Nixon’s War

The Wider Context in 1969 By 1969, Nixon faced a different situation to Eisenhower or Johnson: both more need & more chance for peace:     1.  US no longer had global military dominance. USSR had more conventional forces; China now had nukes; both sides knew using them meant ‘MAD’ = suicide.     2.  USSR & China were fighting → communism ≠ 1 united enemy.     3.  US economy = failing: there was (slow growth + ↑ prices) + global oil crisis.     4.  Vietnam War = too expensive → blocked all other govt spending.     5.  Anti-war protests = disrupting US govt & society.     6.  Nixon elected promising to ‘’. Nixon's Policies 1. Détente     •  Nixon wanted legacy = peacemaker. Visited China & USSR.     •  1971 US ping-pong team visited China (‘Ping-pong diplomacy’); 1972 Communiqué = US–China aim to ease tensions.     •  1972 USSR–US ‘ of Relations’ Treaty + SALT1 arms deal. 2. The Nixon Doctrine     •  3 Nov 1969: Nixon said each country must now defend itself vs communism.     •  For Vietnam → ‘’ = US troops leave gradually, ARVN built up to resist PAVN–VC. 3. Peace Negotiations     •  Nixon’s advisor Henry held talks. Block = N. Vietnam demanded 1 united communist Vietnam. 4. 'Madman Theory' = Idea that if Hanoi thought Nixon might do anything (eg. use nukes), they’d be scared into peace. Ironically, this meant Nixon escalated war while claiming to end it:     a. Operation (1970)     •  PAVN used bases in Cambodia (allowed by Cambodian govt).     •  US secretly bombed Cambodia from 1969.     •  1970: 100k US & ARVN troops invaded Cambodia → seized huge PAVN supplies.     b. Operation (1971)     •  In Laos, Pathet Lao (communists) + PAVN controlled supply zones.     •  ARVN invaded Laos (w. US air support); US bombed Ho Chi Minh trail & PAVN bases.     •  ARVN defeated, but it delayed VC attack.     c. Operation (1972)     •  Mar 1972: Only 10k US troops left → PAVN launched Easter Offensive.     •  Nixon launched 28k bombing sorties (Apr–June) vs PAVN, Hanoi & Haiphong; mined NV harbours.     •  Easter Offensive was stopped. 5. The War At Home     a. Troop withdrawals:     •  Mid-1969: >500k US troops in Vietnam; June 1969: 25k withdrawn     •  1970: 334.6k; 1971: 156.8k; Start of 1972: 24.2k     b. Winning public support     •  1969: Nixon introduced a for the Draft (fairer), ended draft 1973.     •  Appealed to ‘silent majority’.     •  Created fake grassroots (‘astroturf’) pro-govt groups.     •  Used FBI () + White House team to (illegally) spy on & smear anti-war activists. → Exposed in 1975 (Watergate) → Nixon resigned.     c. Presidential power     •  Nixon believed Pres = supreme on foreign policy. Quoted Johnson’s 1964 right to “take all necessary measures”.     •  But Congress disagreed. 1973: passed the = Pres can only send troops abroad w. Congress approval. (Nixon vetoed, but Congress overruled him.)           Check Get Correct Answers Produce pdf The Wider Context in 1969 By 1969, Nixon faced a different situation to Eisenhower or Johnson: both more need & more chance for peace:     1.  US no longer had global military dominance. USSR had more conventional forces; China now had nukes; both sides knew using them meant ‘MAD’ = suicide.     2.  USSR & China were fighting → communism ≠ 1 united enemy.     3.  US economy = failing: there was STAGFLATION (slow growth + ↑ prices) + global oil crisis.     4.  Vietnam War = too expensive → blocked all other govt spending.     5.  Anti-war protests = disrupting US govt & society.     6.  Nixon elected promising to ‘BRING THE BOYS HOME’. Nixon's Policies 1. Détente     •  Nixon wanted legacy = peacemaker. Visited China & USSR.     •  1971 US ping-pong team visited China (‘Ping-pong diplomacy’); 1972 SHANGHAI Communiqué = US–China aim to ease tensions.     •  1972 USSR–US ‘BASIC PRINCIPLES of Relations’ Treaty + SALT1 arms deal. 2. The Nixon Doctrine     •  3 Nov 1969: Nixon said each country must now defend itself vs communism.     •  For Vietnam → ‘VIETNAMISATION’ = US troops leave gradually, ARVN built up to resist PAVN–VC. 3. Peace Negotiations     •  Nixon’s advisor Henry KISSINGER held talks. Block = N. Vietnam demanded 1 united communist Vietnam. 4. 'Madman Theory' = Idea that if Hanoi thought Nixon might do anything (eg. use nukes), they’d be scared into peace. Ironically, this meant Nixon escalated war while claiming to end it:     a. Operation MENU (1970)     •  PAVN used bases in Cambodia (allowed by Cambodian govt).     •  US secretly bombed Cambodia from 1969.     •  1970: 100k US & ARVN troops invaded Cambodia → seized huge PAVN supplies.     b. Operation LAM SON (1971)     •  In Laos, Pathet Lao (communists) + PAVN controlled supply zones.     •  ARVN invaded Laos (w. US air support); US bombed Ho Chi Minh trail & PAVN bases.     •  ARVN defeated, but it delayed VC attack.     c. Operation LINEBACKER (1972)     •  Mar 1972: Only 10k US troops left → PAVN launched Easter Offensive.     •  Nixon launched 28k bombing sorties (Apr–June) vs PAVN, Hanoi & Haiphong; mined NV harbours.     •  Easter Offensive was stopped. 5. The War At Home     a. Troop withdrawals:     •  Mid-1969: >500k US troops in Vietnam; June 1969: 25k withdrawn     •  1970: 334.6k; 1971: 156.8k; Start of 1972: 24.2k     b. Winning public support     •  1969: Nixon introduced a LOTTERY for the Draft (fairer), ended draft 1973.     •  Appealed to ‘silent majority’.     •  Created fake grassroots (‘astroturf’) pro-govt groups.     •  Used FBI (COINTELPRO) + White House team to (illegally) spy on & smear anti-war activists. → Exposed in 1975 (Watergate) → Nixon resigned.     c. Presidential power     •  Nixon believed Pres = supreme on foreign policy. Quoted Johnson’s 1964 right to “take all necessary measures”.     •  But Congress disagreed. 1973: passed the WAR POWERS RESOLUTION = Pres can only send troops abroad w. Congress approval. (Nixon vetoed, but Congress overruled him.)           Produce pdf