Vietnam
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A.P. U.S. History Mr. Krueger VIETNAM AND THE COLD WAR ESCALATION FILLING IN THE GAPS… Flexible Response Berlin Wall Containment in S.E. Asia Bay of Pigs Cuban Missile Crisis War on Poverty Great Society Medicare Voting Rights Act 1965 IKE WAGES THE COLD WAR Well prepared to lead during the Cold War Main goal – bring the Cold War under control Spending was a big concern – Truman increased defense spending from $18 billion to $50 billion 1954 – rather than limited wars (Korea) retaliation policy created by John Foster Dulles (Sec. of State) – use nuclear weapons Worst crisis came in the ME – Egyptian leader Gamal Nassar seized the Suez Canal Military service Gifted politician Intelligent Britain and France threatened intervention – Ike opposed this because Nassar kept the canal running. Britain and France seized the canal –Ike went to the UN to get them to withdraw. U.S. replaced Britain and France as the main western influence in the ME. Also involved in Beirut, Lebanon, Iran, and Latin America Ike utilized the CIA and government cover-ups Ike versus Khrushchev Nuclear question? Long Range Missiles. Geneva Summit 1955 Did not work with each other – Khrushchev – “We will bury you.” JFK INTENSIFIES THE COLD WAR Wanted to succeed where Ike failed, wanted victory in the Cold War Foreign Policy was top priority from day one Tough Inner Circle – New Frontiersmen McGeorge Bundy (Dean of Harvard) – Nat. Security Advisor Walt W. Rostow – Bundy’s Deputy Robert McNamara – Sec. of Defense The best and brightest – all hardliners Focus Berlin Crisis Developing Civil War in Vietnam Fidel Castro as an ally to the Soviets Flexible Response – increase in military Berlin Crisis – battle of wills with Khrushchev over the state of W. Berlin. Stalemate resulted in the construction of the Berlin Wall Containment Policy – financial and technical assistance to third world countries. Ex. – Peace Corps, Alliance for Progress Contain Castro and the spread of communism in Cuba Ike trained Cuban Resistance to overthrow Castro. JFK continued the plan. Landed 1400 resistance fighters in Cuba – Bay of Pigs Invasion – Castro crushes them. JFK took responsibility Continued to block communist and Soviet expansion in the W. Hemisphere CUBAN MISSILE CRISIS October 1962 – Soviets built up missiles in Cuba – Khrushchev denied offensive intent 24 medium ranged(1000 mile) missiles and 18 intermediate ranged(2000 mile) missiles built secretly JFK gave stern warnings and then sought a showdown Quarantined Cuba and threatened a nuclear attack For 6 days the situation intensified 16 soviet ships continued to sail to Cuba – U.S. Navy sent to intercept 250,000 men assembled in Florida – ready to invade First break came when Soviet ships halted to avoid a confrontation RFK met with Soviet Ambassador Anatoly Dobrynin to avert nuclear war Rusk “We are eyeball to eyeball, and I think someone blinked.” Khrushchev compromised – removal of missiles if no invasion of Cuba and the removal of missile silos in Turkey. JFK accepted the 1st part, ignored the 2nd. JFK would work with the UN to remove missiles from Cuba and Turkey – Khrushchev agrees This was JFK’s greatest triumph, but it escalated the Cold War. His popularity skyrockets. U.S. and Soviets agree to stop testing Nuclear Weapons U.S. gains nuclear superiority, but Soviets pass U.S. in ICBMs LBJ ESCALATES THE VIETNAM WAR Stressed continuing foreign and domestic policy Moved to contain communism in the Western Hemisphere Offered aid to Brazil when a military junta overthrew a leftist regime Forceful in Panama with anti-American protesters Sent 20,000 troops to the Dominican Republic to block a Castro type government. Justified this by saying American Tourists were in danger. These actions alienated critics within the Senate Relied on JFK’s advisors Had a background in national security affairs Vowed not to lose Vietnam – was not going to be the president connected to the fall of S.E. Asia Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman, J.W. Fullbright published “The Arrogance of Power” – an attack on the failings of Containment The more LBJ struggled to uphold the Cold War policies he inherited from JFK, the more he was attacked by Congress, the media, and universities VIETNAM CIVIL WAR U.S. decides to back Ngo Dinh Diem – 1956 – this prevents elections throughout Vietnam 1961 – JFK send advisors to Vietnam Diem sought to establish a separate government in South with U.S. economic and military aid The communist government in the North – led by Ho Chi Minh – was directing the efforts of S. Vietnam rebels (Vietcong) Walt Rostow and Mat Taylor return and support the sending of 8,000 troops. They underestimated the enemy. JFK opposed sending troops, but did send aid to Diem American advisors sent to Vietnam 1961 – less than 1,000. 1963 – 16,000 plus Flow of supplies and the creation of a secret hamlet fortified villages against the Vietcong American Helicopters gave the government forces strength against the Vietcong (1st time) 1963 – Diem failed to gain the support of his people Buddhists set themselves on fire in protest His generals plotted against him VIETNAM DILEMMA Realized it was Vietnam’s war, but did not want to loose SE Asia LBJ had little choice but to continue JFK’s policies in Vietnam 1964 – 7 governments ruled S. Vietnam The government changed control 3 times in 1 month LBJ resisted direct military involvement Withdrawal would be a mistake JFK did approval a coup that led to the overthrow and assassination of Diem. The result was further U.S. involvement. Sent more advisors and $50 million in aid Expanded U.S. support with covert ops and amphibious raids to the north Undercover activities led to the Gulf of Tonkin Affair Aug. 2, 1964 – North Vietnam torpedo boats attacked the U.S. Destroyer Maddox It was prompted by the belief American ships were involved in a S. Vietnamese raid The Maddox escaped, but the U.S. sent another destroyer – the C. Turner Joy – Both destroyers launched an attack. LBJ called in air strikes. Petitioned Congress t grant him power to repel armed attacks. LBJ’S DOWNFALL Gulf of Tonkin demonstrated that the U.S. would defend S. Vietnam LBJ’s actions helped to raise popularity Congress strongly supported his actions LBJ’s actions would be costly in the future – would continue to use force, and unlimited intervention. This was the start of LBJ’s downfall ESCALATION U.S. Full scale involvement began in 1965 Sec. of Def. McNamara recommended sending 100,000 troops to Vietnam LBJ advisors urged increased bombing in the North Target was Hanoi’s economy and supply lines LBJ authorized combat troops in S. Vietnam for defense purposes – protecting U.S. air bases An additional 100,000 would be needed in 1966 He predicted battle deaths to be 500 per month In 1968 – deaths reached 500 per week Under Sec. of State – George Ball sought political settlement – he feared Vietnam would humiliate the U.S. like it did France He felt an army of westerners would never succeed in an Asian jungle LBJ’S SOLUTION LBJ’s solution was steady military escalation designed to compel Hanoi to accept diplomatic solutions LBJ’s thoughts Approved an immediate dispatch of 50,000 troops and 50,000 for the future The U.S. now employed an open ended commitment to send troops as needed War declaration? Withdrawal would damage U.S. credibility in the world Invasion of the north would bring WWIII LBJ opted for large scale, but limited, military intervention A pullout would bring major political backlash from conservatives stating he turned S. Vietnam to Communism All out war would end social programs LBJ’S FAULTS LBJ was not completely responsible for Vietnam He inherited a policy that assumed Vietnam was vital to national interest and a deteriorating situation in Saigon LBJ’s sins in Vietnam – Failure to confront the American people with the Vietnam situation Use of secrecy and deceit His lack of self confidence in foreign policy and fear of domestic reaction led to his undoing STALEMATE For three years Americans waged war, and only prevented a Communist victory Vietnam only had a few industrial targets, and we refused to bomb key port of Haiphong This allowed Soviet and Chinese arms into Vietnam American planes bombed the Ho Chi Minh Trail which ran through Laos and Cambodia – the jungle was used to hide shipments When air attacks killed civilians – the Vietnamese used propaganda techniques to sway world feelings WAR IN THE SOUTH American ground forces increased: 1968 – Vietcong controlled the countryside General William Westmoreland’s search and destroy tactics weren’t successful Vietcong and N. Vietnamese used ambush tactics Westmoreland’s devastating approach destroyed the countryside and killed innocent civilians One example of civilian slaughter took place at My Lai 1960 – 184,000 1968 – more than 500,000 An American Company led by Lieutenant William Calley killed over 200 unarmed villagers Westmoreland’s plan was to wage a war of attrition that would reach a crossover point Goal: Communist losses are more than Communist recruits Westmoreland paid a heavy price in American lives TET OFFENSIVE Vietnamese implemented a border strategy designed to lure American troops into the Central Highlands bordering Cambodia and Laos The main attack was against the maries at the Khe Sahn More than 40% of U.S. infantry were drawn into the northernmost province in SV The VC used Tet (Lunar New Year) to launch a surprise attack in heavily populated cities Jan. 30, 1968 – the VC struck 36 of 40 provinces – the most daring raid was at the U.S. embassy in Saigon Quick response by American and S. Vietnamese forces repulsed the Tet Offensive with the exception of Hue, the old imperial capital Tet proved to be the turning point of the war – communists took heavy losses, but scored a political victory LBJ stated the war was almost over, now it was almost lost CBS reporter Walter Cronkite took a trip to Saigon – he was horrified and stated Vietnam had become a stalemate STALEMATE AND LBJ LBJ realized the situation when his Joint Chief of Staff asked for 205,000 more men, so he began to listen to his new Sec. of Defense – Clark Clifford Clifford and Cold War experienced men – Dean Acheson and Omar Bradley – promoted an end to the bombing and a start of peace negotiations with Hanoi LBJ chose not to seek re-election VIETNAM: A RETROSPECTIVE Ike’s commitment to Diem regime in Saigon led to an American military involvement on mass scale Americans became disillusioned with the war that cost LBJ the presidency The policy of containment worked in Europe, but failed in the SE Asia The U.S. ended up backing corrupt regimes in Saigon, and the Vietcong won the support of the Vietnamese people The Vietnam War revealed the need for a thorough reexamination of the basic premises of American foreign policy and the Cold War
