Nixon's Vietnamization (1968-1970)
- In May 1968, peace talks between the US and North Vietnam began in Paris. After one year, no progress had been made.
- 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.
- The Hanoi government realised that all it had to do was hang on. The anti-war movement in the United States was getting stronger each day.
- Eventually, the Americans would pull out of South Vietnam, leaving the South on its own. The ARVN would be no match for the Communist forces and South Vietnam would be reunited with the North.
- 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. The chief US negotiator was Henry Kissinger
- The terms of the peace agreement were that 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 realised 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 – Nixon told him that if he didn’t, the United States would sign it without him. It was signed in Paris on 27th January 1973.