Vietnam+1968

Leading up to the war
 * no clear cut winner in the war
 * increase in American forces in SE Asia
 * Viet Cong proved to be the guiding force in South Vietnam (BAD - guerilla warfare; hard to fight)
 * US tries to ‘pacify’ South Vietnam

__LBJ Remained Determined __ -  [|__http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=106293462__]
 * optimistic reports are sent back
 * McNamara sees “a light at the end of the tunnel”
 * overall, the public still supported America in Vietnam

TET Offensive -  [|__http://www.familyculture.com/holidays/tet.htm__] -  [|__http://www.nytimes.com/1988/01/31/world/tet-offensive-turning-point-in-vietnam-war.html__] when many Americans saw this picture they were confused, who was supposed to be the bad guy in this picture.
 * an attack on US strongholds throughout Southern Vietnam by VC
 * TET means the Vietnamese new year (element of surprise)
 * [|__http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tet_Offensive__]
 * US won every attack, and kept every stronghold
 * heavily broadcasted; “Living Room War”
 * let the enemy win the ‘media war’
 * turning point
 * eventually developed into a US victory (military perspective)
 * shook the public, who thought the enemy was close to defeat
 * LBJ struggles - Congress cuts his Great Society budget
 * US involvement in the war is openly criticized
 * new Defense Secretary states that the war seems unwinnable

__**1968 Election **__ [|__http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1968_Chicago_riots__]
 * Robert Kennedy supposed to be Democratic nominee
 * protests at Chicago
 * Humphrey is Democratic nominee
 * Nixon is Republican nominee
 * George Wallace is an Independent nominee

When the election was going on in Chicago there were huge riots going on