Confrontation and Cooperation, c1963–1972: Nixon's policies in Vietnam - the Beginning of the Paris Peace Talks

Question 1

Timeline of main events in the beginning of Paris peace talks

Answer 1

• March 1968

• Johnson announces he’s willing to negotiate with North Vietnam
• Hanoi’s military forces on defensive after Tet

• May 1968
- Preliminary talks begin in Paris

• By October 1968
- The talks reached a stalemate and soon died down

• January 1969
- Nixon becomes president

• February 1970
- Kissinger secretly meets Le Duc Tho in Paris

• May 1971
- Peace talks between Le Duc Tho and Kissinger resume

• November 1971
- Peace talks between Le Duc Tho and Kissinger stall

• October 1972
- North Vietnamese change their mind about Thieu’s removal of power

Question 2

When did Johnson announce he was willing to begin negotiations with North Vietnam?

Answer 2

• March 1968

Question 3

Who helped advocate for peace negotiations within the Johnson administration?

Answer 3

• Johnson’s Secretary of Defense, Clark Clifford

- Believed it would bring the war to a close

Question 4

How did Hanoi respond to Johnson’s announcement?

Answer 4

• Hanoi soon accepted talks concerning Johnson’s willingness to end bombing of North Vietnam

Question 5

When did preliminary talks begin?

Answer 5

• May 1968

- Talks began in Paris

Question 6

What were the sources of disagreement during these preliminary talks?

Answer 6

• Unclear if US was committed to stop bombing all over North Vietnam
• North Vietnam wanted NLF to be represented at negotiating table
• North Vietnam not willing to de-escalate

Question 7

Why was the US weary of stopping the bombing of North Vietnam?

Answer 7

• Johnson feared it would allow for preparation of an offensive on South Vietnam

Question 8

How did South Vietnam react to demands for the NLF to be represented?

Answer 8

• South Vietnam fiercely opposed to negotiations if NLF were to be represented

Question 9

When had Hanoi’s military forces shown they were not willing to de-escalate? Why was this the case?

Answer 9

• By March 1968, Hanoi’s military forces were on the defensive after Tet
• North didn’t want to appear weak

Question 10

What were the overall outcomes of the preliminary talks?

Answer 10

• By October 1968, the talks reached a stalemate and soon died down
• US didn’t stop bombing and North Vietnam didn’t de-escalate its forces
• Willingness to negotiate still remained

Question 11

When does Nixon become president?

Answer 11

• January 1969

Question 12

Who is Henry Kissinger?

Answer 12

• During these talks, he was the National Security Advisor of the US
• Skilled international diplomat

Question 13

Who was Le Duc Tho?

Answer 13

• Communist, North Vietnamese politician

- Special advisor to North Vietnam during the negotiations

Question 14

When did Kissinger secretly meet Le Duc Tho in Paris?

Answer 14

• February 1970

Question 15

What did Le Duc Tho insist upon at the talks with Kissinger?

Answer 15

• Insisted that any peace settlement would provide a military and political solution
• Replacement of the current Saigon regime (Thieu)
• Introduction of a coalition government with NLF representatives

Question 16

How did Kissinger and Nixon react to the demands Le Duc Tho made?

Answer 16

• Thought proposals were unrealistic
• US couldn’t abandon Thieu by agreeing to these terms
• If South Vietnam were to collapse, US would be seen as traitors

Question 17

When did the peace talks between Le Duc Tho and Kissinger resume and then stall?

Answer 17

• Resumed in May 1971

- Stalled in November 1971

Question 18

What change in demands did the North Vietnamese make in regards to Thieu’s power?

Answer 18

• Moderated their demands on Thieu’s removal from power

Question 19

When did the North Vietnamese change their mind about Thieu’s removal of power?

Answer 19

• October 1972