The Vietnam War by Deborah Kent

Author:Deborah Kent [Kent, Deborah]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-1-4645-0415-0
Publisher: Enslow Publishers, Inc.
Published: 2011-09-02T04:00:00+00:00

Image Credit: National Archives

General William C. Westmoreland was a primary voice in urging President Lyndon Johnson to escalate America’s involvement in the Vietnam War. This photo of General Westmoreland was taken in New Port, Vietnam, on September 21, 1967.

Six days later, on March 31, Johnson addressed the nation in a televised speech. He began by announcing that he would decrease the bombing raids over North Vietnam and would try to open peace negotiations. Then he concluded, “I shall not seek and I will not accept the nomination of my party for another term as your president.”

Johnson’s announcement took the public completely by surprise. Antiwar protesters celebrated, convinced that their efforts had made a difference. All over the country, people asked each other who the next president would be and what he would do about the war.

In June 1968, Robert Kennedy was killed by an assassin as he campaigned in Los Angeles. At the Democratic Convention in August, antiwar protesters clashed with Chicago police, and hundreds of people were arrested. The nation was shocked by TV images of young men and women being clubbed by police in the streets. The Democrats nominated Vice President Hubert Humphrey. But the election in November went to the Republican candidate, Richard M. Nixon.

In 1954, when he served as vice president under Eisenhower, Nixon had urged the United States to send troops to aid the French in their struggle against the Vietminh. He was uncompromising in his stand against Communism and believed that the White House should hold the reins of power in national government. Nixon won the election with his campaign promise to bring about “peace with honor.”

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