Nixon & Vietnamisation

Question 1

Why was the Vietnam War a crucial issue in the 1968 U.S. Presidential election?

Answer 1

• The Vietnam War was a key issue in the 1968 election, as both candidates, Hubert Humphrey and Richard Nixon, promised to end the U.S. involvement in the war, which had caused significant public unrest.

Question 2

How did Hubert Humphrey’s association with President Johnson impact his 1968 Presidential campaign?

Answer 2

• As Johnson’s Vice President, Humphrey was closely tied to the failures of the previous four years, making it difficult for him to distance himself from the ongoing war and the negative public opinion surrounding it.

Question 3

What promises did Richard Nixon make regarding the Vietnam War during his 1968 Presidential campaign?

Answer 3

• Richard Nixon promised an “honourable peace” and claimed to have a “secret plan” to end the fighting in Vietnam, offering a more hopeful alternative to Humphrey’s association with the Johnson administration.

Question 4

Who won the 1968 U.S. Presidential election, and why was this significant for the Vietnam War?

Answer 4

• Richard Nixon won the 1968 election, which was significant because the U.S. public was looking for a leader who could bring an end to the Vietnam War, and Nixon’s promises of peace resonated with the voters.

Question 5

What dilemma did President Nixon face during the Vietnam War, and how did he try to solve it?

Answer 5

• Nixon knew the war couldn’t be won with traditional military tactics, but nuclear weapons were too risky due to China and the USSR backing North Vietnam.
• He had to end US involvement without causing a communist takeover of South Vietnam.
• Public trust in the government was already low, and he couldn’t afford to lose more support.
• He introduced Vietnamisation: gradually withdrawing US troops while training South Vietnamese forces to take over.
• This was meant to reduce US casualties and give the appearance of an “honourable peace.”
• The goal was to maintain US credibility without escalating into a broader Cold War conflict.

Question 6

What was Vietnamisation, and why did President Nixon introduce it?

Answer 6

• Vietnamisation was Nixon’s strategy to withdraw US troops and shift the responsibility of the war to the South Vietnamese army (ARVN).
• It was announced on 3 November 1969 as part of his promised “secret plan” for peace.
• The goal was to train, equip, and expand the ARVN so it could fight the Vietcong and North Vietnamese without US support.
• Nixon hoped to maintain US credibility while reducing American casualties and domestic opposition to the war.
• It allowed the US to slowly exit the war without appearing to surrender to communism.
• Vietnamisation reflected Nixon’s need to end US involvement without causing a total collapse in South Vietnam.

Question 7

Why didn’t the USA withdraw from Vietnam immediately, and what steps did Nixon take before pulling out troops?

Answer 7

• Nixon knew immediate withdrawal was impossible because the ARVN wasn’t yet strong enough to handle the war alone.
• The US decided to weaken the Vietcong by destroying their bases before pulling out the majority of troops.
• Many of these Vietcong bases were hidden just across the border in Cambodia, making them hard to reach without escalating the war.
• The Ho Chi Minh Trail, which passed through Cambodia and Laos, was a key supply route for the Vietcong from North Vietnam.
• Targeting these areas was meant to buy time for Vietnamisation to succeed.
• This strategy showed Nixon’s attempt to balance military tactics with political pressure to reduce US involvement.

Question 8

Why did Nixon bomb Cambodia in 1969, and what were the immediate consequences?

Answer 8

• Nixon bombed Cambodia to destroy Vietcong bases and cut off the Ho Chi Minh Trail, which supplied the Vietcong from North Vietnam.
• The bombing campaign was kept secret to avoid global criticism and political backlash.
• Despite the heavy bombing, the Vietcong bases were not destroyed, and the operation failed to achieve its goal.
• Nixon’s strategy backfired and eventually led to the escalation of the war rather than a step toward ending it.
• It marked a turning point in Nixon’s presidency, increasing both domestic and international pressure.
• The bombing also set the stage for the invasion of Cambodia and further controversy.

Question 9

What happened during the 1970 invasion of Cambodia, and what were the wider effects?

Answer 9

• In April 1970, Nixon sent US troops to invade Cambodia to follow up on the failed bombing campaign.
• He also announced that 150,000 more soldiers were needed in Vietnam, which angered the US public.
• This led to massive anti-war protests across the country, especially on college campuses.
• In Cambodia, the Khmer Rouge used the invasion to gain support by claiming the US planned to take over.
• Many Cambodian peasants began supporting the Khmer Rouge, fearing American domination.
• This surge in support helped the Khmer Rouge grow rapidly in strength, eventually leading to devastating consequences for Cambodia.

Question 10

What happened during the 1971 ARVN invasion of Laos, and what did it reveal about Vietnamisation?

Answer 10

• In February 1971, the ARVN (South Vietnamese army) launched an attack on North Vietnamese forces in Laos, backed by US airpower and artillery.
• The goal was to disrupt the Ho Chi Minh Trail and test the strength of Vietnamisation — Nixon’s strategy to hand over the war to South Vietnam.
• Despite US support, the ARVN was quickly defeated, showing that they were not ready to fight without American ground troops.
• The failure exposed the weaknesses of Vietnamisation and damaged confidence in Nixon’s strategy.
• The failed invasion boosted communist morale, especially the Pathet Lao, who gained major influence in Laos by 1973.
• It also encouraged the North Vietnamese to launch a powerful new offensive into South Vietnam in 1972, escalating the conflict further.

Question 11

How did the USSR and the USA attempt to improve relations during the Vietnam War, and how did this relate to the conflict?

Answer 11

• By 1970, the USSR and the USA began nuclear arms limitation talks to reduce tensions between the two superpowers.
• President Nixon used this improved relationship to request Soviet help in pressuring North Vietnam to end the war.
• The USA hoped that the USSR’s influence over North Vietnam would encourage peace talks and help end the conflict.
• This marked a shift from direct military action to diplomatic strategies in trying to exit the Vietnam War.

Question 12

What was the significance of Nixon’s visit to China in 1972 during the Vietnam War?

Answer 12

• In February 1972, Nixon became the first US President to visit communist China, signaling a major shift in Cold War diplomacy.
• The visit was part of Nixon’s plan to improve US-China relations and use Chinese influence over North Vietnam to push for peace.
• Nixon’s visit helped weaken the alliance between China and North Vietnam by opening communication between China and the USA.
• This diplomatic move was also aimed at isolating North Vietnam, increasing pressure on them to agree to a peace settlement.