Ending the War in Vietnam

This section explores how the Vietnam War ended. The Vietnam War, which had been raging for over a decade, reached a critical point in 1968. Faced with growing domestic and international criticism, President Lyndon B. Johnson made a momentous announcement: he would halt the bombing of North Vietnam and, crucially, would not seek re-election in 1969. His decision to step down marked a turning point in American involvement in Vietnam. In January 1969, Richard Nixon succeeded him as President of the United States, inheriting a conflict that had already cost thousands of American lives and was increasingly unpopular.

Vietnamisation

Richard Nixon, a staunch anti-communist, inherited a war that was not only costly but also deeply divisive at home. Nixon understood that the war’s unpopularity was growing and wanted to find a way to ease tensions while securing a path to peace. One of his key strategies was Vietnamisation, a policy outlined in a speech on 25th July 1969. This policy aimed to gradually withdraw US forces from Vietnam and transfer the responsibility for the war to the South Vietnamese army. The idea was to "train and equip" the South Vietnamese military so that they could independently defend their country from communist forces.

In effect, Vietnamisation signified the beginning of a drawdown of American troops in Vietnam, while still providing extensive military and financial support to South Vietnam. Nixon’s approach was rooted in the belief that the South Vietnamese needed to shoulder more of the burden of fighting the Vietcong and North Vietnamese Army (NVA), rather than relying on American forces.

At the same time, Nixon understood that a military solution alone would not end the war. He believed that pressure on North Vietnam could encourage the North Vietnamese to come to the negotiating table. As such, he escalated the bombing campaign against North Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia, with the goal of disrupting the critical Ho Chi Minh Trail, which was used by the North Vietnamese to supply the Vietcong in the South. The bombing raids were intended to weaken the enemy’s logistics and to force North Vietnam to make concessions in peace talks, which had been taking place intermittently since early 1969.

Diplomatic Engagement and Cold War Politics

Although Nixon’s primary focus was the Vietnam War, his broader foreign policy approach also played a key role in his decisions regarding the conflict. Nixon was keenly aware of the escalating tensions of the Cold War, particularly between the United States, China, and the Soviet Union. He understood that a prolonged and increasingly unpopular war in Vietnam could risk further straining relations with these communist powers and potentially escalate into a larger conflict, including the possibility of nuclear war.

One of Nixon’s most famous diplomatic efforts was his approach to China, which he believed could help ease Cold War tensions. In 1971, a breakthrough occurred when the US table tennis team visited China for a friendly match – an event that was symbolically significant in thawing relations between the two nations. This diplomatic initiative, known as ping pong diplomacy, led to a dramatic shift in US foreign policy. Nixon himself visited China in 1972, marking the first time an American president had set foot in the country since its communist revolution. This visit led to improved trade relations between the two nations, as well as a shift in the global balance of power.

Nixon’s diplomatic efforts were not limited to China. In 1972, he also visited the Soviet Union, furthering his policy of easing tensions between the superpowers. These efforts to improve relations with China and the Soviet Union helped ease the strain of the Cold War and provided a backdrop for Nixon’s strategy in Vietnam. By opening dialogue with these communist powers, Nixon sought to create an international environment where the US could disengage from Vietnam while maintaining its global influence.

Escalation of Bombing Campaigns

While pursuing diplomacy, Nixon also took aggressive military action. Despite his plan to withdraw US troops through Vietnamisation, he escalated the bombing campaigns against North Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. The bombing had two primary objectives:

Disrupting the Ho Chi Minh Trail

The Ho Chi Minh Trail was an extensive network of supply routes running from North Vietnam to South Vietnam, passing through Laos and Cambodia. This was a crucial logistical artery for the North Vietnamese, allowing them to send weapons, supplies, and reinforcements to the Vietcong and North Vietnamese Army operating in South Vietnam. Nixon ordered bombing raids on this trail, aiming to disrupt these supply lines and hinder the Vietcong’s ability to fight.

Pressuring North Vietnam to Negotiate 

Nixon's strategy also aimed to force North Vietnam back to the negotiating table. Initial peace talks, which had begun in early 1969, were proving unproductive. Nixon believed that intensifying the bombing campaign would force North Vietnamese leaders to recognise the United States’ military resolve and push them into making compromises during peace negotiations.

This escalation of bombing led to significant casualties and widespread destruction in North Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia. However, it also drew heavy criticism, both internationally and domestically. Many questioned the morality and effectiveness of indiscriminate bombing campaigns, especially as they were unable to decisively end the war or force North Vietnam to agree to a peace settlement.

The Paris Peace Accords

Despite the increased bombing and military pressure, peace negotiations between the US and North Vietnam ultimately resulted in the Paris Peace Accords, signed in January 1973. The Accords called for a ceasefire, the withdrawal of all US troops, and the eventual reunification of Vietnam. However, crucial issues such as the future of the South Vietnamese government and the continued presence of North Vietnamese troops in the South were left unresolved. As a result, fighting continued after the US withdrawal, and in 1975, North Vietnam succeeded in uniting the country under communist rule.

The Legacy of Nixon’s Policies

Nixon’s policies towards Vietnam left a mixed legacy. On the one hand, Vietnamisation marked the beginning of the US’s exit from Vietnam, bringing home most American soldiers. On the other hand, the strategy of escalating bombing and expanding the war into neighbouring countries like Cambodia and Laos alienated public opinion and deepened distrust of the US government. The eventual fall of Saigon in 1975 marked the defeat of South Vietnam and the end of the war, highlighting the limits of Nixon's efforts to secure a favourable outcome.

In retrospect, Nixon’s presidency can be seen as the period when the US began to confront the reality of its military failure in Vietnam. The policy of Vietnamisation reflected an attempt to extricate the US from the war without a total defeat, but the long-term outcome was still a communist victory in the region. Nixon’s broader foreign policy, however, contributed to easing Cold War tensions and reshaping US relations with China and the Soviet Union.

Ultimately, the end of the Vietnam War marked a significant moment in US history, one that forced the country to reassess its role in global conflicts and the effectiveness of its military interventions.