Name:__________________________________________________ Date:____________ Class:___________
President Richard Nixon and The Vietnam War
Nixon Takes Over the Vietnam War
- In 1969, Richard Nixon was sworn in as President and inherited the Vietnam War. He wanted to
pull troops out. Yet, he wanted North Vietnam to lose its power over the South
- ____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
- Yet, North Vietnam wanted the Vietcong militants, who supported the North, to rule alongside
South Vietnam leaders. In the long term, the North wanted Communism to dominate the South.
Vietnamization
- Henry Kissinger, an aid to Nixon, called for the gradual withdrawal of US troops to let the South
Vietnam soldiers take on their own fight against the North. This was called Vietnamization.
- By 1972, the USA had returned over 450,000 soldiers from Vietnam.
- ____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Many Protest the War Back in the USA
- When Nixon announced his intent to attack in Cambodia, over a million college students led
protests across the nation.
- Still, Nixon claimed there was a “silent majority” who supported his war plans, even though the
“hippies” and protesters were more vocal in their protest.
- ____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
The Pentagon Papers
- ____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
- Even though Nixon was a Republican, and LBJ a Democrat, this incident caused many to
distrust the government at large.
- By the early 1970s, most Americans wanted the Vietnam War to end and Nixon had little public
support to continue with the conflict.
The End of the Vietnam War
- On January 27, 1973, at the Paris Peace Accords, the USA agreed to evacuate its troop
presence in Vietnam. This did not end the war. Yet, it ended the USA’s involvement in the
conflict.
- President Gerald Ford took power in 1974 and continued to keep American troops out of
Vietnam. In April of 1975, the North Vietnamese military seized Saigon, the South’s capital.
- ____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
Copyright, USHistoryTeachers.com
All Rights Reserved.
Name:__________________________________________________ Date:____________ Class:___________
FULL NOTES:
President Richard Nixon and The Vietnam War
Nixon Takes Over the Vietnam War
- In 1969, Richard Nixon was sworn in as President and inherited the Vietnam War. He
wanted to pull troops out. Yet, he wanted North Vietnam to lose its power over the South
- Nguyen Van Thieu was now the leader of South Vietnam and was recognized by the USA
as the authentic leader of the South.
- Yet, North Vietnam wanted the Vietcong militants, who supported the North, to rule
alongside South Vietnam leaders. In the long term, the North wanted Communism to
dominate the South.
Vietnamization
- Henry Kissinger, an aid to Nixon, called for the gradual withdrawal of US troops to let the
South Vietnam soldiers take on their own fight against the North. This was called
Vietnamization.
- By 1972, the USA had returned over 450,000 soldiers from Vietnam.
- Many troops came home. Still, Nixon ordered massive bombing campaigns on North
Vietnam and its neighbors Laos and Cambodia, which had Vietcong militants in them that
had attacked the USA soldiers many times.
Many Protest the War Back in the USA
- When Nixon announced his intent to attack in Cambodia, over a million college students led
protests across the nation.
- Still, Nixon claimed there was a “silent majority” who supported his war plans, even though
the “hippies” and protesters were more vocal in their protest.
- On May 4th, 1970, at Kent State University in Ohio, several students were wounded and two
killed when the National Guard, fearing for their safety, fired into the crowd of students
protesting the Vietnam War.
The Pentagon Papers
- Daniel Ellsberg leaked the Pentagon Papers, which revealed that President Johnson was
planning for war even when he promised to end the conflict in Vietnam.
- Even though Nixon was a Republican, and LBJ a Democrat, this incident caused many to
distrust the government at large.
- By the early 1970s, most Americans wanted the Vietnam War to end and Nixon had little
public support to continue with the conflict.
The End of the Vietnam War
- On January 27, 1973, at the Paris Peace Accords, the USA agreed to evacuate its troop
presence in Vietnam. This did not end the war. Yet, it ended the USA’s involvement in the
conflict.
- President Gerald Ford took power in 1974 and continued to keep American troops out of
Vietnam. In April of 1975, the North Vietnamese military seized Saigon, the South’s capital.
- South Vietnam surrendered to the North and fell to Communism. Over 58,000 Americans
had died in the conflict. Millions in North and South Vietnam had been killed as well
throughout the war.
Copyright, USHistoryTeachers.com
All Rights Reserved.
Copyright, USHistoryTeachers.com
All Rights Reserved.