Images of The Vietnam War

Images of The Vietnam War1954-1975

Ho Chi Minh

Influences of China and U.S.

Limited Aid to Full Commitment

President Lyndon Johnson said:I am not going to lose Vietnam.

c. November 23, 1963We are not about to send American boys nine or ten thousand miles away from home to do what Asian boys ought to be doing for themselves.

1964 Campaign for PresidentGulf of Tonkin

American Boys Drafted

Americans bombarded by News

VC Looking for Charlie

WestmorelandNapalm

POWs in Hanoi/ Famous POW

Tet Offensive--1968

Shift of American Public Opinion

HawksDoves

More Dissent

Election of 1968

Election of 1968

Vietnamization

Escalation of War/Paris Peace Talks

Troops returned in 1973

War Powers Act--1973Congress must be notified of any military action taken by a President within 48 hours of deployment of troops

Troops can not remain in action after sixty days without Congressional approval or declaration of war by Congress

Most Presidents consider this unconstitutional and law has not been enforced by Congress in every situationThe Fall of SaigonApril, 1975

Vietnam War Memorial

Roy Benavidez of TexasAwarded Medal of Honor for saving fellow soldiers in The Vietnam War

Received medal from President Reagan in 1981

Vietnam WarSilent Majorityterm used to describe the majority of American public who supported the war and the policies of NixonCredibility Gapterm used by politicians and the press who wanted straight answers from President Johnson about the war but knew the administration was not being completely truthful