Chapter 22 section 4 (pages 748-753) 1968: A Tumultuous Year Chapter 22 section 4 (pages 748-753)

1. The TET OFFENSIVE – a month long surprise attack on S 1. The TET OFFENSIVE – a month long surprise attack on S. Vietnam launched from within by the Vietcong; started on “Tet” (Vietnamese New Year). CAUSES Vietcong were looking for a significant victory & used the declared truce of the new year & the cover of funeral processions to execute the massive attack. Coffins thought to be carrying dead bodies were actually carrying weapons which the Vietcong used to attack 100’s of S. Vietnamese towns & even the American Embassy – killing 5 embassy officials. EFFECTS Although Gen. Westmoreland (US Commander in S. Viet.) claimed an American victory – the Tet dragged on for 3 months. The Vietcong lost 32,000 to the US’s 3,000 but this worsened the credibility gap & changed public opinion by making many who had supported the war now doubt it; mainstream media openly criticized the war after Tet; even high level gov. officials were voicing concern and discontent with the war in Vietnam. *Tet was a good example of how guerrilla warfare defies conventional military logic. Tet Offensive Cronkite remembers **See LBJ quote p. 750

LBJ & the Presidential Primary CAUSES Divisions within the Democrat party over the Vietnam War led them to seek a candidate to challenge the incumbent LBJ; Robert Kennedy refused to run; Eugene McCarthy agreed to & almost defeated LBJ spurring Robert Kennedy to reconsider & enter the race. EFFECTS After narrowly defeating a virtual unknown LBJ announced a major change in his Vietnam Policy (the US would negotiate to end the war) & then shocks the nation further by withdrawing from the Presidential race. LBJ Speech Assassination of MLK on 4-4-68 shocked the nation & escalated the violence.

Assassination of Robert Kennedy RFK story CAUSES In June 1968 during a victory speech after a campaign win in California RFK was assassinated. He had changed from Hawk to Dove on Vietnam & was vocal about his support of Israel… EFFECTS Sirhan Sirhan – the young Palestinian immigrant shot RFK & later said he did that out of anger for Kennedy’s support if Israel. As with the JFK & MLK assassinations there was controversy over whether he had acted alone. There was no question that this death left the nation shocked, confused, frightened & many felt without hope as the violent protests continued.

Democratic National Convention & Disorderly conduct… CAUSES The chaos & violence that had been building all year peaked with the Democratic National Convention in August 1968 when thousands of antiwar demonstrators ascended on the Chicago convention site leading to a bloody riot with the police. EFFECTS This event fractured the Democratic Party & helped return the Presidency to the Republicans. HUBERT HUMPHREY received the Democratic nomination for President despite the violent protests.

Nixon’s Presidential Victory CAUSES In August 1968 the Democratic nominating convention in Chicago became a flash point for anti-war protests & violence & for disunity within the Democratic party. Hubert Humphrey emerged with the nomination – but despite having many supporters (including LBJ) many did not support him. The televised convention turned into an ugly shouting match that did not paint the Democratic party in a flattering light. Outside the convention anti-war protests were even more chaotic & violent – leaving the public with a disturbing image of the Democratic party in general. EFFECTS Republicans turned the turmoil of the Democratic party/convention to their favor. Their Presidential candidate, Richard M. Nixon, lost to JFK in 1960 & ran this time on the promise to restore law & order to the nation & to the political scene. He promised (vaguely) to end the war in Vietnam. His win was secured by the presence of a third party candidate – George Wallace (independent ticket) who pulled enough Democratic votes away from Humphrey to assure the win for Nixon. So Nixon became the nation’s 37 President and inherited the difficult and divisive Vietnam War as a major agenda item.