1. What made 1968 a Year the changed America?

2. I. TV War - Tet
Combat footage on nightly TV news shows stark picture of war
Credibility Gap: Tet Offensive – VC take key positions in Saigon, including the US Embassy. Westmorland and LBJ had been telling the country the US was winning- that’s not the image Americans saw on TV.

3. Walter Cronkite’s Bombshell
CBS News Anchorman Walter Cronkite goes to Vietnam – Reports that the war is unwinnable; “Honorable Peace”
Known as the “most trusted man in America.”

4. II. 1968 Presidential Election
The Democrats
Eugene McCarthy – Dove Candidate; no chance
RFK – Dove that could actually win - Assassinated
Dems are left with Hubert Humphrey (LBJ’s VP)
- Doves: Blood on his hands; Youth does not Vote
- George Wallace – (Dixiecrat) runs as an Independent; splits the Party

5. III. Assassinations MLK/RFK
Shortly after midnight on June 5, 1968,  Robert Kennedy was shot by Sirhan Sirhan
James Earl Ray shot King on April 4th, 1968

6. 1968: Year of Rage Columbia University: student protest.
Chicago Democratic Convention: Anti-war demonstrations. Clashed with police all around the convention center
Democrats could not unite themselves, let alone the country.

7. II. The Election of 1968 (cont.)
The Republican
Richard Nixon – veteran politician; cold warrior; promises to unite the country
“Law and Order” candidate; Anti-Warren Court; Silent Majority
Wins with 43.2% of popular vote (plurality)

8. 1968 Presidential Election – A Critical Election: The Era of Divided Government

9. The Nation Divides Who is fighting?
80% from lower economic levels - DRAFT
Hawks & Doves
Hawks: more force to win the war – stop Com
Doves: US should withdraw
Students for a Democratic Society
Tom Hayden – teach-ins
Demonstrations – burn draft cards
New Left – liberals who want to
reform society. . . Election of 1968???

10. 1968 Conclusions: A Year that Changed America?
War in Vietnam – Tet Offensive
The Election of 1968
Assassinations – MLK/RFK

11. 1960’s Counter Culture