Nixon’s WarNixon’s War

1969-19751969-1975

What was the problem in What was the problem in Vietnam?Vietnam?

• His policy team said the problem was His policy team said the problem was Laos and Cambodian neutralityLaos and Cambodian neutrality

• Nixon decided to expand war to Nixon decided to expand war to these countries, mainly to try and cut these countries, mainly to try and cut off NVA/VC supply route.off NVA/VC supply route.

Westy replaced!Westy replaced!

• Westmoreland is Westmoreland is made Chairman of made Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of the Joint Chiefs of StaffStaff

• Replaced by Replaced by General Creighton General Creighton Abrams in 1968Abrams in 1968

Operation MenuOperation Menu

• Covert bombing of communist bases Covert bombing of communist bases in Cambodiain Cambodia

Hamburger HillHamburger Hill

• May 10, 1969 to May 20, 1969May 10, 1969 to May 20, 1969

• Ten days of intense fightingTen days of intense fighting

• 50 US soldiers killed50 US soldiers killed

• 630 NVA were killed630 NVA were killed

• Faulty logic emerged – after taking Faulty logic emerged – after taking the hill the US simply abandoned itthe hill the US simply abandoned it

• This allows for the enemy to reoccupyThis allows for the enemy to reoccupy

Hamburger HillHamburger Hill

Nixon’s new policyNixon’s new policy

• Conduct war with a minimum of US Conduct war with a minimum of US casualtiescasualties

•VietnamizationVietnamization – US forces would – US forces would withdraw while training and withdraw while training and preparing a larger South Vietnamese preparing a larger South Vietnamese army to take over the bulk of the army to take over the bulk of the fightingfighting

• June of 1969 withdrew 25,000 troops June of 1969 withdrew 25,000 troops from Vietnamfrom Vietnam

US invades Cambodia - US invades Cambodia - 19701970

• Disrupt the plans of the NVA/VCDisrupt the plans of the NVA/VC

• Buy time for VietnamizationBuy time for Vietnamization

• Overall it was very successfulOverall it was very successful

-US lost 383-US lost 383

-NVA/VC lost 11,000-NVA/VC lost 11,000

Backfire on the home frontBackfire on the home front

• Saw the invasion of Cambodia as needless Saw the invasion of Cambodia as needless escalationescalation

-catalyst for protest at Kent State – May, -catalyst for protest at Kent State – May, 1970 1970

• Credibility Gap grewCredibility Gap grew

• Congress repealed the Gulf of Tonkin Congress repealed the Gulf of Tonkin ResolutionResolution

• Congress forbade US of troops in Cambodia Congress forbade US of troops in Cambodia but left open air attacksbut left open air attacks

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/6/65/Kent_State_massacre.jpg

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/a/a4/HoCMT.jpg

Operation Lam Son 719 - Operation Lam Son 719 - 19711971

• South Vietnamese troops with some US South Vietnamese troops with some US ground troops and major air support invade ground troops and major air support invade Laos to disrupt NVA/VC supply basesLaos to disrupt NVA/VC supply bases

• Each side claimed victoryEach side claimed victory

• Nixon claimed Vietnamization a victoryNixon claimed Vietnamization a victory

• Showed heavy dependence on US air supportShowed heavy dependence on US air support

• NVA – 20,000 – South Vietnam – 1,700 – US – NVA – 20,000 – South Vietnam – 1,700 – US – 1149 and 108 helicopters1149 and 108 helicopters

Operation Eastertide - 1972Operation Eastertide - 1972

Eastertide Offensive – March to Eastertide Offensive – March to October 1972October 1972

• NVA massed 20 divisions – 200,000 troopsNVA massed 20 divisions – 200,000 troops• Three pronged attack into North, Center, Three pronged attack into North, Center,

and South Vietnamand South Vietnam• Initial success but all attacks were pushed Initial success but all attacks were pushed

back and cities retakenback and cities retaken• Lack of success of NVA due in part to Lack of success of NVA due in part to

spreading forces too thinspreading forces too thin• NVA suffered 100,000 casualties and lost NVA suffered 100,000 casualties and lost

half of tanks and heavy artilleryhalf of tanks and heavy artillery

Pushing Peace in ParisPushing Peace in Paris

• Nixon claims Vietnamization is Nixon claims Vietnamization is working and provides basis to get outworking and provides basis to get out

• Launches Operation Linebacker on Launches Operation Linebacker on North Vietnam- air strikesNorth Vietnam- air strikes

• Felt South Vietnamese could hold out Felt South Vietnamese could hold out with US air supportwith US air support

• At conference North Vietnamese stall At conference North Vietnamese stall and Nixon launches “Christmas and Nixon launches “Christmas Bombing”Bombing”

January 27, 1973 – Paris Peace January 27, 1973 – Paris Peace AccordsAccords

• North Vietnam – cease-fire in S. Vietnam North Vietnam – cease-fire in S. Vietnam and release all prisonersand release all prisoners

• US- halt operations and remove US US- halt operations and remove US forces from S. Vietnam and dismantle forces from S. Vietnam and dismantle bases, commit to reconstruction of N. bases, commit to reconstruction of N. VietnamVietnam

• South Vietnam – agree to reunification by South Vietnam – agree to reunification by peaceful means, allowed for NVA peaceful means, allowed for NVA occupation of certain S. Vietnamese occupation of certain S. Vietnamese areasareas

Case-Church AmendmentCase-Church AmendmentJune 1973June 1973

• Demanded an end to US involvement Demanded an end to US involvement in South and North Vietnam, Laos, in South and North Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.and Cambodia.

• No more funds would be available No more funds would be available after August 15, 1973after August 15, 1973

• Nixon did not have enough support Nixon did not have enough support to prevent his veto from being to prevent his veto from being overriddenoverridden

Fall of South Vietnam – April Fall of South Vietnam – April 30, 197530, 1975

The figuresThe figures

• US – 58,000 killed and 300,000 US – 58,000 killed and 300,000 woundedwounded

• For the 1For the 1stst time the US failed in its time the US failed in its war objectiveswar objectives

• South Vietnam – 400,000 killedSouth Vietnam – 400,000 killed

• NVA/VC – 1 million killedNVA/VC – 1 million killed