Nixon's Nixon's Challenges: Challenges: Vietnam and Vietnam and

China China

The Path of War The Path of War A 1969 memorandum from A 1969 memorandum from

Henry Kissinger to Nixon Henry Kissinger to Nixon indicates the firm resolve of indicates the firm resolve of the administration to stay on the administration to stay on the course they had originally the course they had originally set in Vietnam. set in Vietnam.

In the memo, Kissinger's In the memo, Kissinger's notes that despite growing notes that despite growing criticism, Hanoi must not see criticism, Hanoi must not see a wavering in US policy in a wavering in US policy in Vietnam. Vietnam.

Such sentiment set the stage Such sentiment set the stage for the impending waves of for the impending waves of protest which began spread protest which began spread throughout the US.throughout the US.

Interview Date: March 12-1, 1969What do you think the United States should do next in regard to the Vietnam situation? Escalate war, go all out 25%Pull Out, let South Vietnamese Take Over 21%Continue Present Policy; negotiate & stay as long as necessary

15%End the War as soon as possible 15%Other options (volunteered by respondent) 3%No Opinion 21% Interview Date: January 22-28, 1969In view of the developments since we entered the fighting in Vietnam, do you think the United States made a mistake sending troops to fight in Vietnam? Yes 52%No 39%No Opinion 9%

From Gallup Poll on From Gallup Poll on Vietnam (1969)Vietnam (1969)

MOBEMOBE The anti-war movement The anti-war movement

became particularly active became particularly active during the Nixon during the Nixon administration.administration.

The Vietnam Moratorium The Vietnam Moratorium Committee (known as the Committee (known as the Mobe) formed in 1969. Mobe) formed in 1969.

The organization called for a The organization called for a national day of protest to be national day of protest to be held on October 15th, 1969. held on October 15th, 1969.

In an effort to keep the cause In an effort to keep the cause alive, the Mobe also called for alive, the Mobe also called for continued days of protest on continued days of protest on the 15th of each month.the 15th of each month.

The Silent Majority The Silent Majority SpeechSpeech

Aware of the growing public Aware of the growing public discontent with the war in discontent with the war in Vietnam, Nixon addressed the Vietnam, Nixon addressed the nation. nation.

The “Silent Majority" speech The “Silent Majority" speech was delivered on November was delivered on November 3, 1969. 3, 1969.

The President attempted to The President attempted to bolster public support for his bolster public support for his policy of "Vietnamization". policy of "Vietnamization".

The speech was regarded The speech was regarded highly, yet skepticism highly, yet skepticism continued to grow.continued to grow.

From the Silent Majority From the Silent Majority Speech Speech

Let historians not record that when America was the most powerful nation in the world we … allowed the last hopes for peace and freedom of millions of people to be suffocated by the forces of totalitarianism. And so tonight -- to you, the great silent majority of my fellow Americans -- I ask for your support.

I pledged in my campaign for the presidency to end the war in a way that we could win the peace. … The more support I can have from the American people, the sooner that pledge can be redeemed; for the more divided we are at home, the less likely the enemy is to negotiate at Paris.

Let us be united for peace. Let us also be united against defeat. Because let us understand: North Vietnam cannot defeat or humiliate the United States. Only Americans can do that.

The My Lai MassacreThe My Lai Massacre

In March 1968 a massacre took place in the My Lai region at the In March 1968 a massacre took place in the My Lai region at the hands of an American military unit. hands of an American military unit.

This unit, angered by a Viet Cong attack that killed an American This unit, angered by a Viet Cong attack that killed an American soldier, attacked the village, raping and killing women and soldier, attacked the village, raping and killing women and children before burning it down. children before burning it down.

Many soldiers were horrified, particularly due to the fact that it Many soldiers were horrified, particularly due to the fact that it appeared to be sanctioned by the unit's command. appeared to be sanctioned by the unit's command.

Nixon's Historic Trip to Nixon's Historic Trip to China China

Repairing Cold War tensions was among the greatest challenges Repairing Cold War tensions was among the greatest challenges facing Nixon during his presidency. facing Nixon during his presidency.

Relations had been strained since the onset of the Cold War.Relations had been strained since the onset of the Cold War. The US upheld an economic embargo against China for over 20 The US upheld an economic embargo against China for over 20

years. years. In 1971 Nixon's lifted the embargo in an effort to begin repairing In 1971 Nixon's lifted the embargo in an effort to begin repairing

relations with China. relations with China. The Chinese invited him to visit.The Chinese invited him to visit.

Nixon’s Historic Trip to Nixon’s Historic Trip to ChinaChina

Nixon's visit to China was Nixon's visit to China was hailed as a monumental event. hailed as a monumental event.

The visit lasted just a week, yet The visit lasted just a week, yet had profound implications. had profound implications.

The meetings tended to be The meetings tended to be brief, yet discussions ranged brief, yet discussions ranged from China's relations with the from China's relations with the United States to the United United States to the United States' views on Taiwan.States' views on Taiwan.

The Shanghai Communiqué was The Shanghai Communiqué was a document released jointly by a document released jointly by the Chinese and the Americans the Chinese and the Americans outlining the success of Nixon's outlining the success of Nixon's visit to China. visit to China.

The countries pledge their The countries pledge their desire to work together desire to work together peacefully toward shared goals. peacefully toward shared goals.

Nixon meets with China’s Community Party Leader, Mao Tse-Tung

CitationsSlide 2: http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/images/40336000/jpg/_40336701_nixon_and_kissinger300.jpgSlide 3: http://faculty.smu.edu/dsimon/Ch-Viet4tab.htmlSlide 4: http://faculty.smu.edu/dsimon/Change-Viet4.html Slide 5: http://www.historicaldocuments.com/RichardNixon.jpgSlide 6: http://64.233.167.104/search?q=cache:Hry77JGiO50J:homepages.udayton.edu/~mcknigjr/103/text%2520pdf/1969%2520nixon%2520silent%2520majority%2520speech.pdf+nixon%27s+silent+majority+speech+site:.edu&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=5&gl=usSlide 7: http://www.wellesley.edu/Polisci/wj/Vietnam/Images/my-lai-pic-2-th.jpgSlide 8: http://www.archives.nysed.gov/projects/legacies/Syracuse/S_Chinese/questions/Syr_CH_Qu2.htmSlide 9: http://www.yoest.org/archives/Nixon_Mao_china_1972.jpgSlide 10: http://www.lib.iastate.edu/spcl/exhibits/timesachangin/images/VietnamNixonMap1.jpg