Nixon and Vietnam - Withdrawal

Withdrawal From Vietnam The Vietnam Years 1973-1975

Connection - Essay Review – Cambodia • Your teacher will issue you with a model response to the Cambodian Invasion of 1970. This will also be available in your final revision booklet.

Explain why President Nixon extended the war into Cambodia in 1970. (12 marks) Argument: Range of reasons, both long and short term factors, main reason being Nixon thought it would give him more time to Vietnamise the war.

Paragraph 1: The plan of giving military control back to the South Vietnamese ‘Vietnamisation’ had begun, and American ground troops had been withdrawn in order to fulfil the campaign rhetoric of ‘peace with honour’.

• Due to lack of public support for the war Nixon had begun to draw US troops out of Vietnam, and give more power over to the South Vietnamese.

• The invasion into Cambodia was mainly by South Vietnamese ground troops, but with US air support.

• This showed whether Vietnam could/could not handle operations without US support.

Paragraph 2: Public support for the Vietnam War was dwindling meaning that Nixon had to do something to boost confidence back on the home front.

• Had to be shown to be doing something drastic, to gain more support for the war Nixon had to show it was necessary for US to be there.

• Home front objected to bombings – invasion of Cambodia would allow him to take action without the objections seen before.

• Cambodia was mainly done by South Vietnamese, lowering the damages that could be done to US, increasing support as it was seemingly going to only be South Vietnamese losses

Explain why President Nixon extended the war into Cambodia in 1970. (12 marks) Paragraph 3: Attempted to force North Vietnam into negotiating as Nixon believed that with military offenses taking place North Vietnam would have no choice but to ask for peace • Would show that US were still a key part of the war • Put military pressure on the North Vietnamese so that when negotiations took place the North would be in a weakened position (hopefully) • Attempted to show the North that US would always support countries that supported them (Cambodia had a pro US government that was being threatened by a Communist opposition) Conclusion: Main reason was to try and buy more time to get Vietnamisation up and running, but also to try and win back public support and also force the North Vietnamese into negotiating.

Reflection • Reflect on your essay – What do you need to include next time?

• Interstate troopers facing off Kent State massacre demonstrators

Activation • L/O – Today you will; Summarise the legacy of Richard Nixon • Begin to find arguments on either side of the key debate; did Nixon win an “honourable” peace?

• Was it the USA that prevented a final end of the conflict being reached until 1975?

• Why are you learning this? To respond the following 24 mark question; ‘Although the peace negotiations began in 1971, it was the USA that prevented a final end to the conflict being reached until 1975.’

Explain why you agree or disagree with this view. (24 marks)

Recall • What was the Nixon doctrine?

• Why was it announced?

Review • So, let us quickly review where we are…..

What’s the message/relevance of this cartoon?

1 min

30 seconds left

Go!

Time’s up!

‘Peace with Honour’?

US Optimism • In the start of 1968 the US were optimistic about winning the war in Vietnam • Over ½ Million troops in Vietnam • ARVN seemed to be in control of the cities • The countryside quiet over 100,000 Vietcong had been killed in 1967 • North Vietnam was experiencing blanket bombing

The Tet Offensive • 31st January 1968 • The day of the Vietnamese (Tet) New Year celebrations, the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) launched attacks throughout South Vietnam.

• Cities and US military bases were targeted in a carefully coordinated plan.

• It was a new tactic as it was a direct attack on a stronger enemy • The communists thought that the Tet Offensive could end the war as they believed the South Vietnamese would support them and over throw the government

The Tet Offensive Successes

Failures

• Took USA and ARVN by surprise • Support in Saigon from the people • Communists took the US Embassy and didn’t happen Radio Stations • 30,000 Vietcong were killed, never • Over 100 places were attacked recovered losses • North agreed to Peace talks • US and ARVN repelled the attack in 48 hours

Peace talks • In November 1968 Republican Richard Nixon was elected as the new American President. His victory was a result of his promise to end the Vietnam War • Peace talks between North Vietnam and the US lasted 5 years • Despite the peace talks the US continued to keep pressure on the N.Vietnam by continuing the war and the bombings

Vietnamisation?

Invasion of Laos & Cambodia • North Vietnam continued to use the Ho Chi Minh trail through Cambodia and Laos • In 1970, Nixon ordered an invasion of Cambodia with the ‘limited’ objective of destroying the trail • This extension of the war was unpopular in the USA. It was one of the reasons for the Kent State University Protests.

• It also failed to close the supply route

Withdrawal • Bombing raids in North Vietnam continued, aimed at keeping pressure on North Vietnam at a time when US troops were being withdrawn.

• By 1970 only 150,000 US troops remained from a previous total force of over half a million. Those who remained were less than enthusiastic about the war and morale was low

• “1971 saw a series of stories revealing the massive heroin problem, the staggering desertion rate and the number of combat refusals among US troops. GI’s were photographed

carrying peace symbols or smoking pot from a gun barrel

”

Further Bombing Campaigns • In 1972 the NVA, who had now recovered from their losses in the Tet Offensive, took advantage of the reduced number of US troops by launching an invasion of South Vietnam. The only way America could fight back was by massive use of air power • April 1971: Nixon orders Operation Linebacker, a massive air attack by B52 bombers on strategic targets in N.Vietnam such as roads, railways and ports • 1972: bombing continues as unsuccessful peach talks drag on in Paris • Christmas 1972: Over 200,000 bombs dropped on the major cities of North Vietnam in 11 days

Madman theory • The madman theory was used to put pressure, N.Vietnam to return to peace talks.

• The idea was: • Let it be known that Nixon was mentally unstable and if the war continued he would use Nuclear Weapons

• The bombing campaigns aimed to show the North Vietnamese that America would not abandon South Vietnam. Eventually they succeeded in January 1973 peace talks restarted in Paris • Talks were done by Henry Kissinger, President Nixon’s National Security adviser, and Le Duc Tho, the North Vietnamese governments lead negotiator at the talks

Vietnamisation • Process of handing over of services and power from the US to the AVRN • From 1969 Nixon ordered a gradual withdrawal of troops, that would be replaced by the AVRN, that had been trained

by US forces • This decision was unpopular with US commanders who still thought that they could win the war.

• It is also likely the Nixon knew that Vietnamisation would not end the war by bringing victory to South Vietnam and that defeat fro the USA was the likely outcome.

• However it would mean that US losses were reduced.

Vietnamisation • At first the policy of Vietnamisation seemed to be working.

There was little communist activity from 1968 to 1972.

• However the reason for this was that the Vietcong was recovering from the setback of the Tet Offensive.

• The calm ended in 1972 when the NVA armed with Soviet tanks, invaded the South.

• The advance was held up largely as a result if the increased bombing attacks on North Vietnam throughout 1972 • Both sides began to realise that the war could not be won outright. This opened the way for peace talks.

• In Jan 1973 a ceasefire and peace agreement was reached, signed by USA and North Vietnam

Paris Peace Conference • US armed forces were to withdraw completely from Vietnam • US prisoners of war were to be released by North Vietnam • North Vietnam recognised the government of South Vietnam, but the NAV could remain in areas of South Vietnam that they controlled at the time of the ceasefire • Elections would be held in the future to decide if Vietnam could again be united • Le Duc Tho probably achieved more for North Vietnam than Henry Kissinger did for the USA

After Withdrawal • The ceasefire gave time for NVA to re arm and prepare for another assault • By April 1973, all US troops had left Vietnam. Only a small number of advisers remained.

• In return, North Vietnam released 600 prisoners of war – though the USA claimed that there were far more than this.

• In 1974, fighting between North and South restarted. No US military help was given to South Vietnam. Congress passed laws to prevent the bombings by the US of targets in Vietnam and Cambodia. The amount of financial support was also limited. North Vietnam was to take advantage of this almost complete US withdrawal

Fall of Saigon 1975 • North Vietnam continued the offensive into South Vietnam in 1975 • A three pronged attack through Laos and Cambodia, this divided the ARVN forces.

• Major cities fell to the communists.

• South Vietnamese troops deserted in droves. Refugees from the north began to flee southwards towards Saigon and to what they thought was safety • Saigon was not long in falling to the Communists. By the end of April 1975, they were in control of the capital • Many citizens of Saigon stayed to greet the conquerors.

Other tried to escape as best they could – by road or by sea

Fall of Saigon 1975 • As for the remaining US officials, they were airlifted by helicopter from the roof of the US embassy to awaiting warships • In this dramatic way the US presence in Vietnam came to an end

Now we have done an overview, time to evaluate the role of Nixon.

Read; • Fighting while negotiating • Nixon’s withdrawal from Vietnam Use three colours Things you have learnt that are interesting Arguments suggesting Nixon was successful Arguments suggesting Nixon was a failure Record these in a list in your book with the appropriate headings….

Discuss your findings…

Review…..

• See Next Slide.

Why did Nixon make peace?

How Nixon Made Peace

Evidence of Nixon’s Methods ‘Vietnamisation’ / Escalation / Diplomacy – Paris Peace Talks with North Vietnam Operation Menu March 1969 Cambodia & Laos

Accelerated Pacification Campaign Destroy COSVN

Operation Duck Hook Nov 1969

China & Moscow Summits 1972

CORDS

Exploiting Sino-Soviet Split Linkage

Operation Lam Son 719 Phoenix Programme

Operation Linebacker 1 & 2 May & Dec 1972

Madman Theory

Support ARVN

Nixon Doctrine June 1969

Although the peace negotiations began in 1971, it was the USA that prevented a final end to the conflict being reached until 1975.’

Explain why you agree or disagree with this view. (24 marks) Demonstration TIme •

Argument: Even though America did try to push for peace, and many parties were involved in the Paris Peace Accords, America was mainly responsible for the delay as Nixon prevented the agreement being signed in 1972 and America continued the bombing campaigns, however the North Vietnamese were responsible as well as they refused to acknowledge Thieu as important in the agreements.

Paragraph 1: Nixon refused to sign in 1972 in order to get a stronger political position in time for elections • Elections were due to occur; strong argument for him to stay if peace negotiations were still being held as they had started to take place under Nixon.

• Thought it would look too convenient if he managed to have peace just before an election.

• Deliberately pulled out of the deal as he wanted to make sure he was re-elected Paragraph 2: America continued to bomb the North Vietnamese and use military offenses to try and intimidate the North • America’s tactic to try and get North Vietnam to negotiate from a weakened position was to show North Vietnam how powerful America was • North Vietnam refused to negotiate while the bombing campaigns were going on as they thought it showed an offensive, rather then encouraged peace talks.

• Operation Linebacker (1 & 2) both bombed heavily in North Vietnam, and aimed at destroying supplies for the PAVN, showing that America was still fighting the war, not trying to halt the war.

• Also offered a lot of support to the South although they were meant to be handing over control; allowed the South to have a stronger opposing force to the North and delay negotiations further •

Although the peace negotiations began in 1971, it was the USA that prevented a final end to the conflict being reached until 1975.’

Explain why you agree or disagree with this view. - 24 marks Paragraph 3: North Vietnam refused to co-operate with the Peace Accords as long as Thieu was in power • North Vietnam refused to acknowledge that Thieu was involved much in the peace agreements as they felt like they were fighting America more then South Vietnam • Meant that as Thieu was still in power throughout the discussions not a lot of progress was made • Thieu took out his anger about this by broadcasting on the radio, meaning that lots of people knew about the prejudice South Vietnam was getting • Peace agreements had to be postponed until Thieu was present as well.

Paragraph 4: HOWEVER America did try to push for peace • Nixon attended summits with China and Russia in order to try and get them to put pressure on North Vietnam to come to peace negotiations • USA started pushing for peace, and compromised a lot of their demands in the final peace accords (e.g. all US troops had to be out of Vietnam within 60 days, prisoners of war would be returned, troops could stay in their positions as long as they did not push forward) showing that they wanted peace to happen Conclusion: Despite the fact that America was a key part with starting the Paris Peace Accords, and other factors also stopped the negotiations, America was also the main reason that the delay in the agreement was made as it deliberately withdrew from the agreement to allow Nixon to be in a better place for the presidential elections, continued to use tactics that had not intimidated the North before to try and intimidate them to negotiate.

Homework • Complete your 24 Mark Essay – You NEED a good grade on this. Do not forget to find your own evidence to support your account.

• Read the timelines to ensure you understand the key events 1973-1975 • Read the “Veterans Perspective” • Come back next week for your final revision booklet WITH your 24 mark essay.