Confrontation and Cooperation, c1963–1972: Nixon's policies in Vietnam - the Beginning of the Paris Peace Talks Flashcards
Timeline of main events in the beginning of Paris peace talks
• 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
Why were the preliminary talks tricky
US wouldn’t stop bombing
Thieu wouldn’t concede any of his power, but North demand his removal
South refused to negotiate if the terrorist NLF represented North
Who helped advocate for peace negotiations within the Johnson administration?
- Johnson’s Secretary of Defense, Clark Clifford
- Believed it would bring the war to a close
When did preliminary talks begin?
- May 1968
- Talks began in Paris
Why was the US weary of stopping the bombing of North Vietnam?
- Johnson feared it would allow for preparation of an offensive on South Vietnam
When had Hanoi’s military forces shown they were not willing to de-escalate? Why was this the case?
- By March 1968, Hanoi’s military forces were on the defensive after Tet
- North didn’t want to appear weak
What were the overall outcomes of the preliminary talks?
- 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
When does Nixon become president?
- January 1969
Who is Henry Kissinger?
- During these talks, he was the National Security Advisor of the US
- Skilled international diplomat
Who was Le Duc Tho?
- Communist, North Vietnamese politician
- Special advisor to North Vietnam during the negotiations
When did Kissinger secretly meet Le Duc Tho in Paris?
- February 1970
What did Le Duc Tho insist upon at the talks with Kissinger?
- 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
How did Kissinger and Nixon react to the demands Le Duc Tho made?
- 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
When did the peace talks between Le Duc Tho and Kissinger resume and then stall?
- Resumed in May 1971
- Stalled in November 1971
What change in demands did the North Vietnamese make in regards to Thieu’s power?
- Moderated their demands on Thieu’s removal from power
