30.4 1968: A Tumultuous Year Lesson Objective: To understand the impact of the events of 1968 on American History

Quiz 12/10 What Vietnamese holiday did the NVA/VC pick to launch their major offensive in 1968? Who was the prominent CBS reporter that came out against the War after that offensive? Who was assassinated in LA after winning the Democratic party primary in California? Where was the Democratic convention in 1968? Who was elected President in 1968?

1968: Timeline January: The Tet Offensive March- LBJ declines to run for reelection April- MLK assassinated June- RFK assassinated August: Democratic National Convention riots in Chicago November: Nixon Elected President

The Tet Offensive January 30- Vietnamese New Year Surprise attack on nearly 100 towns and U.S./ARVN military bases Heavy Fighting Saigon- VC overrun U.S. Embassy- kill five Americans Hue City- former imperial capital Takes U.S./ARVN a month to regain control of South Vietnam Casualties U.S./ARVN- 3,000 VC- 32,000 Who really won?

VC/NVA ASSUALT ON SAIGON, TET OFFENSIVE, JAN., 1968

U.S. Marines, Hue City, January, 1968

Iconic Vietnam War photo

Effect of Tet on Public Opinion Before Tet 28%- Doves 56% Hawks After Tet 40% Doves 40% Hawks Media comes out against the war Walter Cronkite openly criticizes the war Clark Clifford (replaced McNamara as Secretary of Defense ) openly questions if war is winnable Feb- 1968 60% disapprove of LBJ’s handling of the war 50% Believe mistake for U.S. to enter war “If I’ve lost Walter, then its over.” -LBJ

WALTER CRONKITE, CBS NEWS, VIETNAM, 1968

WALTER CRONKITE, CBS NEWS If I’ve lost Walter, then its over. -LBJ

Moving Towards Election March- Televised address- No more U.S. Escalation Announces peace negotiations will begin Smaller role for U.S forces Reduced bombing of N. Vietnam ARVN will Carry more responsibility Not only major announcement LBJ barely wins New Ham spire primary to little known senator Eugene McCarthy (D- MN) LBJ Drops out of election- will not seek reelection

Democrats and the Election of 1968 After LBJ declines: Sen. Eugene McCarthy D-Min Sen. RFK D-NY VP Hubert Humphrey Where does each candidate draw their support? McCarthy – far left, young people, anti- war RFK- minorities, poor/ working class Humphrey remaining Dems, LBJ supporters RFK is assassinated in June 1968 Humphrey vs McCarthy go into Democratic national convention

1968 Democratic Candidates Eugene McCarthy RFK Hubert Humphrey

Chicago August 1968- Chicago is site for Dem National Convention New Left groups target Convention for massive protests Why? Mostly made up of S.D.S. and “Yippies” Mayor Daly of Chicago vows to keep order Violence between protesters and police Hubert Humphrey wins nomination- without running a campaign What effect is this going to have on the national race?

CHICAGO MAYOR RICHARD J. DALY

Abbie Hoffman- Yippie Organizer of Chicago Protests

1968 General Election Three way race Race focuses on three key issues: R- Richard M. Nixon D- Hubert Humphrey I- George Wallace Race focuses on three key issues: Vietnam Race relations Gov’t Credibility Results: Nixon 301 electoral votes Humphrey 191 electoral votes Wallace 46 Electoral votes Wallace takes working class white/Southern base from Dems; Nixon is able to win the election

RICHARD NIXON, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 1968 - 74