Chapter 30: The Turbulent Sixties, 1960-1969 (#3) Johnson Escalates the Vietnam War
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| The Return of Richard Nixon
1968 – two dominant events of the decade take place the war in Vietnam the cultural insurgency at home Richard Nixon – would stage a remarkable comeback to win the post denied him in 1960 Vietnam Undermines Lyndon Johnson North Vietnamese – began a prolonged siege of an American base at Khe Sanh Westmoreland – rushed in reinforcements – more than 40% of all American infantry and armor battalions Tet – Vietnamese New Year, Vietcong launched a surprise attack in the heavily populated cities on January 30, 1968 American and South Vietnamese forces succeeded in repulsing the Tet offensive quickly everywhere except in Hue – the old imperial capital Tet – proved to be the turning point of the Vietnam War communists failed to win control of the cities – still held on to the most of the rural areas and had scored an impressive political victory Walter Cronkite – the bloody experience of Vietnam is to end in stalemate group of experienced cold warriors advised the president – decided to limit the bombing of North Vietnam in an effort to open up peace negotiations with Hanoi three years of inconclusive fighting and a steadily mounting loss of American lives had disillusioned the American people and finally cost LBJ the presidency full price was still unknown – the Vietnam experience would continue to cast a shadow over American life for years to come The Democrats Divide Senate Foreign Relations Committee – held probing hearings on the war – broadcast on the television to the entire USA Eugene McCarthy – challenged LBJ for the party’s presidential nomination in the New Hampshire primary – came within a few thousand votes of defeating President Johnson Robert Kennedy – had been weighing the risks in challenging Johnson on whether he should enter the presidential race attracted strong support among blue-collar workers, African Americans, Chicanos, and other minorities who formed the nucleus of the continuing New Deal coalition LBJ’s dramatic withdrawal caused an uproar Vice President Hubert H. Humphrey – immediately declared his candidacy he was totally unacceptable to the antiwar movement decided to avoid the primaries and work for the nomination within the framework of the party Kennedy and McCarthy – the two antiwar candidates were left to compete in the spring primaries Kennedy – won everywhere, except in Oregon narrow victory in California ended in tragedy when a Palestinian immigrant (Sirhan Sirhan) assassinated him in a Los Angeles hotel Hubert Humphrey – had little difficulty at the Chicago convention triumph was marred by violence outside the heavily guarded convention hall radical groups had urged their members to come to Chicago to agitate the bitter fumes of tear gas hung in the streets for days afterward – battered heads and bodies of demonstrators and innocent bystanders alike flooded the city’s hospital emergency rooms the Democratic party itself had become the next victim of the Vietnam War The Republican Resurgence primary beneficiary of the Democratic debacle was Richard Nixon Nixon – had slowly rebuilt his place within the party by working loyally for Barry Goldwater positioning himself squarely in the middle – quickly became the front-runner for the Republican nomination Nixon – opened up a wide lead by avoiding controversy and reaping the benefits of discontent with the Vietnam War chose the role of reconciler for a nation torn by emotion – leader who promised to bring a divided country together again Humphrey – found himself hounded by antiwar demonstrators who heckled him constantly a third-party candidate cut deeply into the normal Democratic majority George Wallace – attacked both black leaders and their liberal white allies – appealed to the sense of powerlessness among the urban working classes American Independent Party Nixon – won the election with the smallest share of the popular vote of any winning candidate since 1916 silent majority that was fed up with violence and confrontation growing concern over psychedelic drugs, rock music, long hair, and sexual permissiveness had offset the usual Democratic advantage on economic issues and led to the election of a Republican president civil rights, Medicare, and federal aid to education would continue in place Nixon’s triumph – signaled a strong reaction against the growth of federal power Vietnam fiasco – spelled the end of activist foreign policy that had begun with American entry into World War II containment – had proved a disastrous failure when applied on a global scale last three decades of the 20th century – struggle to replace outmoded liberal internationalism with new policies at home and abroad Download 28.13 Kb. Share with your friends:
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