Chapter 29: War Abroad, War at Home
Watergate Scandal
CREEP team trying to install listening devices on Democrats HQ arrested, Nixon's attempts to stop investigation furthered suspicions. Watergate tapes showed Nixon raving, anti-Semitic, efforts of public harassment through federal programs, and revealed him ordering Watergate. Adopted 3 articles of impeachment, had been scandalous since previous VP admittingly resigned in disgrace, Nixon also resigned with certain impeachment Political/1972/America
Ping-Pong Diplomacy
China too important to ignore, could be ally b/c not close w/ USSR. Ping-pong diplomacy to meet w/ China, using table tennis players to bridge gap. Weakened Nationalists in Taiwan & USSR. Interact-Polit/1971/China-America
Operation Rolling Thunder
Justified Operation Rolling Thunder because of a Vietcong attack on U.S. marine base. Hoped bombing would scare Vietcong, sent troops as well, up to 431k, but not close to victory Interactions/Mar 1965-68/Vietnam
My Lai Massacre
Killing of 22 Viet civilians by U.S. forces during search-and-destroy mission. Lieutenant in charge court-martialed, 350 raped/beat. Life imprisonment> 10 years> released after 3 in house arrest. Interactions/1968/Vietnam
Cesar Chavez
Latino American civil rights leader, co-found National Farm Workers Association, nonviolent. Organized labor. Spearheaded migrant union of UFW, nationwide boycotts. Social-Polit/1962-93/Arizona, U.S.
The Tet Offensive
Vietcong plan of attack, pushed U.S. back heavily> 1.6k deaths, 8k wounded, 40k Vietcong dead. Broke perceptions of 'almost beaten' Viets, showed the devastation on TVs. First time of strong opposition (49%) and many saw it as hopeless; student demonstrations throughout Europe. Johnson decided to resign (ended like Truman still) and seek peace with North Vietnam Interactions/1968/Vietnam
Kent State Shootings
Weekend of antiwar demonstrations b/c invasion of Cambodia. Ohio National Guardsmen fired 67 bullets, killed 4, wound 9. Led to mass demonstrations against war and inc violence; 5m students on strike, boycotting classes, and even U.S. troops refused to invade Cambodia further. Political/1970/Ohio
Nixon's Role in Vietnam
4 more years in Vietnam before ending, mostly b/c Henry Kissinger, didn't want America to look weak> over powered those against war. Claimed to be seeking way to turn to Viet effort, but instead finding way to win; invaded Cambodia so they could surround North Vietnam, much protest, Senate tried outlawing funds for military, Nixon had planned to negotiate removal of Viet and U.S troops at same time, couldn't now. Still didn't want to submit, sent S. Viets to cut Laos supply lines, failed. Massive bombing of Cambodia/N. Vietnam, secret negotiation to withdraw troops+ get back prisoners of war, S. Viets didn't accept, signed Paris Peace Agreement to stop bombing, would have been same if done 1969. N. Viets took over Saigon, Communists united nation; U.S. lost 58k and $150b, failed goal and lost post in SE Asia, and proved containment impossible. Horrors like My Lai Polit.-Interactions/1969-1975/Vietnam
Counterculture
Free speech movement develop on UCB campus, prevented booths from being setup on campus> 7000 crowd, sit-ins and marching> 800 protestors arrested. Students wanted less regulated classes and more freedoms, treatment like adults. Counterculture: hippie culture rises (75k), spread from SF went to U.S. major cities> Boston/Seattle/Detroit. Premarital sex outbreak, birth control pills take away possibility of children. Mood-altering drugs popular, hallucinogens; LSD and marijuana popular, new rock music, electric guitar, felt liberated from tense war climate Culture/1964-67+/California
Johnson's War
Johnson made decision to engage in war, didn't want to engage and lose, hurting campaign, but didn't want to be like Truman. As losing, made plans to bomb North Vietnam; got Congress approval in Tonikin Gulf resolution (right to do necessary actions to protect troops from further aggression), although campaigned w/ call for restraint (mass popularity). Seemed losing: decide send troops to Vietnam Political/Aug 1964/Vietnam
Chicano Rebellion
Militant Mexican Americans, want recognition as diff, student strikes to recognize Mexican American culture, boycotts and sit-ins. Brown Berets (like Black Panthers) to deal w/ community issues and encourage teenage pride in being Chicano; had ran health clinic, newspaper. Chicano nationalism: Crusade for Justice to protest antipoverty failure, LRUP and MAYO all in political protest. Discovered local officials couldn't do anything about poverty, and poor were even less confident in politics. Projected through art forms, drama, film, murals, music. Society-Polit/1967/America
American Indian Movement (AIM)
Pan-Indian, led by American Indian Movement, mostly young urban Indians, AIM first to monitor police harassment, turned to organizing Indians in urban centers and publicizing protest. Formed b/c Alcatraz occupation, technically owned it and wanted funds to build cultural center there, didn't achieve goals but helped to rekindle their spirit. Trail of Broken Treaties of protest, seek to restore treaty rights, were attacked by FBI agents. Biggest moment in 'Longest Walk:' 5mnth protest march from SF- Washington D.C., emphasis on Indian removal, winning some land back from court victories, but still suffered from dumping, alcohol abuse, overpopulation of lands (NARF, Blue Lake). Indian Renaissance in literature, Custer Died for Your Sins Social-Polit/1968/America
The Great Society
Planned to build Great Society: pushed for reform. Office of Economic Opportunity coordinated programs to improve education/employment; vocational training either out-dated or poor job providing. Education of VISTA helped bring thousands to aid in social service. Community Action Program got communities to try and mobilize resource together. Problems with who should control funds; felt that federal trying to put their power in. Most successful were national emphasis programs, like Legal services Program and Head Start and Follow Through to help poor legally and educationally. Unequal wealth distribution never dealt with, the root of the problem. Most social welfare payments went to Medicare for aged. War on Poverty = dream, too expensive to deal with, OEO expired, but Johnson had made biggest effort of any president Society-Polit/1964-74/America
Stonewall Riot
Police raids and harassment on gay bars, NYC gay crackdown and harassment, provoked gay uprising in Stonewall Riot; united gays, who formed Gay Liberation Front, doing public protest, aiding antiwar. Policy changes: network of benevolent clergy, reclassified from mental illness, end ban on employing gays. Gay liberation also encouraged 'coming out' among the public Society/1966/NYC
Role of Media in Vietnam
Popularity skyrocketed w/ Tonikin, but manipulation of media led to distrust. Devastation on TVs dropped justification for war, News reports showed the new bombs and weaponry, and attacks on civilians. Newspapers charged deceit of bombing runs. Critics like William Fulbright argued that Democrats should oppose Johnson and his war effort, European allies asked for restraint, Congress sent appeal to UN to end hostilities Society/1967/America-Vietnam
Tonkin Gulf Resolution
Request to Congress from President Lyndon Johnson in response to North Vietnamese torpedo boat attacks in which he sought authorization for "all necessary measures" to protect American forces and stop further aggression. Political/Aug 1964/Vietnam
Black Power/Panther
Self-determination/sufficiency heavily advocated, separatists ideas also rose among people. Black Panther Party in Oakland advocate better conditions, were militant in their style, against police, folk heroes, helped give food, med aid. Third world studies protests on campuses, cultural nationalism became something big. New African American holiday Kwanzaa, African dress/hairdos, and names Culture/1966/America
SALT I
Treaty signed by U.S/USSR to slow nuclear arms race. First success at slowing arms race. Limited measure. Political/1972/U.S.-Russia
