Vietnam: The End of the War and Its
Legacy – Section 22.5
Nixon Begins to Pull Out
• “We have to get rid of
the nightmares we
have inherited. One of
those nightmares is
war without end.”
– Richard Nixon
Vietnamization
• Nixon’s plan for withdrawal
was known as
“Vietnamization” – which
simply refers to a gradual
withdrawal of U.S. troops –
thus giving the South
Vietnamese the dominant
role in the war.
• In August 1969 the first
25,000 troops returned
home – and over the next
three years dropped from
more than 500,000 to less
than 25,000.
“Peace With Honor”
• Although Nixon made an
honest effort to pull out of
Vietnam – he also did not
want the withdrawal to
appear as cowardly.
• As a result, Nixon
continued fighting and
initiated a massive bombing
campaign.
• The result, Nixon hoped,
would give America more
influence at the negotiating
table.
Invasion of Cambodia
• As a part of
“peace with
honor” Nixon still
tried to defeat the
North Vietnamese
and save
American troops
by attacking
Vietcong
strongholds in
Cambodia.
Result of Cambodia Invasion
• Anti-War demonstrators
burst into protest upon
Nixon’s announcement.
• The 1st General Student
Strike in the nation’s
history occurred during
the Cambodia invasion
– 1.5 million students
closed down 1200
college campuses.
Kent State
• The worst of the protests occurred at Kent State University in Ohio.
• At the Kent State campus, National Guard troops fired into college
protesters killing 4 and wounding 9.
Cambodia Costs Nixon
• By failing to notify
congress of the bombing
and invasion of
Cambodia, Nixon
angered congress,
which repealed the
Tonkin Gulf Resolution.
• Americans distrusted
Nixon’s leadership even
further when he tried to
cover up the release of
the Pentagon Papers
Pentagon Papers
• The Pentagon Papers, which
was a classified document
outlining the decision making
process regarding Vietnam did
not condemn Nixon at all – but
he viewed the “leak” as a
weakness in his administration
because the papers said the
war would never stop so long
as the North Vietnamese
continued fighting. This made
Nixon look bad.
• As a result Nixon broke the
law trying to reign in those
who exposed the document –
most notably Daniel Ellsberg.
Vietnam Ends for America
• Nixon’s actions during the
Pentagon Papers’ scandal
and later Watergate scandal
overshadow his efforts in
Vietnam.
• Nixon never did put an
end to the War in Vietnam
during his presidency.
• Eventually under Gerald
Ford, the North Vietnamese
defeat South Vietnamese
and remaining American
troops in the South
Vietnamese Capital of
Saigon.
Legacy of Vietnam
• War Powers Act: A
president has 48 hours
to notify congress after
sending troops into a
hostile area. The troops
may remain there no
longer than 90 days
without consent of
congress.