Who is president after JFK is assassinated in 1963?

Lyndon B. Johnson

*Military build-up in Vietnamintensified to 500,000 by 1967

What is the objective in Vietnam?

CONTAINMENT:

Problem?U.S. sponsoredgov’t not popular in democraticSouth

VII. Cold War: Lyndon Baines Johnson (LBJ)

Vietcong within civilian population(friend or foe???)

Tunnels allow Vietcong to disappear

Traps and land mines

Vietcong supported by Soviets and China, andready to pay any price for victory- independence

How is fighting technique of Vietcong similarto Patriots during the American Revolution??

Challenges U.S. soldiers face in Vietnam?

“Search and Destroy” missions:

“Body Count-”(tracking Vietcong killed as progress)

Problem(s) :

U.S. wins in field, but cannot force defeat

U.S. soldiers kill civilians in search forVietcong- Unclear number of enemies?

Napalm- gasoline based bombs

Agent Orange- defoliate jungles

U.S. approach in Vietnam?

Americans Protest War:

Dodging draft

America views Vietnam as Civil War- question morality of combattechniques **College Campuses

Turning Point: Tet Offensive- January 30, 1968 Vietcong launch series of surprise attacks in South Vietnam during new year festivities (TET)

U.S. takes back cities, kill 32,000 Vietcong….but Tet proves thatenemy is not prepared to surrender. “Quagmire”

What is happeningin this picture?

1968, 60% of Americansdisapprove of LBJ’shandling of Vietnam

LBJ announces hewill not seek anotherterm as president.

Richard Nixon promises an “honorable end” to Vietnam

How??? Vietnamization- withdrawing American troops whilemaintaining military aid to South Vietnam.

Détente- policy of easing Cold War tensions1972, Nixon visits China (takes advantageof rift between Soviets and Chinese)

VII. Cold War: Richard Nixon

1974Nixon resigns after Watergate Scandal-covering up burglary of DemocraticNational Committee headquarters

VIII. Cold War: Gerald Ford

“My fellow Americans, our long national nightmare is over.Our Constitution works; our great Republic is a government of laws and not of men. Here the people rule.”

“Vietnamization” fails (1975)- South Vietnam surrenders toNorth Vietnam. Communists unite Vietnam as one country,Saigon is renamed Ho Chi Minh city.

Americans and Vietnamese flee as Saigon falls

American Veterans return to face hostility from those who opposed Vietnam

15% soldiers who served continued to suffer post-traumatic stress- nightmares, headaches, memory lapses

American Soldiers Return Home

Vietnam Aftermath:Lessons to Remember

People todayquestion if U.S. learned the lessonsof Vietnam(Vietnam Syndrome)

1982 Vietnam vets honored for service58,000 names on “the Wall”in D.C.

Designed by 21 yr old Maya Ying Lin

1995 U.S. extends full diplomaticRelations to Vietnam

“Let this moment be a time to heal and a time to build.” Clinton

Douglas Petersonnamed ambassador(former POW for6 years in Hanoi prison)

VIII. Cold War Ends: New Leadership

Mikhail Gorbachev (1985)

Internal Problems:

-Increased military expense

-Rise of nationalism

-Fast paced reform (market economy)

-Economic inefficiency

Ronald Reagan:

Puts pressure on Gorbachev to supportdemocracy

Gorbachev Plan--

Glosnost- “openness”

Perestroika- restructuring of Soviet society. Less government control of economy, steps to democratic government.

June 1987,

“Mr. Gorbachev tear down this Wall” Ronald Reagan

(1989) --- (1990) --- (1991)Berlin Wall Free elections in 14 Soviet Republics is torn down East Berlin declare independence

**Soviet Union collapses

End of Cold War: Timeline

(1992)

President George Bush and Russian president Boris Yeltsinissue formal statement declaring end to Cold War.

Who “won” the Cold War?

Vladimir Putin and George Bush, Jr.