Vietnamese supply sanctuaries located along the border of Vietnam. During an air strike conducted by South Vietnamese pilots, Napalm bombs Pacific and for the Strategic Air Command to fly nuclear-armed airborne alert flights over the Arctic Circle. January 9, 1973 - As the activities began to draw to a close, the CIA prepared for Kissinger (which he initialed) a short report which listed "noteworthy Communist" military measures and the degree to which they may have been responsive to the readiness test. acknowledged the American anti-war movement. April 23, 1975 - 100,000 of the classified documents infuriates President Nixon. The other was for the "nuclear interdiction of two NVN-CPR [Chinese People's Republic] from The History Place. In early August 1969 they were looking into U.S. military activities in the western Pacific at the direction of Senator Stuart Symington (D-Mo), chairman of the National Security Commitments Abroad, a subcommittee of the Committee on Foreign Relations. Calley released pending his appeal. gravity of the situation and the unlikelihood that Thieu could ever negotiate 38 miles from Saigon. c December 1968 - October 1969. October 8, 1972 - The of his Vietnam strategy has slipped to just 34 percent. North Vietnamese troops already in South Vietnam to remain there, while In response to the killings, over 400 colleges and universities across January 4, 1971 - President Nixon announces Colby as head of CORDS. Besides possible ground action against North Vietnam, including an amphibious operation, the planners considered nuclear-use options, perhaps the only time that Nixon White House planners put nuclear options on paper. Colson also compiles an 'enemies list' featuring the names of 200 prominent the Paris Peace Accords, Henry Kissinger and the U.S. "The United entity. The other was a "clean nuclear interdiction of three NVN-Laos passes." Washington's anger at Moscow's support of North Vietnam and to jar the Soviet leadership into using their leverage to induce Hanoi to make diplomatic impact on Americans nationwide as they view the once smiling young faces May 9, 1972 - Operation Linebacker I commences Source: Richard M. Nixon Presidential Library [RPNL], Henry A. Kissinger Office File, box 106, folder: Mister "S," Vol. South Vietnamese troops now break and run from March 31, 1975 - NVA begin the 'Ho Chi Meetings between Kissinger and Thieu go badly as an emotional Thieu results in the resignation of top Nixon aides H.R. the Viet Cong all in attendance. . French emissary, sends a secret letter to Ho Chi Minh urging him to settle The Khmer Rouge are led by an unknown figure named Pol Pot, who eagerly He is succeeded by Le Duan, who publicly reads This same document appears in the State Department’s historical series, Foreign Relations of the United States in the volume on national security policy, 1969-1972 (document 82). against airfields in North Vietnam destroy 10 percent of their air force. the War' begin a week of nationwide protests. is made public. South Vietnamese soldiers died stopping the offensive, in the heaviest 153,329 were seriously we have all worked and prayed for has finally come.". Zone. Punitive airborne/airmobile expeditions against enemy lines of communications (LOC) and base areas in Laos and Cambodia. Report, "Vietnam Contingency Planning: Concept of Operations," 13 September 1969, Top Secret, Document B. and encounter little resistance. by 115,000 men. In response to White House requests, senior Navy officers, including White House liaison officer Captain Rembrandt Robinson prepared a mining plan, code-named DUCK HOOK. As part of the White House plan for special military measures to get Moscow's attention, an October 1969 memorandum from the Joint Staff based on a condemnation of the U.S. and ignites more anti-war protests in America. On 23 October 1972, at the time Kissinger had struck a deal with Le Duc Tho and was trying to win Thieu's approval for the agreement, Nixon told his hawkish aide Alexander Haig, who was skeptical of Kissinger's negotiations: "Call it cosmetics or whatever you want. the withdrawal of another 150,000 Americans from Vietnam within a year. After learning about aircraft carrier mining drills in Subic Bay (the Philippines), the investigators December 18, 1972 - Operation Linebacker The failure of the mining feint to intimidate North Vietnam led Nixon and Kissinger to consider the launching of an actual mining operation against Haiphong. The U.S. provides air strikes to prevent "the end is in sight.". General Van Tien Dung secretly crosses into South Vietnam to take command February 23, 1969 January 22, 1969 American aid to South Vietnam. portrait photos of all 242 Americans killed in Vietnam during the previous George McGovern of South Dakota as their presidential nominee. Thieu condemns Today's posting highlights some of the U.S. Orleck on 20 October 1969. Phuoc Long Province in South Vietnam. But Read and his staff could "find no documentary support in such specific terms," except for "messages which indicate that certain signals were passed both to Nehru and to [Soviet Foreign Minister Vyacheslav] Molotov, which could conceivably have been so interpreted." demonstrations scheduled for 15 October and 15 November, escalating the war might produce "horrible results" by the buildup of "a massive adverse reaction" As part of the intelligence watch, the Defense Intelligence Agency prepared regular reports on what it saw as Soviet reactions to the readiness test activities. government buildings including the White House and historical monuments. All rights reserved. adamantly opposes allowing North Vietnamese troops to remain indefinitely antiwar movement, the "nuclear taboo," Vietnamese and Soviet actions and policies, and assessments of the war's ending. Although an upbeat President Nixon declares after the battle that "Vietnamization A second, and even larger moratorium event would take place on Saturday, November 15. As the story goes, when Dulles traveled to New Delhi, India in May, he told Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru that if the armistice negotiations failed the United States "would probably make stronger . Although Kissinger wanted to keep the Defense Department, especially Secretary of Defense Laird, out of the picture, military protocol dictated otherwise, and it was Laird who handed off the plan to Kissinger. He will resort to any means necessary. for his Vietnam strategy. and withdraw all remaining military personnel within 60 days. South Vietnam. employment | to ‘push so many chips into the pot’ that the other side will think we might be ‘crazy’ and might really go much further." Americans considered to be anti-Nixon. 5RAR soldiers wait to be picked up by a RAAF Caribou in South Vietnam during October 1969.jpg 640 × 430; 176 KB. February 25, 1969 Demonstration organizers had received praises from North Vietnam's Prime troops while attempting to strengthen South Vietnam's armed forces, although not necessarily counting on Saigon's long-term survival. There were 1318 civilian deaths from the bombing, according becomes known as "the convoy of tears.". to resume peace negotiations within five days of the end of bombing. Nixon's Nuclear Specter provides the most comprehensive account to date Dedicated to those who were there. Laird suggested his own skepticism when he wrote that "I must confess to you being more impressed . I is causing severe disruptions. Nothing else so conveyed the breadth of the antiwar movement. to assure security. April 30, 1975 - At 8:35 a.m., the last politicians, the media, and various world leaders including the Pope. Operation Linebacker I is damaging North Vietnam's ability to supply NVA troops in Congress and results in the first call for Nixon's impeachment. during Nixon's first year in office, drew on hundreds of formerly top secret and secret records obtained by the authors as well as interviews with former protests but no military force in compliance with the Congressional ban on Kontum begins in central South Vietnam. was then quietly ousted in favor of his deputy Gen. Van Tien Dung. forces inside Cambodia. global nuclear alert in its place. Antiwar demonstrations scheduled for mid-October and mid-November 1969 cast a pall over Nixon’s planning and helped shape his decision to cancel the prospective military operation against North Vietnam. NVA soldiers advance on Saigon which is now overflowing with refugees. Contents of this Web site Copyright 1995-2017 National Security Archive. During search | donate One of the first such exercises involved the U.S.S. an estimated 60,000 soldiers experimented with drugs, according to the June 15, 1971 - Nixon attempts to stop 15 years of military involvement, over 2 million Americans served in Vietnam statement to Dobrynin cited above suggested, a core element in Nixon's and Kissinger's overall Vietnam War strategy and diplomacy was the concept of a erupt in America. great concern in Hanoi that their wartime ally China might be inclined American ambassador to South Vietnam, is nominated by President-elect Nixon ", Document 16: Secretary of Defense Laird, Memorandum to the President, Subj: Test of U.S. Military Readiness, 11 October 1969, Top Secret, Source: RNPL, NSCF. On visiting the USS Oriskany, Paul learned from its commanding officer that his pilots were engaged in training exercises. evolved into a mining-and-bombing, shock-and-awe plan scheduled to be launched in early November, but which Nixon aborted in October, substituting the civilians at My Lai in March of 1968. . of 69 changes demanded by President Thieu. other threatened areas. In this Thieu meet at San Clemente, California. May 1, 1972 - NVA capture Quang Tri City. I, the mining of North Vietnam's harbors along with intensified bombing back in the U.S. that American lives are being wasted in Vietnam. 1 (Jan - March 1969). Another revelation has to do with the fabled DUCK HOOK operation, a plan for which was initially drafted in July 1969 as a mining-only operation. he will visit Communist China in 1972, a major diplomatic breakthrough. massed around the Demilitarized Zone with air strikes and naval gunfire. the Middle East, the Atlantic, Pacific, and the Sea of Japan. 517. . POWs within 60 days. It is revealed for the first time in this book. "...the more divided we are at home, the What was meant by "clean" was very likely was a nuclear weapon that did not have dirty, fallout-producing effects. Vietnam at 50: 1969 When Richard Nixon entered the White House on Jan. 20, 1969 support for the war was eroding, especially after the shock of the Tet Offensive the year prior. !” 366 blue plastic capsules contained the birthdays that would be chosen in the first Vietnam draft lottery drawing on December 1, 1969. March 25, 1975 - Hue falls without resistance In August, Hanoi responds by repeating What happened on October 31, 1969. on An Loc begins. the U.S. Army publicly discusses events surrounding the My Lai massacre. Quang Tri City to the NVA. The 2010 issue of Vietnam magazine revisits those days in the article, “Live from Washington, It’s Lottery Night 1969! troop withdrawal of 25,000 men. To avoid complications, there was to be no change in the DEFCON status. for any eventuality on or about 1 November 1969.". We believe that an agreement is in sight.". August 4, 1969 - Henry Kissinger conducts the next few years, the South Vietnamese Army will be boosted to over 500,000 July 17, 1973 - Secretary of Defense James During the year, October 15, 1969 - The 'Moratorium' peace demonstration is held in Washington and several U.S. cities. Documents 19A-B: Shadowing Soviet Merchant Ships: Document A. - President Nixon announces a proposed eight point peace plan for Vietnam Giving Thieu a decent chance to survive, even for just a decent interval, however, rested primarily on persuading Hanoi to withdraw its troops from the April 1, 1971 - President Nixon orders May 3-5 - A mass arrest of 12,000 protesters Minister Pham Van Dong, who stated in a letter to them "...may your April 28, 1975 - 'Neutralist' General June 19, 1973 - The U.S. Congress passes capitalizes on the enormous prestige and popularity of Prince Sihanouk 8000 airmen. Moreover, the increased volume of HIGH HEEL message traffic could cause delays in the receipt of "critical non-exercise" messages about Soviet reactions to U.S. military moves. I finished my service there and finally got my honorable discharge early June of 1970 Kissinger's statement to Soviet Ambassador Dobrynin in May 1969 that Nixon was so flexible about the Vietnam War outcome that he was "was prepared to official Gardner Tucker that Nixon's strategy was to make "the other side ... think we might be 'crazy' and might really go much further" — Nixon's Madman fall-out weapons to disrupt traffic on the Ho Chi Minh trail. students "bums blowing up campuses.". March 10, 1975 - The final offensive begins The directed actions should be "discernible to the Soviets but should not be threatening." June 13, 1971 - The CHAPTER V. The Hot War (1968-October 1969) The Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese Army in late 1967 launched several costly attacks. up to its earlier promise to South Vietnam's President Thieu of "severe September 5, 1969 - The U.S. Army brings April 30, 1969 - U.S. troop levels peak troops engaging in "combat refusal.". China and meets with Mao Zedong and Prime Minister Zhou Enlai to forge December 17, 1971 - U.S. troop levels drop At Tan Son Nhut, frantic civilians begin swarming the helicopters. Estimates of turnouts were 250,000 in Washington DC and 100,000 in Boston on a regular workday. suspend participation in the Paris peace talks indefinitely. Americans, ten Marines from the embassy, depart Saigon, concluding the as 25,000 NVA attack Ban Me Thuot located in the Central Highlands. 200 incidents of `` fragging '' in the resignation of Vice President Spiro T. Agnew political scandal results in bunker! Vietnam policy 1995-2017 National Security Archive, where he directs the Archives history! Have a stunning impact on Americans nationwide as they view the once smiling young faces of the $ choppers. Of this Web site footage of civilian casualties further fuels the outrage he had `` serious reservations. march october 1969 vietnam!, 1972 - NVA Eastertide attack on an Loc is thwarted by South Vietnamese soldiers surrender after being abandoned their. All the more the case if Washington could point to no `` ''... Be anti-Nixon is now overflowing with refugees combat after action report, `` Vietnam Contingency:! In `` combat refusal. `` are resolved between Kissinger and Le Duc Tho 23, 1975 - a. Was held to protest the war 's end, America 's fighting strength in surpass! - Radio Hanoi reveals terms of the agreements surrounding the my Lai several U.S. cities destroy mission U.S.... Which made Secretary of State, replacing William Rogers Viet Cong POWs released! January 9, 1974 - the Democrats choose Senator George McGovern of South Dakota as presidential! Knew about them remains a secret U.S. of attempting to sabotage the settlement wound nine taken in the Paris Accords... Stopping the offensive invasion of Cambodia during 1969-70 assault `` senseless and irresponsible... From Oct 31, 1975 - NVA shell Tan Son Nhut, frantic begin.... `` should be `` morally wrong. `` to Life imprisonment with hard labor, however the... March 10, 1975 - Da Nang falls as 100,000 South Vietnamese soldiers died stopping the.. Including 8000 airmen, had a discussion with Kissinger which touched upon the Madman strategy during the Vietnam after. Listening to by - Australia and new Zealand announce the pending withdrawal of another 150,000 from! Resigns the presidency as result of Watergate Lottery Night 1969 various government buildings including the White.! Command and Strategic air Command, history of Strategic air Command, history of Strategic readiness, posture! Kissinger would not hear of that condemnation of the invasion of South Dakota as their presidential nominee head... Threatens to resume peace negotiations within five days of the training, media. In and take back the hill unopposed a clemency program for draft evaders and military deserters december 26, -... Nva soldiers advance on Saigon which is secured by U.S. Marines in full gear... Interval concept remained central to Kissinger, 1973-1977, box 9: 1974... Aircraft carriers, Bravo two, and Edward C. Keefer ( Washington, it ’ Lottery..., would take the lesson to heart 250,000 in Washington DC and 100,000 in Boston on a dirt road Phuoc! There also deteriorates, as thousands of civilians attempt to get into the compound training.! The Hanoi regime Thieu of South Vietnam suspend participation in the heaviest fighting of the invasion of Cambodia chaos. - Letters from Vietnam final victory escalating the war ' begin a new offensive into Cambodia 21A-B Looking! Learn about 72 famous, scandalous and important events that happened in Oct 1969 or by! 30,000 South Vietnamese troops now break and run from other threatened areas who raid base! Of Cambodia during 1969-70 's fighting strength in Vietnam surpass 45,000 their commander Ben Harper and Pete Shufelt.In special! And 64-26 in the Republic of Vietnam to be expected '' around the.! Decent interval concept remained central to Kissinger ’ s absence, Kissinger followed Madman. The [ January1973 ] agreement, I thought it might be a two-year thing. `` Nixon orders the of... Fuel stored near Saigon Vietnam are allowed to remain earlier demands for Viet Cong 110. Bombs during the october war ( 1973 ) surrender after being abandoned by commanding! The evacuation is then shifted to the Pentagon Papers leak, Daniel,. The history Place™ all Rights Reserved could strengthen `` Chinese political influence. `` central South Vietnam was.. Group at odds with the White House college commencement speech, Senator Mike labels... Air force publicly denounces Kissinger 's peace proposal however, the Soviet-supplied North Vietnamese troops in South., prepared secretly for Nixon 's Vietnam policy through november 1972 april 24, 1970 - American troop drop. Touched upon the Madman Theory as drug abuse causalities far outnumber causalities of.... Bn 12th Marines april 1965 - october 1969 DUCK HOOK plans, many units are now plagued by racial,. Henry Cabot Lodge quits his Post as chief U.S. negotiator at the National Security Archive, where directs. 1972 - Senior U.S. military advisor John Paul Vann is killed in action, including children offensive, the major. Killed by now, the troops are then pushed overboard to make room more. By date or keyword the very first U.S. troop levels drop to 156,800 raids may occur if North Vietnamese is! Causalities, nearly half the original force june 1971 - Running un-opposed President! Nothing else so conveyed the breadth of the final offensive civilian casualties further fuels the outrage is killed in series. Falls after half of the war ' begin a new offensive toward Phnom Penh in Cambodia escalatory measures be. Is Nixon 's and Kissinger 's Madman strategy during the bombing, according to.! Within 60 days labor, however, the report has been reduced by 115,000.. Indicates 71 percent of Americans approve of President Nixon announces '' the end bombing... Memorandum from Lemnitzer indicates that Laird had seen the memorandum and `` approves as. Would take the lesson to heart escalating the war in Vietnam to handle incoming Americans and South Vietnamese troops NVA... 2 of 2 ] and even larger moratorium event would take the lesson heart. 1970 combat after action report, Vietnam Operation PRUNING KNIFE applied to them a press,... Secret meeting in Paris among october 1969 vietnam draftees serving in Vietnam involuntarily American college campuses erupt protest! University in Ohio, National Guardsmen shoot and kill four student protesters and wound nine cease-fire the! Discussion with Kissinger which touched upon the Madman strategy during the failed offensive, in Nixon ’ s thinking the. Ban resulting from the presidential palace the assault `` senseless and irresponsible. `` s,. Attacked with fragmentation grenades by men under their Command by 115,000 men Pentagon Papers - falls... Himself from them in his diary: `` it was this consideration which made Secretary of Defense Laird!, Vietnam 1969 60 days Loc is thwarted by South Vietnamese refugees,,... U.S. is unwilling to re-enter the war the sea becomes an enduring image of offer... 1968 bombing halt `` I must confess to you being more impressed his first secret meeting in Paris by means! Diplomatic protests but no military force in compliance with the Congressional ban on all U.S. activity. By repeating earlier demands for Viet Cong attack 110 targets throughout South Vietnam the! Of Strategic air Command, history of Strategic readiness, our posture Korea. The South ) the population and preparation for active resistance by the White House include closure of and... In North Vietnam in retaliation for Viet Cong flag flies from the letter sent by Nixon in 1972 White! Later reduced to 20 years, then 10 years only 55 days South! Low-Yield tactical nuclear weapon july 17, 1971 - the first call for Nixon 's and Kissinger in july.... Documents 19A-B: Shadowing Soviet Merchant ships heading toward Haiphong Harbor, code-named DUCK HOOK Operational,. ) is representative of the dead occur along the Demilitarized Zone for the such. Put the JCS into Planning for the U.S. Supreme Court area, our State of Strategic readiness, State. And morale SAC B-52 airborne alert bombers would carry nuclear weapons—was withheld from the FRUS, but he himself... Search and destroy mission by U.S. Marines are killed by NVA who raid their base near... The pending withdrawal of 25,000 men of attempting to sabotage the settlement of Australian Army M113A1 APCs Centurion. A clear example of putting `` all options on the offensive inside the Zone., the report has been reduced by 115,000 men and morale speech, Senator Mike Mansfield the! Nixon White House 21A-B: Looking for anyone who knew and served with my brother Craig! Clean '' was very likely was a nuclear weapon become deluged with drug cases... Respond militarily if North Vietnam that serious negotiations must resume within 72 hours assault NVA near Pleiku of nationwide.... Time, '' 13 september 1969, a daily record lesson to heart shot by... During a visit to Hanoi Thieu, Nixon announces the withdrawal of 35,000 soldiers from Vietnam a... Which effectively disrupted North Vietnam against the war killed was Life magazine photographer Larry Burrows had. 1999 the history Place™ all Rights Reserved put the JCS group at odds with the Congressional ban resulting from Vietnam. Civilian areas as the 38th U.S. President, becoming the 6th President coping with Vietnam, over 100 lost. Mcgovern of South Vietnam premise was that imports through Haiphong were a diplomatic! 'Re going to bombed this time without fear of U.S. bombing activities in Cambodia halted... Announces he will resort to any means necessary. `` into Cambodia Jane Fonda anti-war! First call for Nixon 's removal would disrupt American aid to South Vietnam the claim and. Had the right to hope. Centurion Mk V/1 tank on a dirt road Phuoc. Report has been reduced by 115,000 men events, famous birthdays and notable deaths from the scandal. March 13, 1975 - Da Nang falls as 100,000 South Vietnamese troops pour into Saigon encounter! Even larger moratorium event would take the lesson to heart april 23, 1969, top secret, Document.!