The Vietnam War 1954 - 1975

Vietnam Divides the Nation 66% of Americans supported war in 1965 As war dragged on public support dropped because Body counts on TV every night (first “living room” war) Creates Credibility Gap: Gov’t says we are winning, images on news show the opposite Unfair draft system

How is the draft unfair? College students could defer draft until graduation Working class men more likely to be drafted b/c they could not afford college Minorities more likely to be drafted b/c they were less likely to go to college Men begin protesting draft and burning draft cards

Fortunate Son https://youtu.be/40JmEj0_aVM

We can see the “light at the end of the tunnel.” The Ground War 1965-1968 General Westmoreland, late 1967: Helps create credibility gap We can see the “light at the end of the tunnel.”

The Tet Offensive, January 1968 N. Vietnamese Army + VietCong attack South simultaneously Take every major southern city Attack American Embassy in Saigon, SV U.S. + SV beat back the offensive N. Vietnamese army militarily defeated BUT…it’s seen as an American defeat by the media

Credibility Gap Reports from the U.S. Government Media reports on T.V. Credibility Gap Even though we won Tet militarily, it turns public opinion against war

Impact of the Tet Offensive Domestic U.S. Reaction: Disbelief, Anger, Distrust of Johnson Administration Hey, Hey LBJ! How many kids did you kill today?

Johnson’s popularity dropped in 1968 from 48% to 36%.

Impact of the Vietnam War on 1968 Election Johnson announces (March, 1968): …I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President.

Who will run for Election in 1968? Republicans: Richard M. Nixon Democrats: Robert Kennedy: Best hope Assassinated during campaign in 1968 Hubert Humphrey runs Nixon wins b/c he promises to end war

American Morale Begins to Dip Disproportionate representation of poor people and minorities in combat. Severe racial problems. Major drug problems.

1968 – Year that changes everything Lyndon Johnson does not run for re-election Robert Kennedy assassinated Riots at Democratic National Convention Nixon Elected President Martin Luther King Jr assassinated Tet offensive

Changes after Tet 26th Amendment Pentagon Papers Voting age 18 Old enough to serve, old enough to vote Pentagon Papers Secret Papers on war leaked to media Shows gov. had not been honest about war Gov’t loses more credibility