Nixon and continuing protest

In January 1969, Richard Milhous Nixon (1913 - 1994 shown left) was sworn in as US president, promising to acheive in Vietnam 'peace with honour'. He wished to see an end to the war and troops coming home and improve relations with the communists - but not just yet. Negotiations might be taking place in Geneva to end the war, but the Americans would stay in Vietnam until the South Vietnamese were able to fight the Vietcong. Protests against the war continued. Whilst Richard Nixon seemed to be promising an eventual end to the fighting, the war appeared to be escalating. In March 1969, Nixon ordered the secret bombing of Cambodia - although this was totally against international law - because the Vietcong were using it as a base to attack South Vietnam. Yet in June he announced the first withdrawals of US troops. Nixon was elected President in 1968 mainly because he promised to 'de-Americanize' the war. American troops would slowly be brought home, but the war would go on until 'peace with honour' had been won. For this, a policy of 'Vietnamization' would be followed. The soldiers of the South Vietnamese army would have to fight. The Americans would train and equip them but eventually pull out. Most important of all, the US Air Force would continue to support South Vietnam and would bomb the North and other targets, if necessary.

Peace talks

No. of US personnel in Vietnam

Date

Total Personnel

31st December 1960

900

31st December 1961

3,200

31st December 1962

11,500

31st December 1963

16,300

31st December 1964

23,300

31st December 1965

184,300

31st December 1966

425,300

31st December 1967

485,600

31st December 1968

536,100

31st December 1969

474,400

31st December 1970

335,800

9th June 1971

250,900

In May 1968, peace talks between the US and North Vietnam began in Paris. After 1 year, no progress had been made. The North Vietnamese wanted the whole of Vietnam to be reunited, but the Americans wanted North and South to remain separate. North Vietnam wanted the communist NLF to be part of the new government in the south but the Americans wanted North Vietnamese and American troops to leave South Vietnam, followed by free elections. Nixon believed that bombing the North would make them accept peace. He was wrong. By October 1972, a peace agreement had been worked out between the USA and North Vietnam, four and a half years after negotiations had begun. The chief North Vietnamese negotiator was Le Duc Tho. Henry Kissinger represented the US. The terms of the peace agreement were:

  • All fighting throughout Indo-China would stop.
  • American troops would withdraw from Vietnam within 60 days of the end of the fighting.
  • American prisoners of war, about 700, would be freed.
  • Elections would be held in the South to choose a new government.
  • Each side would stay only in those areas it controlled when the fighting stopped.

    Nguyen Van Thieu, the South Vietnamese President was furious at these terms. He realized that South Vietnam would be at the mercy of the North, but Kissinger was anxious for an agreement to be signed. The US Presidential elections were due in November. If the war could finally be ended, Nixon was certain to win the election. When Van Thieu rejected the agreement, North Vietnam broke off negotiations. On 18th December 1972, Nixon ordered another massive bombing of the North. The North started negotiations again and Van Thieu was forced to accept the agreement. It was signed in Paris on 27th January 1973.

    The Americans withdraw

    In April 1969, the number of US troops in Vietnam was 484,330. In June, Nixon announced the withdrawal of 25,000 troops and a further 35,000 in September. By the end of 1971, only 158,000 remained. At the end of March 1973, the remaining 691 American prisoners in North Vietnamese hands had been handed back. The last American troops left Saigon on 29th March 1973. For the Americans, the Vietnam War was over, but not for the South Vietnamese. Also on this page is a table showing how many American personnel were in Vietnam, in the 1960's.

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