Nixon and Vietnam

Question 1

What were Nixon’s three key ideas to end the war in Vietnam?

Answer 1

• Vietnamisation
• Linkage
• Mad Bomber

Question 2

What is Realpolitik?

Answer 2

Actions based on practical situations rather than moral or ideological ideas.

Question 3

What happened in March 1969?

Answer 3

Operation Menu - the secret bombing of Cambodia.

Question 4

What was the aim of the invasion of Cambodia in 1970?

Answer 4

To find COSVN the headquarters of the VietCong

Question 5

How many US troops were withdrawn in Spring 1970?

Answer 5

150,000

Question 6

What was the Lam Son Offensive of 1971?

Answer 6

Attempt by ARVN to invade Laos. Within two weeks they had taken 50% casualties.

Question 7

When did secret Hanoi - Washington negotiations begin?

Answer 7

1969

Question 8

What protest took place in the Autumn of 1969?

Answer 8

The Moratorium. It was an attempt by the anti-war movement to rehabilitate their image after the Chicago riots.

Question 9

When did My Lai become public knowledge?

Answer 9

1969

Question 10

When did the Kent State shooting take place?

Answer 10

1970

Question 11

What did the Kent State shooting lead to?

Answer 11

All college campuses closing down.

Question 12

What did the Hard Hat Riot show?

Answer 12

That there was a lot of opposition to the anti war movement. In this case construction workers attacked anti-war protestors.

Question 13

What was Nixon’s approval ratings by 1971?

Answer 13

31%

Question 14

When was the Easter Offensive launched?

Answer 14

March 1972. 100,000 PAVN were killed or wounded

Question 15

When did Nixon visit Beijing?

Answer 15

February 1972

Question 16

When did Nixon visit Moscow?

Answer 16

May 1972

Question 17

What was Operation Linebacker?

Answer 17

Bombing raids launched by the Americans in May 1972

Question 18

When did Operation Linebacker II take place?

Answer 18

December 1972

Question 19

What were the aims of the Linebacker raids?

Answer 19

To reassure Thieu that the US would not abandon him.

Question 20

Why did Nixon reject the peace deal in Vietnam in October 1972?

Answer 20

• Feared it would look like an election ploy
• Thieu was unhappy with it

Question 21

How did the US and North Vietnam eventually compromise?

Answer 21

• PAVN could stay in the South but could not take advantage
• Thieu would remain in power, but Communists were also given representation in the South.

Question 22

Why was Nixon forced to agree to the Paris Peace Accords in January 1973?

Answer 22

Congress had voted to withdraw the funding for the Vietnam War

Question 23

Why was Nixon forced to resign from the Presidency in August 1974?

Answer 23

Watergate scandal

Question 24

When did Saigon fall to the Communists?

Answer 24

April 1975

Question 25

How had the relationship between the USA and China changed by the 1970s?

Answer 25

Relationship was warmer as a result of the summits

Question 26

How had the relationship between China and Russia changed by the 1970s?

Answer 26

Relationship was cooler due to the Sino-Soviet split.

Question 27

When did the US end it’s recognition of Taiwan as nationalist China?

Answer 27

1978

Question 28

Who was Nixon’s chief negotiator?

Answer 28

Kissinger

Question 29

What was the “silent majority” speech?

Answer 29

Nixon called on the “silent majority” who supported him.

Question 30

When did Nixon win re-election?

Answer 30

1972