1. NIXON’S WAR

2. Richard Nixon

3. Nixon’s aim for the Vietnam War was to achieve “Peace with Honour.”
His foreign policy advisor was Henry Kissinger

4. Initial moves
Bombed the bejeezus out of the Ho Chi Minh trail in an attempt to cut off troops and supplies.
In June 1969 announced the policy of ‘Vietnamisation:’ the gradual withdrawal of US troops and more intensive training of the ARVN.
Replaced Westmoreland with General Creighton Abrahms who emphasised the ‘pacification’ of Vietnamese villages with the view to gaining the ‘hearts and minds’ of the South Vietnamese.

5. My Lai
OCTOBER 1969 REVEALED TO THE US PUBLIC

6. MY LAI: happened march 1968, revealed 1969, trial 1971
Charlie Company dropped into an area suspected of being under the control of VC.
504 unarmed women, children, infants and old men were killed.
a military investigation found no evidence of VC activity.
My Lai added fuel to the anti-war movement.

7. The trial Lieutenant William Calley was found guilty of 22 villagers.
He was sentenced to life imprisonment. This was reduced to 10 years. He was pardoned by Nixon in He served 1 year home detention.
“I look at communism the way a Southerner looks at a Negro.”

8. Resistance
GI Herbert Carter shot himself in the foot to avoid taking part in the massacre.
Helicopter pilot Ronald Haeberie took photos which were later submitted as evidence.
Pilot Hugh Thompson put his chopper down between a group of GIs and the villagers fleeing. He ordered his men to fire on the GIs if they interfered.

9. things get worse Peace talks failed again.
1970: Operation Fish hook saw a failed invasion of Cambodia. Stirred up civil war.
May 1970: 4 students at Kent State Uni and 2 at Jackson State Uni were shot by National Guardsmen while protesting.

11. And worse… 1971: ARVN invaded Laos, failed.
Nixon started talks with China (which did not impress North Vietnam).
North Vietnam invaded the South in response. US bombed North Vietnam.

12. Ceasefire 1973 Peace talks again. Went very slowly.
Nixon got impatient and bombed North Vietnam again.
Ceasefire signed 27 Jan 1973.
congress ceased funding any military activity in Vietnam.
War Powers Act removed military control from the President.
Saigon fell to the NVA 29 April 1975.

14. Profile of nixon Where was he from? Political background?
Beliefs on communism?
Beliefs on the Vietnam War?
Watergate.