocombatinSouthViet-Namwecan,byacceptingsomeshort-termcosts,avoidwhatmaywellbealong-termcatastrophe.Ibelievewehavetendedgreatlytoexaggeratethecostsinvolvedinacompromisesettlement.

Source:ForeignRelationsoftheUnitedStates,1964–1965,vol3,VietnamJune-December1965(WashingtonDC:GovernmentPrinting Office,1996),106-8.

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RobertMcNamara[SecretaryofDefense]MemorandumtoLyndonJohnson,July20,1965(excerpt)

RecommendationofadditionaldeploymentstoVietnam:1) Introduction.OurobjectinVNistocreateconditionsforafavorableoutcomebydemonstratingtotheVC/DRVthat

theoddsareagainsttheirwinning.Wewanttocreatetheseconditions,ifpossible,withoutcausingthewartoexpandintoonewithChinaortheSovietUnionandinawaywhichpreservessupportoftheAmericanpeopleand,hopefully,ofouralliesandfriends…4. Optionsopentous.WemustchooseamongthreecoursesofactionwithrespecttoVietnamallofwhichinvolve

differentprobabilities,outcomes,andcosts:a. Cutourlossesandwithdrawunderthebestconditionsthatcanbearranged–almostcertainly

conditionshumiliatingtheUSandverydamagingtoourfutureeffectivenessontheworldscene.b. Continueataboutthepresentlevel,withUSforceslimitedtosay75,000,holdingonandplayingforthe

breaks–acourseofactionwhich,becauseourpositionwouldgrowweaker,almostcertainlywouldconfrontuslaterwithachoicebetweenwithdrawalandanemergencyexpansionofforces,perhapstoolatetodoanygood.

c. ExpandpromptlyandsubstantiallytheUSmilitarypressureagainsttheVietCongintheSouthandmaintainthemilitarypressureagainsttheVietCongintheSouthandmaintainthemilitarypressureagainsttheNVNeseintheNorthwhilelaunchingavigorouseffortonthepoliticalsidetolaythegroundworkforafavorableoutcomebyclarifyingourobjectivesandestablishingchannelsofcommunication.Thisalternativewouldstaveoffdefeatintheshortrunandofferagoodchanceofproducingafavorablesettlementinthelongerrun;atthesametime,itwouldimplyacommitmenttoseeafightingwarclearthroughatconsiderablecostincasualtiesandmaterielandwouldmakeanylaterdecisiontowithdrawevenmoredifficultandevenmorecostlythanwouldbethecasetoday.Myrecommendationinparagraph5belowarebasedonthechoiceofthethirdalternative(Optionc)asthecourseofactioninvolvingthebestoddsofthebestoutcomewiththemostacceptablecosttotheUnitedStates.

5. Militaryrecommendations.Therearenow15US(and1Australian)combatbattalionsinVietnam;theytogetherwithothercombatandnon-combatpersonnel,bringthetotalUSpersonnelinVietnamtoapproximately75,000.

a. IrecommendthatthedeploymentofUSgroundtroopsinVietnambeincreasedbyOctoberto34maneuverbattalions(or,iftheKoreansfailtoprovidetheexpected9battalionspromptly,to43battalions).Thebattalions---togetherwithincreasesinhelicopterlift,airsquadrons,navalunits,airdefense,combatsupportandmiscellaneouslogsupportandadvisorypersonnelwhichIalsorecommend–wouldbringthetotalUSpersonnelinVietnamtoapproximately175,000(200,000ifwemustmakeupfortheKoreanfailure).Itshouldbeunderstoodthatthedeploymentofmoremen(anadditionalperhaps100,000)maybenecessaryinearly1966andthatthedeploymentofadditionalforcesthereafterispossiblebutwilldependondevelopments.

Source:ForeignRelationsoftheUnitedStates,1964-1965,3:171-175.

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PresidentNixonandVietnamInstructions:ThepurposeofthisassignmentistoplaceyourselfintheshoesofUSPresidentRichardNixonandmakeadecisionregardingtheVietnamConflict.Readthescenarioanddocumentsprovided,answertheattachedquestions,andcreateashortpresentationthatteachesyoursmallgroupaboutthefactssurroundingthescenarioandyourdecisionregardingthescenario.Yourpresentationshouldbe3–5minutesandrequiresatleastoneprop(map,chart,graph,picture,cartoon,etc.)Youcanbecreative,butmakesureyoucoverallpresentationrequirementsandeffectivelyteachyourclassmatesaboutthescenario.Youwillhave30minutestocompletethisactivity.Youwillbegradedonhavinganorganized,quality,andcomprehensivepresentationthatteachesyourclassmatesabouttheimportantpointsofyourscenario.Youwillhave3-5minutestopresentyourscenarioandthentakequestionsfromyourgroupmates.Scenario:RichardNixonwinsthe1968electionandbecomesPresident.Atthispoint,theUnitedStateshasbeenheavilyinvolvedinVietnamsince1965.Nixon’spredecessor,LyndonJohnson,widelyincreasedtheUS’involvementbysendingover500,000troopstoVietnamtohelptheanti-CommunistSouthVietnameseintheircivilwaragainsttheCommunistNorthVietnamese.Inearly1968,theVietnameselaunchedasurpriseattack,calledtheTetOffensive,againstUSforcesandtheiralliesinVietnam.Althoughitwasamilitaryfailure,thisattackshockedmanyAmericansbackhomeandmarkedaturningpointforAmericansupportofthewar.AlthoughmanyAmericanssupportedtheUS’increasedmilitarypresencein1965,publicsupportfortheWarhasbeensteadilywaningsincethen.ManyofthenightlytelevisionreportspaintedagrimpictureofthesituationinVietnam.AfterreportsoftheTetOffensive,Americanpublicsupportdroppedrapidly,somuchsothatPresidentJohnsonchosetoforegorunningforreelection.Nixonwaselectedbypromisinga“peacewithhonor,”securityforAmerica’sallySouthVietnam,andinternationalrespectforUSforeignpolicy.Aftermorethanayearinoffice,NixonhadgrownimpatientwiththeslowpaceofpeacenegotiationsbetweenNorthVietnamandtheUnitedStates.OnesuggestedstrategyforbreakingthedeadlockwasexpandingthewarintoneighboringCambodiatobombNorthVietnamesesupplylinesandtoforcetheVietnameseintoacompromise.PresidentNixonfaceddifficultdecisionsregardingthesituationinVietnam.Ononehand,itwasclearthatmanyAmericansweretiredofthewarandwantedtoendit.Ontheotherhand,manyfeltthatUnitedStatescouldnotappeartolookweakandneededcertainconcessionsfromtheNorthVietnamese.IfyouwerePresidentNixonwouldyouendthewarnow?WouldyouexpandthewarintoCambodiainthehopesofforcingtheNorthVietnamesetonegotiate?Wouldyouattemptotherdiplomaticmeans?Importantinformationtoconsiderwhenmakingyourdecision:





aggressiveexpansionmustbestoppedquicklyanddecisively.• Vietnam’sneighbor,Cambodia,wasstrugglingtosuppressacommunistinsurgencythatthreatenedtotakeover

thegovernment.ThisinsurgencywassupportedbytheNorthVietnamese.Importantdocumentstoreadanddiscussbeforemakingyourdecision:• RichardNixon’s“SilentMajority”Speech,November3,1969(excerpt)• PublicOpinionandtheVietnamWar(March1969)

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• MemorandumforthePresidentfromHenryKissinger:ContingencyMilitaryOperationsAgainstNorthVietnam• NationalSecurityDecisionMemorandum

PresidentNixonDocumentsRichardNixon’s“SilentMajority”Speech,November3,1969(excerpt)Goodevening,myfellowAmericans: TonightIwanttotalktoyouonasubjectofdeepconcerntoallAmericansandtomanypeopleinallpartsoftheworld–thewarinVietnam… Now,manybelievethatPresidentJohnson’sdecisiontosendAmericancombatforcestoSouthVietnamwaswrong.Andmanyothers–Iamongthem–havebeenstronglycriticalofthewaythewarhasbeenconducted. Butthequestionfacingustodayis:Nowthatweareinthewar,whatisthebestwaytoendit?... MyfellowAmericans,Iamsureyoucanrecognize…thatwereallyonlyhavetwochoicesopentousifwewanttoendthewar.-Icanorderanimmediate,precipitatewithdrawalofallAmericansfromVietnamwithoutregardtotheeffectsofthataction.-Orwecanpersistinoursearchforajustpeacethroughanegotiatedsettlementifpossible,orthroughcontinuedimplementationofourplanforVietnamizationifnecessary–aplaninwhichwewillwithdrawallourforcesfromVietnamonascheduleinaccordancewithourprogram,astheSouthVietnamesebecomestrongenoughtodefendtheirownfreedom.Ihavechosenthesecondcourse.Itisnottheeasyway.Itistherightway. Itisaplanwhichwillendthewarandservethecauseofpeace–notjustinVietnambutinthePacificandintheworld… InSanFranciscoafewweeksago,Isawdemonstratorscarryingsignsreading:“LoseinVietnam,bringtheboyshome.”Well,oneofthestrengthsofourfreesocietyisthatanyAmericanhasarighttoreachthatconclusionandtoadvocatethatpointofview.ButasPresidentoftheUnitedStates,IwouldbeuntruetomyoathofofficeifIallowedthepolicyofthisNationtobedictatedbytheminoritywhoholdthatpointofviewandwhotrytoimposeitontheNationbymountingdemonstrationsinthestreet.Foralmost200years,thepolicyofthisNationhasbeenmadeunderourConstitutionbythoseleadersintheCongressandtheWhiteHouseelectedbyallofthepeople.Ifavocalminority,howeverferventitscause,prevailsoverreasonandthewillofthemajority,thisNationhasnofutureasafreesociety…LethistoriansnotrecordthatwhenAmericawasthemostpowerfulnationintheworldwepassedontheothersideoftheroadandallowedthelasthopesforpeaceandfreedomofmillionsofpeopletobesuffocatedbytheforcesoftotalitarianism.Andsotonight–toyou,thegreatsilentmajorityofmyfellowAmericans–Iaskforyoursupport.IpledgedinmycampaignforthePresidencytoendthewarinawaythatwecouldwinthepeace.Ihaveinitiatedaplanofactionwhichwillenablemetokeepthatpledge.ThemoresupportIcanhavefromtheAmericanpeople,thesoonerthatpledgecanberedeemed;forthemoredividedweareathome,thelesslikelytheenemyistonegotiateatParis.Letusbeunitedforpeace.Letusalsobeunitedagainstdefeat.Becauseletusunderstand:NorthVietnamcannotdefeatorhumiliatetheUnitedStates.OnlyAmericanscandothat.PublicPapersofthePresidentoftheUnitedStates:RichardNixon,1969.(WashingtonDC:GovernmentPrintingOffice,1971), 901-09

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PresidentNixonDocuments

PublicOpinionandtheVietnamWar(March1969)Question&ResponsesfromtheGallupPoll

InterviewDate:March12–17,1969WhatdoyouthinktheUnitedStatesshoulddonextinregardtotheVietnamsituation?Escalatewar,goallout 25%PullOut,letSouthVietnameseTakeOver 21%ContinuePresentPolicy;negotiate&stayaslongasnecessary 15%EndtheWarassoonaspossible 15%Otheroptions(volunteeredbyrespondent) 3%NoOpinion 21%InterviewDate:January22-28,1969InviewofthedevelopmentssinceweenteredthefightinginVietnam,doyouthinktheUnitedStatesmadeamistakesendingtroopstofightinVietnam?

Yes52%No39%NoOpinion9%

InterviewDate:March12-17,1969Intermsoftime--monthsoryears--howlongdoyouthinkthefightinginVietnamwilllast?

Undertwoyears27%Over2years49%Uncertain,noopinion24%

InterviewDate:February20-25,1969DoyouthinktheParispeacetalksaremakingheadway,ornot?

Yes17%No70%Noopinion13%

Source:TheGallupPoll,1935-1971(NewYork:RandomHouse,1972),p.2189.TheresultsofthesequestionswerereleasedtoGallupsubscribersonMarch23,1969.

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October2,1969MemorandumforthePresidentFrom: HenryA.KissingerSubject: ContingencyMilitaryOperationsAgainstNorthVietnam

AttachedarepapersoncontingencymilitaryoperationsagainstNorthVietnampreparedundermydirectionbyaspecialworkinggroup.Thepapersdonotaddresstherelativemeritsofthisoptionasagainstthepresentpolicyorotherchoices.Mypurposeatthistimeisto:• Giveyouageneralideaofsuchanoptionintermsofobjectivesandconceptofoperation.• Provideinsomedetailcontingencymilitaryandpoliticalplansthusfardevelopedbythespecialworkinggrouponthis

question.• Giveyouourappreciationoftheissuesposedbysuchanaction.• Ifthiscourseofactionispursued,certainbasicprinciplesmust,Ibelieve,beaccepted:Toattemptthiscourseandtofailwouldbeacatastrophe.Itmustthereforebebasedonafirmresolvetodowhateverisnecessarytoachievesuccess.SincewecannotconfidentlypredicttheexactpointatwhichHanoiwouldbelikelytorespondpositively,wemustbepreparedtoplayoutwhateverstringnecessary.Hanoiwillheavilybaseitsdecisionsonitsviewoftheseriousnessofourintentiontoseeitthrough.We(includingthewholebureaucracy)mustthereforedemonstratethatdomesticandforeigncriticismwillnotdeterus.ToachieveitsfulleffectonHanoi’sthinking,theactionmustbebrutal.ThiswouldimpressHanoibothbyitsactualeffectandasasignalofourintent.Weshouldlimitthenumberofdecisionsyouwillface,inordertolimittheopportunitiesfordomesticcriticstoputpressureonyou.Eachactionmustthereforebeshortandcompact.Onceembarkedonthiscourse,weshouldnotallowourselvestobedeterredbyvague,conciliatorygesturesbyHanoi.Itmustachieveitsobjectives,orweshallhavedemonstratedtotheworldourweaknessratherthanourstrength.Thisrequires,ofcourse,aprecisedefinitionofourobjectives.

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April1,1969NationalSecurityDecisionMemorandumTO: TheVicePresident

TheSecretaryofState TheSecretaryofDefense

TheDirectorofCentralIntelligenceTheDirector,OfficeofEmergencyPreparedness

SUBJECT: VietnamAsaresultoftheNationalSecurityCouncilmeetingonMarch28,1969,Ihavemadethefollowingdecisionontheissueslistedbelow:TheIssueofDe-escalation1) Therewillbenode-escalationexceptasanoutgrowthofmutualtroopwithdrawal.2) TheUSsidewillnotinitiateanyde-escalationproposalsintheParisnegotiations.3) IftheDRVraisetheissueofde-escalation,theUSsidewilllistenbutonlydiscussitinthecontextofmutual

withdrawal.TheIssueofUSForcesSubjecttoWithdrawal OnthedefinitionofUSForcessubjecttowithdrawal,IhavedecidedthatweshouldbepreparedtowithdrawallcombatforcesfromSouthVietnamifHanoimeetsspecificconditionsofamutualwithdrawalagreement.Theseconditionsshouldincludeprovisionsfor:1) Verificationandsupervisionofwithdrawal2) ThewithdrawalofNorthVietnameseforcesfromLaosandCambodia,aswellasfromSouthVietnam.3) Guaranteestomaintaintheagreement.TheIssueofaTimetableforCompletionofUSWithdrawalTherewillbenopublicrepudiationoftheformerUSpositionthatwewouldcompleteourwithdrawalwithinsixmonthsofthecompletionofHanoi’swithdrawal.Thispositionwillbeadoptedwiththerecognitionthat,inpractice,theUSwillbeinapositiontocontrolthetimingofthecompletionofourwithdrawal,sincewecandetermineifHanoihasfullymettheconditionsofmutualwithdrawalagreement.ThekeypointwillnotbethetimetablebutrathergettingHanoitocomplywiththeconditionsforwithdrawal.ThedraftpapersconsideredbytheNationalSecurityCouncilonMarch28,1969,areapprovedwithmodificationsreflectingtheabovedecisions.IhavealsodirectedthatthefollowingstudiesbeundertakenforwhichappropriateNSSMswillbeforthcoming:1) SpecificplantimetableforVietnamzingthewar.2) Phasedwithdrawalunderconditionsof:a.Mutualwithdrawal,or:b.Vietnamizingthewar.3) Verificationformutualwithdrawal.4) DetailedpoliticalsettlementforSVN.5) Internationalguaranteesforabove.

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Name_____________________________________ Date______________________AssignedPresident:_________________________

PresidentialScenarioQuestions

Asyoureadyourscenarioanswerthefollowingquestionstohelpguideyourthinking1. Summarizethesituationassignedtoyou.Whatarethemajorfacts?2. Inyourownwords,whatdecisiondidyourPresidentface?

3. Afterreadingyourattacheddocuments,whichoneprovidesthemostpersuasiveargumentforacertaintypeofaction?

4. Whatisyourdecisionregardingyourscenario?Why?(Besuretociteinformationfromyourdocumentsandscenario

sheet)5. Didyoufinditdifficulttomakeyourdecision?Whyorwhynot?

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Name:_________________________________________ Date:_______________

TheVietnamWar1. FranceandVietnam(1945-1953)

– ______________________________________wasaFrenchcolonyandafterWWIItheywantedtobefree

– FrancedeniedtheVietnameseindependence,sotheyfoughtback.– _________________________________________________________________________________

• Vietnamesefreedomfightersledby_____________________________________________

2. TheUSandVietnam

– TheUSdidnotgetinvolvedintheconflictuntil_______________________________________________.

– TheUSdidnotsupportFrench_______________________________,buttheydidnotsupportHoChiMinh’s_____________________________________________________.

– TwoeventscausedtheUStosupportFrance:1. _____________________________________________________________________________2. _____________________________________________________________________________

3. PresidentsTrumanandEisenhowerbelievedinthe

_____________________________________________________.– theideathatifonecountryfallstocommunism,the

_____________________________________________.

4. FranceFalls(1954-1956)– Francecouldnotdefeattheresistance–theVietminhguerillawartacticsweretoodifficulttodefend

against– ________________________________________________________________________

• battlewheretheFrenchwerebadlybeatenbytheVietminh.ThislossconvincedtheFrenchtoleaveVietnam

5. GenevaAccords(1956)

– AgreementtoendfightingbetweenFrenchandVietminh– DividedIndochinaintothreecountries

1. _______________________________________2. _______________________________________3. _______________________________________

– AlsodividedVietnamintotwosections:• _____________________________________ledby_______________________________• _____________________________________ledby_______________________________

6. GenevaAccords(1956)

– Electionsweretobeheldin1956todeterminethegovernmentsofNorthandSouthVietnam– _________________________________________refusedtoholdelectionsbecauseheknewhewould

lose.– Nowthecountrywasheadedtowards______________________________withtheUScaughtinthe

middle

7. Vietcong– Thenewlyorganized________________________________________________________thatwas

basedinS.Vietnam– Effectiveatstagingguerillaattacks

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– Difficultto_________________,soDiembeganto______________________________formorehelpinfightingtheVC

8. JohnF.KennedyBecomesPresident

– Kennedyneededto____________________________________________________________,soheincreased___________________and________________toVietnam

– HealsourgedDiemtomakedemocraticreformstoincreasehispopularity-->thesereformshadlittleeffect

9. Diem’sUnpopularity

– Diemwasa__________________andhepersecutedthe____________________________asaresponsesomeBuddhistmonkscommitted_________________________________________________________

10. Diem’sDownfall– With______________________________________,hewasoverthrownandexecutedbyhisgenerals

onNov2,1963– Thisseverely___________________________________theS.Vietnamesegov’tandforcedtheUSto

getmoreinvolvedtohelptheS.Vietnamese– PresidentKennedywasassassinatedafewweekslateronNovember22nd.VP

__________________________replacesJFK.

11. GulfofTonkinIncident– August2ndand4th1964– PresidentLyndonJohnsontellsthenationthatVietnameseshipshave

_______________________________USdestroyers– HeasksCongresstoauthorizetheuseofforcetodefendAmericanforces.– In2005adeclassifiedstudystatedthatthesecondincident

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

12. GulfofTonkinResolution

– August7,1964– GulfofTonkinResolutionauthorizedthepresidentto

“__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________.”

13. War

– TheUSbegantoincreasetheamountoftroopsin1964-66– TheUSwassupremelyconfidentitwouldbean“easy”warandamajorityoftheUSpublicsupported

thewartoo– Butaswequicklyfoundout,thewarwasn’teasy

14. VCtactics

– ____________________________________________________________________________________• Whoisfriend?• Whoisfoe?

– ________________________________________________________________– ________________________________________________________________– ________________________________________________________________

15. USResponsetoVCtactics

– “__________________________________________________________________”missions– DestroylandscapetogetridofVCcover

1. ______________________________________________

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• Jelliedgasolinethatexplodesandstickstosurfaces.Itisverydifficulttoextinguish2. ______________________________________________

• achemicalthatdestroysthefoliagesotheUScouldseetroopmovementfromthesky

16. IncreasingDifficulties– TheVCdidnotsurrenderdespiteourtactics– Theywerenotgoingtogiveuptheir_____________________________easilyandtheywerewillingto

accept___________________________________________________________________________________.

– TheUSalsorefusedto___________________N.Vietnambecausewedidn’twantafullscalewarwith_______________

– ThismadeitverydifficulttowinfortheUS

17. HoChiMinTrail– TheN.Vietnamese’sseriesof___________________________________________________________– Passedthroughthecountriesof_______________________and___________________________– BecauseLaosandCambodiaweren’tinvolvedinthewar,LBJrefusedtheordertobombthetrail

18. PostGulfofTonkin

– ManyofthePresident’sadvisorssupportedanexpansionofthewar.– _________________________________________________theSecretaryofDefensewasoneofthe

biggestsupporters.– InMarch1965,JohnsonexpandedthewarbycontinuouslybombingNorthVietnam–thisbecame

knownas________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

19. OperationRollingThunder

– ________________________________________________________________________campaignagainstN.Vietnam

– Goalwasto_______________________________theN.VietnameseandconvincesthemtostopsupplyingtheVietCong.

20. TelevisionWar

– Atthebeginningofthewar,_____________________________________________________________keptdeclaringthattheenemyisonthebrinkofdefeat

– TheTVnewsreportsshowedadifferentstory.EverynightAmericanssawyoungmendyingandwoundedandbeganto_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

21. TelevisionWar

– A_______________________________________developed,meaningitwashardtobelievetherosygovernmentreports.

– VietnamwasthefirstTelevisionWarbecausefootageofcombatwasshownnightly.– Thishelpedleadtoan

__________________________________________________________________.

22. Anti-WarMovement– Theanti-warmovementwasheavilyinfluencedbythe

___________________________________________– ___________________________________________–studentsandteachersacrossUScolleges

abandonedtheirclassestodiscusstheVietnamWarandtheiroppositiontoit.– __________________________________________________________–manyyoungmendidnot

wanttofightinaconflicttheyfeltwaswrongsotheyburneddraftcardstoprotest.

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– Dr.KingProteststheWar–Kingbegantopubliclycriticizethewarwhenitbecameapparentthatmanyofthesoldiersfightinganddyingwere_______________________and_________________________________.

23. HawksandDoves

– By1968pollsshowedthatthecountrywasalmostsplitdownthemiddleonsupportforVietnam.1. _____________________________

• AmericanswhowantedtowithdrawfromVietnam2. _____________________________

• AmericanswhowantedtostayinVietnam

24. 1968-BoomGoestheDynamite– TetOffensive

1. TheyearstartedwithaVietcongsurpriseattackonUStroops2. TheVCmanagedtoattackalmostall______________________________________________

andmanySouthernVietnamese_________________________________–thisbecameknownastheTetOffensive.

3. TheTetOffensivewasahuge_______________________________________fortheVC,butitstill_________theAmericanpublic.

4. Howcouldanenemythatissoclosetodefeatlaunchanattackofthatsize?– Johnsondoesnotrunforre-election– Dueto___________________________________________________________________________

andtwostrongDemocraticcandidates,JohnsondecidesnottorunforPresident.

25. 1968– Dr.MartinLutherKing

• Dr.KingisassassinatedinMemphisby_________________________________________.– ________________________________________________________________________________

• JFK’syoungerbrotherandDemocraticpresidentialcandidateiskilledby______________.– ___________________________________________________________

• attheDemocraticNationalConventioninChicago,policeandprotestersclashedinahighlypublicizedriot–itwasalloverTV.

26. Electionof1968

– RichardNixon(Republican)vs.HubertHumphrey(Democrat)vs.GeorgeWallace(AmericanIndependent)

– Nixonwinsandhepromisesto“_________________________________________________,”andalsoendthewar.

27. MyLaiMassacre

– March16,1968– USSoldierskilled347to504unarmedcitizensinSouthVietnam– Whentheincidentbecamepublicknowledgein1969,itpromptedwidespreadoutragearoundthe

world.ThemassacrealsoreducedU.S.supportathomefortheVietnamWar.

28. Nixonand‘Nam– ______________________________________________________________________________

• Nixon’sstrategyfor“______________________________________________________”• agradual___________________________________________________ofUStroopsfrom

Vietnam• TurncontrolofthewarovertotheS.Vietnamese

– InvasionofCambodia• NixonexpandedthewarintoCambodiatostopVC• sparkedprotests

– KentStateUniversityProtests

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• Responseto_______________________________________________________________• __________________________________________________________________________

__________________________________________________________________________– ___________________________________________________________

• January19,1973• USandN.Vietnamreachpeace

– SouthVietnamfalls1975

29. Legacyof‘Nam– Cost$150Billion– Over

________________________________________________________________________________– Over3milliontotalVietnamesedeaths(civilians/military)– ConsideredbymanytobethefirstUSmilitarydefeat– Disrespectoftroopsuponreturninghome

• “Thatwasthefeelingintheairthatwewereunclean.”–JanScruggs,founderofVietnamVeteransMemorial

– Americansbecamemoredistrustfulofgovernment

• ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• RevealedthatAmericanleaders___________________toCongressandtheAmericanpeopleregardingVietnam

– WarPowersAct• _____________________________________________,hadtogetconsentfromCongress

beforesendingtroopsAdditionalNotesorQuestions:

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VietnamWarPoliticalCartoon

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Name___________________________________________ Date________________1. What1954battlewasacrushingdefeatforFrance?

A:DienBienPhuB.Hanoi

C.SaigonD.AngkorWat

2. TheUSentryintotheVietnamWarwasprecipitatedby:

A:TheMyLaimassacreB:TheGulfofTonkinIncidentC:TheassassinationofPresidentDiemofSouth

VietnamD:TheassassinationofPresidentKennedy

3. ThisVietCong/NorthVietnameseoffensivewasamilitarycatastropheforthecommunistsandanevenworse

politicalcatastropheforPresidentJohnson:A:TheYearoftheRatOffensive.B:TheTetOffensive.

C:TheBattleofKheSanh.D:TheBattleofHue.

4. WhowastheUSbackedleaderofSouthVietnamuntil1963?

A:HoChiMinhB:LeDucTho

C:NgoDinhDiemD:VoNguenGiap

5. Whatdidthedominotheorystate?

A:IfonecountryfelltoCommunism,othernearbywouldsoonfollow.B:Useofnuclearweaponsinonecountrywouldleadtouseinothers.

C:IftheeconomyofoneAsiancountryfell,othernearbywouldsoonfollowD:TheUnitedStatesshouldincreasedefensespendingtocrippletheSovieteconomy.

6. In1963,aBuddhistmonkprotestingDiem’sregimekilledhimselfinpublicby:A:JumpingoffacliffB:Settinghimselfonfire

C:RefusingtomoveoutofthewayofatankD:Drinkingpoison

7. ThepolicyofVietnamizationcalledfor

A:BombingNorthVietnamaroundtheclocktoconvinceittosurrenderB:EscalatingthewarandputtingasmanytroopsinVietnamaspossible

C:ReducingthenumberofAmericantroopsinSouthVietnamandturningcontrolofthewarovertotheSouthVietnameseD:BombingLaosandCambodiainordertodestroyNVAsupplyline

8. Whatdidthe1964GulfofTonkinResolutiondo?

A:GavethepresidentmorefreedomtoconductmilitaryoperationsinVietnamB:Gavethepresidentalmostunlimitedfundingtowagewar

C:EffectivelydeclaredwaragainstN.VietnamD:Alloftheabove

9. TheVietCongprovedaformidableenemyforallofthefollowingreasonsexcept:

A:ItsmembersbelievedpassionatelyintheVietnamesenationalistcauseB:ItsmemberscoulddisappeareasilyintotheVietnamesepeasantpopulation

C:ItsfirepowerwasfarsuperiortoUSfirepowerD:Ithadconstructedavastnetworkofundergroundtunnelsandhideouts

10. TheMyLaiMassacreof1968helpedturnAmericanpublicopinionagainst

A:TheSouthVietnameseB:TheNorthVietnamese

C:PresidentRichardNixonD:TheUSmilitary

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11. WhichConstitutionalamendmentloweredtheUSvotingagefromtwenty-onetoeighteen?

A:TheTwenty-FourthAmendmentB:TheTwenty-FifthAmendment

C:TheNineteenthAmendmentD:TheTwenty-SixthAmendment

12. SouthVietnamfinallyfelltotheNorthVietnamesein

A:1971B:1973

C:1975D:1980

13. Whatisnapalm?

A:AtypeofairplaneB:Poisonthatisappliedtothetipsofbullets

C:Aflammablegasoline-basedgelD:Achemicalherbicideanddefoliant

14. TheUSbombingcampaignofNorthVietnamwascalled:A:OperationRollingThunderB:TheTetOffensive

C:OperationOverlordD:Vietnamization

15. ThedisparitybetweennightlyTVreportsandgovernmentreportsaboutprogressconcerningthewarhelpedlead

toa:A:SilentMajorityB:MyLaiMassacre

C:CredibilityGapD:DominoTheory

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VietnamQuizAnswerKey1. What1954battlewasacrushingdefeatforFranceA:DienBienPhu2. TheUSentryintotheVietnamWarwasprecipitatedbyB:TheGulfofTonkinIncident3. ThisVietCong/NorthVietnameseoffensivewasamilitarycatastropheforthecommunistsandanevenworsepolitical

catastropheforPresidentJohnson:B:TheTetOffensive.

4. WhowastheUSbackedleaderofSouthVietnamuntil1963?C:NgoDinhDiem

5. Whatdidthedominotheorystate?A:IfonecountryfelltoCommunism,othernearbywouldsoonfollow.

6. In1963,aBuddhistmonkprotestingDiem’sregimekilledhimselfinpublicby:B:Settinghimselfonfire

7. ThepolicyofVietnamizationcalledforC:ReducingthenumberofAmericantroopsinSouthVietnamandturningcontrolofthewarovertotheSouthVietnamese

8. Whatdidthe1964GulfofTonkinResolutiondo?D:Alloftheabove

9. TheVietCongprovedaformidableenemyforallofthefollowingreasonsexceptC:Itsfirepowerwasfarsuperiorto

USfirepower

10. TheMyLaiMassacreof1968helpedturnAmericanpublicopinionagainst:D:TheUSMilitary

11. WhichConstitutionalamendmentloweredtheUSvotingagefromtwenty-onetoeighteen?D:TheTwenty-SixthAmendment

12. SouthVietnamfinallyfelltotheNorthVietnameseinC:197513. Whatisnapalm?C:Aflammablegasoline-basedgel

14. TheUSbombingcampaignofNorthVietnamwascalled:A:OperationRollingThunder15. ThedisparitybetweennightlyTVreportsandgovernmentreportsaboutprogressconcerningthewarhelpedleadtoa

C:CredibilityGap

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