““Pay Any Price, Bear Pay Any Price, Bear Any Burden”: The Agony Any Burden”: The Agony

of Vietnamof Vietnam

2008 DBQ2008 DBQ Thesis 1: Bad choices made by the government, Thesis 1: Bad choices made by the government,

including unclean descriptions of events, fomented including unclean descriptions of events, fomented widespread dissent among the public and a lingering widespread dissent among the public and a lingering distrust of the government.distrust of the government.

Thesis 2: The Vietnam War was a military disaster Thesis 2: The Vietnam War was a military disaster that had a severe impact of the nation socially, that had a severe impact of the nation socially, politically and economically. The war distracted the politically and economically. The war distracted the government from domestic issues and drained government from domestic issues and drained money.money.

Thesis 3: American involvement in Vietnam increased Thesis 3: American involvement in Vietnam increased conflict and tension in the US because of the conflict and tension in the US because of the overwhelming unpopularity of government decisions overwhelming unpopularity of government decisions causing great social unrest and unhappiness, causing great social unrest and unhappiness, especially among young people, political corruption in especially among young people, political corruption in the Johnson and Nixon administrations, and economic the Johnson and Nixon administrations, and economic mismanagement of the war effort vs. domestic mismanagement of the war effort vs. domestic programs.programs.

I. Introduction: Why?I. Introduction: Why?

1.1. Arrogance of Power: a superpower can Arrogance of Power: a superpower can do what it wantsdo what it wants

(Problem: explains why stayed, not why went in)(Problem: explains why stayed, not why went in)

Doc GDoc G

2.2. Bureaucratic politics: machismo culture Bureaucratic politics: machismo culture in State, Defense, CIA, etc.in State, Defense, CIA, etc.

(Problem: Pres. can ask for new options; (Problem: Pres. can ask for new options; probably shaped strategic policies rather probably shaped strategic policies rather than critical decisions)than critical decisions)

3. Domestic politics: Don’t want to “lose” 3. Domestic politics: Don’t want to “lose” VietnamVietnamA) lose electionA) lose electionB) jeopardize domestic agenda because B) jeopardize domestic agenda because defending self constantly (irony)defending self constantly (irony)C) Return of McCarthyismC) Return of McCarthyismD) Undermine domestic support for US world D) Undermine domestic support for US world rolerole encourage USSR and China aggression encourage USSR and China aggression

(Certainly affected way war was fought: no (Certainly affected way war was fought: no reserve call-up, bombing limited, paying for reserve call-up, bombing limited, paying for war)war)

4. Imperialism: special interests (military-4. Imperialism: special interests (military-industrial complex) maneuvered US into industrial complex) maneuvered US into war to seize markets and resourceswar to seize markets and resources

(problem: overstates gains)(problem: overstates gains)Doc BDoc B

5. Men Making Hard Choices Pragmatically: 5. Men Making Hard Choices Pragmatically: weighed evidence, decided 51-49, then sold weighed evidence, decided 51-49, then sold 100%100%

(problem: ideology affected decision (problem: ideology affected decision making)making)

6. Balance of Power Politics: failure to 6. Balance of Power Politics: failure to block aggressionblock aggression aggression aggression elsewhereelsewhere

LBJ: “If we don’t stop the Reds in South LBJ: “If we don’t stop the Reds in South Vietnam, tomorrow they will be in Vietnam, tomorrow they will be in Hawaii, and next week they will be in Hawaii, and next week they will be in San Francisco.”San Francisco.”

Comparisons made to Hitler and Munich Comparisons made to Hitler and Munich (appeasement)(appeasement)

7. Slippery slope: Vietnam did not start 7. Slippery slope: Vietnam did not start off as critical but became so as off as critical but became so as different Presidents built up different Presidents built up commitmentcommitment

(Problem: American commitment (Problem: American commitment escalated, but objectives were high escalated, but objectives were high and absolute from the beginning)and absolute from the beginning)

Doc EDoc E

8. Anti-Communism: “Believing is 8. Anti-Communism: “Believing is seeing”seeing”

Sen. JFK, 1956: Vietnam as the Sen. JFK, 1956: Vietnam as the “cornerstone of the Free World in “cornerstone of the Free World in Southeast Asia, the Keystone of the Southeast Asia, the Keystone of the arch, the finger in the dike.”arch, the finger in the dike.”

Probably the largest, although not only, Probably the largest, although not only, factorfactor

II. Ho Chi Minh and the II. Ho Chi Minh and the Dream of Vietnamese Dream of Vietnamese

IndependenceIndependenceA. Early NationalismA. Early Nationalism 1919: submits 1919: submits

petition to Woodrow petition to Woodrow Wilson for Wilson for Vietnamese Vietnamese independenceindependence

Wilson unwilling to Wilson unwilling to extend self-extend self-determination to determination to VietnamVietnam

HCM joins HCM joins Communist Party Communist Party to gain to gain independence independence (fundamentally a (fundamentally a nationalistnationalist not an not an ideologue)ideologue)

1930s: leads 1930s: leads rebellions against rebellions against France (France (Viet MinhViet Minh))

1940: Germany 1940: Germany invades invades FranceFranceJapan Japan moves into moves into VietnamVietnam

HCM leads revolt HCM leads revolt against Japanagainst Japan

Full support US Full support US (HCM employee of (HCM employee of OSS (later CIA))OSS (later CIA))

HCM hopes US will HCM hopes US will support support independence after independence after WWIIWWII

FDR might have, FDR might have, but diesbut dies

2 Sept. 1945:2 Sept. 1945: “ “"All men are created equal. They are endowed "All men are created equal. They are endowed

by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, by their Creator with certain inalienable rights, among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness" This immortal statement was made in Happiness" This immortal statement was made in the Declaration of Independence of the United the Declaration of Independence of the United States of America in 1776. In a broader sense, States of America in 1776. In a broader sense, this means: All the peoples on the earth are this means: All the peoples on the earth are equal from birth, all the peoples have a right to equal from birth, all the peoples have a right to live, to be happy and free. …live, to be happy and free. …

……The entire Vietnamese people are determined to The entire Vietnamese people are determined to mobilise all their physical and mental strength, to mobilise all their physical and mental strength, to sacrifice their lives and property in order to sacrifice their lives and property in order to safeguard their independence and liberty.”safeguard their independence and liberty.”

France bullies France bullies Truman into Truman into keeping Vietnam a keeping Vietnam a colonycolony– US needs French US needs French

support in support in rebuilding Europerebuilding Europe

– France agrees to France agrees to help fight help fight Communism if keep Communism if keep VietnamVietnam

US also genuinely US also genuinely concerned that concerned that Vietnam may be first in Vietnam may be first in series of series of dominoesdominoes US backs French US backs French reinvasion of Vietnam: reinvasion of Vietnam: Truman sends guns Truman sends guns and money to Vietnam and money to Vietnam in 1950 (no troops)in 1950 (no troops)

By 1954 US paying By 1954 US paying entire cost of France’s entire cost of France’s War in Indochina ($2.6 War in Indochina ($2.6 billion)billion)

B. The Geneva AccordsB. The Geneva Accords

French army French army defeated at defeated at Dien Dien Bien PhuBien Phu

Peace treaty in Peace treaty in Geneva, 1955Geneva, 1955– Vietnam, France, Vietnam, France,

US, USSR, ChinaUS, USSR, China Vietnam a Vietnam a proxy proxy

warwar

US unwilling to US unwilling to concede all of concede all of VietnamVietnam pressure pressure USSR to pressure USSR to pressure HCMHCM

Temporary division Temporary division at 17at 17thth Parallel: Parallel: North and South North and South VietnamVietnam

(sound familiar?)(sound familiar?)

South Vietnam a South Vietnam a US puppet: Ngo US puppet: Ngo Dinh DiemDinh Diem

North Vietnam North Vietnam ruled by Ho Chi ruled by Ho Chi MinhMinh

Free elections to be held 1956Free elections to be held 1956 HCM sure that he will win and take HCM sure that he will win and take

all of Vietnamall of Vietnam US hopes to influence vote and winUS hopes to influence vote and win

III. Corruption in South III. Corruption in South Vietnam: The Diem RegimeVietnam: The Diem Regime

$1 billion poured into Diem$1 billion poured into Diem South Vietnam 5South Vietnam 5thth most US foreign most US foreign

aidaid South Vietnam has short period of South Vietnam has short period of

security and prosperitysecurity and prosperity

Stability an illusion: US assistance did not Stability an illusion: US assistance did not build democracybuild democracy

Diem was no democrat: knew what to say Diem was no democrat: knew what to say to keep $ flowingto keep $ flowing

1)1) Never held elections: knew would loseNever held elections: knew would lose2)2) Corrupt: appointed family members to Corrupt: appointed family members to

high posts; ensures legislators pro-Diemhigh posts; ensures legislators pro-Diem3)3) Discriminated against majority Buddhist Discriminated against majority Buddhist

population (roughly 95% pop.)population (roughly 95% pop.)4)4) Shut down opposition press, prosecuted Shut down opposition press, prosecuted

agitators, established “reeducation agitators, established “reeducation centers”centers”

Ike knew elections would never be Ike knew elections would never be held: anti-communism trumps held: anti-communism trumps democracydemocracy

Diem further alienates the Diem further alienates the Vietnamese peopleVietnamese people

Failure to hold electionsFailure to hold elections Civil War, Civil War, North vs. SouthNorth vs. South– Iraq: elections (+terrorism)Iraq: elections (+terrorism) civil war civil war

(Sunni no show)(Sunni no show) Ike sends 1,000 American advisors in Ike sends 1,000 American advisors in

1961 (American troops on the 1961 (American troops on the ground)ground)

June 13, 1963: Buddhist June 13, 1963: Buddhist monk Quang Duc, to monk Quang Duc, to protest Diem’s anti-protest Diem’s anti-Buddhist policies, sets Buddhist policies, sets himself on fire (others himself on fire (others follow)follow)

November 2: Diem is November 2: Diem is assassinated with tacit assassinated with tacit ok from JFKok from JFK chaos and chaos and series of coupsseries of coups– JFK regrets; cements view JFK regrets; cements view

of South as imperialist of South as imperialist stoogesstooges

IV. JFK’s EscalationIV. JFK’s Escalation Kennedy sent 16,000 Kennedy sent 16,000

troops to Vietnam by 1963 troops to Vietnam by 1963 even though many thought even though many thought war was all but overwar was all but over

Why?Why?1)1) didn’t want to question didn’t want to question

Ike’s military judgmentIke’s military judgment2)2) ““Finger in the dike”: Anti-Finger in the dike”: Anti-

communism and domino communism and domino theorytheory see Communists see Communists as like Hitler: no as like Hitler: no appeasement (hard-core appeasement (hard-core Cold Warrior)Cold Warrior)

Would he have continued if Would he have continued if not killed?not killed?

V. LBJ and the Gulf of TonkinV. LBJ and the Gulf of Tonkin 1964 reelection 1964 reelection

campaign: LBJ promises campaign: LBJ promises not to get more not to get more involvedinvolved– Privately has many Privately has many

doubtsdoubts Repub. Barry Goldwater Repub. Barry Goldwater

attacks LBJ as soft on attacks LBJ as soft on communismcommunism

LBJ promises not to LBJ promises not to “lose” Vietnam“lose” Vietnam

looking for an excuselooking for an excuse

South Vietnamese South Vietnamese Army (ARVN) Army (ARVN) powerless against powerless against North Vietnamese North Vietnamese Army (NVA) Army (NVA) offensives; offensives; Viet CongViet Cong guerillas (guerillas (SouthSouth))

LBJ’s advisors (esp. LBJ’s advisors (esp. Secy. Defense Secy. Defense Robert Robert McNamaraMcNamara) advocate ) advocate American offensiveAmerican offensive

2+4 August 1964: 2+4 August 1964: USS MaddoxUSS Maddox reports reports NVA attackNVA attack

7 August: Congress 7 August: Congress approves the approves the Gulf of Gulf of Tonkin ResolutionTonkin Resolution: : LBJ given authority to LBJ given authority to wage war to prevent wage war to prevent further aggressionfurther aggression– Unofficial declaration Unofficial declaration

of warof war– Blank checkBlank check – Doc ADoc A

Problems:Problems:– LBJ’s message to LBJ’s message to

Congress about attack Congress about attack written before incidentwritten before incident

– If there was an actual If there was an actual attack (which is attack (which is uncertain), probably the uncertain), probably the result of US provocation result of US provocation (Plan 34A)(Plan 34A)

– LBJ, 1965: "For all I know, LBJ, 1965: "For all I know, our Navy was shooting at our Navy was shooting at whales out there."whales out there."

Revelation of this (and Revelation of this (and many other lies)many other lies) credibility gapcredibility gap– Compare WMDsCompare WMDs

Feb. 1965: escalation: Feb. 1965: escalation: air war (Operation air war (Operation Rolling Thunder)Rolling Thunder)

Air Force claims they Air Force claims they can win in a matter of can win in a matter of monthsmonths

By 1970 US had dropped By 1970 US had dropped more bombs than in the more bombs than in the rest of human history; rest of human history; many more times than many more times than all bombs (including all bombs (including nukes) dropped in WWIInukes) dropped in WWII

Napalm + Agent OrangeNapalm + Agent Orange– Lingering environmental Lingering environmental

impacts [cancer impacts [cancer (Vietnamese and (Vietnamese and Americans), birth defects, Americans), birth defects, soil infertility]soil infertility]

Failure of air war Failure of air war leads to ground leads to ground escalation: escalation:

385,000 by end of 385,000 by end of 19651965

500,000 troops by 500,000 troops by 19661966– DraftedDrafted: :

disproportionately disproportionately poor, minoritypoor, minority Mid-class whites Mid-class whites

volunteered: same volunteered: same reason WWIIreason WWII officers officers (stupid: actually more (stupid: actually more likely to get killed)likely to get killed)

Doc FDoc F

Unconventional WarUnconventional War Operation Phoenix: CIA operation to Operation Phoenix: CIA operation to

assassinate Viet Cong (20,000+ killed, most assassinate Viet Cong (20,000+ killed, most prob. innocent; compare Iraq/Afghanistan)prob. innocent; compare Iraq/Afghanistan)

““destroy the village to save the village”destroy the village to save the village” ““light at the end of the tunnel”light at the end of the tunnel” ““hearts and minds”hearts and minds” ““fragging”: 1,000 1969-72fragging”: 1,000 1969-72 ““body count”body count” My Lai, etc.: essentially SOP; dozens of My Lai, etc.: essentially SOP; dozens of

similar atrocities; “a My Lai a month”similar atrocities; “a My Lai a month”

VI. End of the War and VI. End of the War and EffectsEffects LBJ decides not to run in 1968 because LBJ decides not to run in 1968 because

of war + failure peace conference of war + failure peace conference (Kissinger; accusations of Nixon (Kissinger; accusations of Nixon treason)treason)

But both Hubert Humphrey and Richard But both Hubert Humphrey and Richard Nixon support war: no anti-war Nixon support war: no anti-war candidate despite 50% voters opposing candidate despite 50% voters opposing warwar

Nixon promises “secret plan” at last Nixon promises “secret plan” at last minute to win (October Surprise)minute to win (October Surprise)

Nixon pulled back on troops Nixon pulled back on troops ((VietnamizationVietnamization) but escalated ) but escalated bombing (secretly and illegally expands bombing (secretly and illegally expands to Laos and Cambodiato Laos and Cambodia Khmer Rouge Khmer Rouge + leaks+ leaks “Plumbers” “Plumbers” 1972 1972 Watergate, Saturday Night Massacre, Watergate, Saturday Night Massacre, USUS v. v. NixonNixon, ’74 resignation, ’74 resignation cynicism) cynicism)

1973 Nixon negotiates withdrawal 1973 Nixon negotiates withdrawal (same terms as LBJ in 1968); still sends (same terms as LBJ in 1968); still sends billions in aid to South (“decent billions in aid to South (“decent interval”), but by 1975 US war overinterval”), but by 1975 US war over

Effects:Effects:1)1) Doomed LBJ’s Great Society: Doomed LBJ’s Great Society:

money diverted to war effort money diverted to war effort (just like Reagan, although (just like Reagan, although unintentionally); Doc D, Doc Hunintentionally); Doc D, Doc H

2)2) Disillusioned American people: Disillusioned American people: credibility gap from lies by credibility gap from lies by military and leaders, horrors of military and leaders, horrors of war and South Vietnamese, war and South Vietnamese, inequities of draft, inequities of draft, WatergateWatergate cynicism; Doc C cynicism; Doc C

3)3) Vietnam syndrome and the Vietnam syndrome and the quagmirequagmire: aversion to : aversion to committing troops (Bosnia, committing troops (Bosnia, Iraq I, Afghanistan, Libya) but Iraq I, Afghanistan, Libya) but not to use of military (irony of not to use of military (irony of War Powers Act: Doc I)War Powers Act: Doc I)

4)4) Cambodia, Laos, boat people, Cambodia, Laos, boat people, reeducation campsreeducation camps

5)5) Kissinger wins Nobel Peace Kissinger wins Nobel Peace PrizePrize