| Nixon's Challenges Vietnam and China (1961-1972) |
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Sections:- Public Opinion and the Vietnam War (March 1969)
- The Path of War
- MOBE
- "Silent Majority Speech"
- Military Assistance Command
- Ron Ridenhour Letter
- United States v. Captain Ernest L. Medina
- Viet Cong Broadcast
- Nixon's Historic Trip to China
- Nixon in China, February 21-28, 1972
- Nixon Meets Mao Tse-tung
- The Shanghai Communique
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| Historical Context
The following poll indicates America's growing discontent with the war in Vietnam by the late 1960's. The first poll displays the rather diverse opinions of those interviewed, while the subsequent polls reflect the realization of the American people that the conflict in Vietnam was one without a simple solution.
Attached Document
Included here is a public opinion of the Vietnam War.
Questions to consider:
1) Are polls of these nature taken under consideration by the executive branch of government? Why or why not?
2) What other contemporary events may have influenced these polls?
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| Historical Context
This 1969 memorandum from Henry Kissinger to Nixon indicates the firm resolve of the administration to stay on the course they had originally set in Vietnam. Mentioned in the memo is Kissinger's feelings toward domestic criticism of the war, noting that despite criticism, Hanoi must not see a wavering in US policy in Vietnam. Such sentiment certainly set the stage for the impending waves of protest which began spread throughout the US.
Attached Document
Included here is Kissinger's Memorandum to Nixon.
Questions to consider:
1) What do you think about such a strong resolve on war policies? Do you think a certain degree of flexibility should be present? Why or why not?
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| Historical Context
The anti-war movement became particularly active during the Nixon administration, developing in 1969 the Vietnam Moratorium Committee (known as the Mobe). This organization called for a national day of protest to be held on October 15th, 1969. In an effort to keep the cause alive, the Mobe also called for continued days of protest on the fifteenth of each subsequent month.
Questions to consider:
1) How effective do you think war protests are? Explain your answer.
2) Are war protestors typically taken serious? Why or why not?
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Aware of the growing public discontent with the war in Vietnam, Nixon decided to address the nation. The speech, known as "The Silent Majority" speech was delivered on November 3, 1969. Nixon took this opportunity to present his policies concerning Vietnam, as well as to appeal to the general public. In this way, the President attempted to bolster public support for his policy of "Vietnamization". His speech was regarded highly, yet skepticism toward the war continued to grow.
Attached Document
Included here is the text of Nixon's "Silent Majority" Speech.
Questions to consider:
1) How convincing do you think Nixon was in his speech? Would you have been swayed? Why or why not?
2) Do you think Nixon was presenting all the facts about the conflict in Vietnam? Think of some contemporary examples of US Presidents attempting to bolster support for unpopular foreign conflicts.
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| Historical Context
During the Vietnam War, the military issued several injunctions for the treatment of the local Vietnamese population. One such was issued and was highly positive in nature. Nevertheless, the document was seen as violated in the My Lai region of Vietnam in 1968.
Attached Document
The following document issued by the United States Military outlines the proper procedures for American soldiers dealing with Vietnamese people during the conflict in Vietnam.
Questions to consider:
1) Discuss the Military Assistance Command Vietnam document. Do you think it was powerful enough to influence the behavior of American soldiers? How would you reword the document?
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On March 16, 1968 a massacre took place in the My Lai region of Vietnam at the hands of an American military unit. This unit, angered by a Viet Cong attack that killed an American soldier, indiscriminantly attacked the village, raping and killing women and children and then burning the village. The attack horrified many soldiers present, particularly the fact that it appeared to be sanctioned by the unit's command. Angered by what appeared to be a lack of action on the part of the US military, some soldiers within the attacking company chose to speak out. Provided below is one such soldier, Ron Ridenhour. The letter was sent to, among others in the US government, Nixon.
Attached Document
Included here is the text of Ridenhour's letter.
Questions to consider:
1) Discuss the implications for Ridenhour in sending such a letter? Do you think he suffered a military backlash?
2) The massacre at My Lai opened the door to many discussions about morality in war. Do you think that internationally sanctioned rules of war, such as the Geneva Convention, should be upheld regardless of circumstances? Why or why not?
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| Historical Context
The American public slowly began to learn the details of the massacre in My Lai, much to the dismay of the military command.
Attached Documents
The first document outlines the responsibilities of a combat commander in the United States military, as well as the legal precedence available to the prosecution in their case against the Captain of the American unit charged with attacking the village of My Lai. the document outlining the duties of a combat officer, there is provided below an excerpt from a New York Times article outlining the prosecution's case against Captain Medina.
Questions to consider:
1) Do you think Captain Medina should be considered responsible for the actions of the soldiers who attacked the village of My Lai? Why or why not?
2) What do you think of the soldiers who refused to participate in the massacre?
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| Historical Context
On January 1, 1970, a Viet Cong broadcast was released that blamed the American military as a whole for the My Lai massacre. In this excerpt it is evident that knowledge of the massacre had spread throughout North Vietnam and that resistance to American military personnel would result. Violent and shocking in nature, the broadcast nonetheless outlines the even deeper hostilities growing in North Vietnam as a result of the actions of the US military unit in My Lai.
Attached Document
Included here is the excerpt of the Viet Cong Broadcast.
Questions to consider:
1) How does this broadcast use fear to try to rally support for the Viet Cong? Is it effective? Why or why not?
2) If revenge was the reason for the American attack at My Lai, should this Viet Cong response have been expected?
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| Historical Context
Repairing Cold War tensions was among the greatest challenges facing Nixon during his presidency. Relations between China and the United States had been strained since the onset of the Cold War, with the US upholding an economic embargo against the Communist country for some twenty years. In 1971, this was to change, with Nixon's lifting of the embargo in an effort to begin repairing relations witht China. This action was followed by an invitation by the Chinese for a US visit to China. The following declassified memo was issued by National Security Advisor Henry Kissinger and outlines a meeting he had attended with the Chinese ambassador Huang Chen. The memo outlines the plans for Nixon's visit to China.
Attached Documents
Included here are pdf files showing the memos of Nixon's trip to China.
Questions to consider:
1) Why was Nixon's trip to China considered so monumental?
2) What other things were happening throughout the world during the time of Nixon's visit to China that may have influenced his decision to visit the country?
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| Nixon's visit to China was hailed as a monumental event. Although the meetings tended to be brief, the discussions ranged from China's relations with the United States to the United States' views on Taiwan. The visit lasted just a week, yet had profound implications.
Attached Documents
The following documents below are declassified documents which outline the visits Nixon had with Premier Chou En-lai of China.
Questions to consider:
1) Was Nixon's visit to China "politics as usual"? How was the trip advantageous to the United States? How was it advantageous to China?
2) How do you think the rest of the world reacted to Nixon's visit? Explain your answer.
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| | President Nixon meets with China’s Community Party Leader, Mao Tse-Tung on February 21, 1972. |
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| Historical Context
The Shanghai Communique was a document released jointly by the Chinese and the Americans outlining the success of Nixon's visit to China. In the document, the two countries pledge their desires to work together peacefully toward the goals they both desire. The communique is particularly important in that it reflects the desires of both countries to overcome the difficulties in their relations ovet the years.
Attached Document
Included here is the text of the Shanghai Communique.
Questions to consider:
1) What are the implications of the Shanghai Communique on other communist countries?
2) How do you think Nixon's visit to China was received in the Soviet Union?
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