1. 1968: The Pivotal Year

2. The Tet Offensive
Jan. 30, 1968 Vietcong and N. Vietnamese launched surprise attack during Tet New Year.
There was an agreed upon 2 day cease-fire for both sides so the Vietnamese could celebrate the Tet New Year
Vietminh and Vietcong launched attack on 1st day of Tet
Vietcong attacked major cities and towns and all American airbases in South Vietnam and major cities

3. The Tet Offensive
More than 80,000 communists attacked towns and cities in S. Vietnam
In Saigon, South Vietnamese capital, the Viet Cong attacked the American embassy
Fierce fighting in Saigon continued for several weeks

4. Communist Brutality
Communists slaughtered anyone labeled an enemy, including minor officials, teachers, and doctors
Hue, South Vietnam—a massive grave of 3,000 to 5,000 civilian bodies found after Americans retook the city
American forces dislodged the Viet Cong from most positions they seized in South Vietnam

5. Turning point of the War?
Americans were shocked that the N. Vietnamese who were supposedly near defeat, could launch an attack
Gen. Westmoreland called for more troopssignal that we could not win the war
Tet Offensive shattered the credibility of the U.S. gov’t who claimed the enemy was virtually beaten
LBJ’s approval rating sunkannounced he would not run in 1968

6. Turning point of the war
Military disaster for Vietcong/N. Vietnam
Political success for Vietcong/N. Vietnam
Tet Offensive demonstrated that the Viet Cong was still strong
Anti-war protests increased
Lasted from January to September 1968

7. My Lai Massacre
Due to the stress of the war, some American soldiers committed atrocities
My Lai, a small village in South Vietnam, was thought to be hiding 250 Viet Cong
U.S. infantry moved to clear out the village in March 1968 for a “search and destroy” mission
U.S. soldiers found women, children, and old men
Lieutenant William L. Calley Jr ordered for all civilians to be rounded up and then executed

9. “We huddled them up. We made them squat down…I poured about four clips [about 68 shots] into the group…Well, we kept right on firing…I still dream about it…Some nights, I can’t event sleep. I just lay there thinking about it.” Private Paul Meadlo

10. My Lai (cont’d) About 400 Vietnamese died
An American helicopter crew landed the helicopter between the soldiers and Vietnamese to stop the killing
Hugh Thompson, the pilot, evacuated the remaining Vietnamese

12. Effects of My Lai
American people did not learn of My Lai until Nov (20 months later)
News of the My Lai incident broke and news of the Army cover-up enraged Americans
Lieutenant Calley was sentenced to life in prison, but had his term reduced to 20 years by President Nixon
Released on good behavior after three years
The helicopter crew received the Soldier’s Medal for bravery in 1998

13. Johnson Decides Not to Run
As a result of Tet, polls showed that 72% of Americans were against the war
LBJ rarely left the White House for fears of being assaulted by angry protestors
1968 Democrat Eugene McCarthy’s anti-war campaign gained momentum
McCarthy was going to challenge LBJ for the Democratic nomination for the Election of 1968
March 12—McCarthy almost beat LBJ in the New Hampshire primary
Robert Kennedy entered the race as an anti-war candidate

14. On March 31, 1968, President Johnson declared in a nationally televised speech that he would not run for another term
Robert Kennedy’s campaign on anti-war and pro-civil rights made him the front runner to be the Democratic candidate in 1968

15. Two Leaders Fall
Two Americans who spoke out against the war were killed in 1968
MLK Jr., who spoke out against the war on moral grounds and opposed blacks being drafted, was killed on April 4
Robert Kennedy was killed on June 5 after celebrating his victory in the California primary by a Jordanian immigrant, Sirhan Sirhan
The nation was shocked and mourned the death of MLK, Jr. and RFK

16. Violence at the Democratic Convention in Chicago
Thousands of protestors gathered for a rally near the convention hotel
Protests erupt after Democratic delegates refuse to pass an anti-war plank for the party’s platform
Police moved in with nightsticks to club anyone on the street
Much of the violence took place in front of cameras

18. Election of 1968
Hubert Humphrey, LBJ’s VP, was chosen as the Democratic candidate
Humphrey fully supported the Vietnam War and had publicly scorned peace activists as cowardly and un- American
Richard Nixon who promoted “peace with honor” in Vietnam defeated Humphrey by only about 500,000 votes