Vietnam War - Quiz #4 and Exam #2

What geographic advantage strengthened North Vietnam during negotiations?

Their forces encircled key zones near Saigon (e.g., the “Dominican shops”), pressuring U.S. withdrawal.

How did U.S. troop withdrawals affect negotiation leverage?

Reduced American pressure weakened U.S. bargaining power.

What was the only concession North Vietnam agreed to?

Return of American POWs.

What political goal did North Vietnam refuse to compromise on?

Full reunification under Communist authority.

Why did North Vietnam reject a demarcation line like the 17th parallel?

Leaders like Ho Chi Minh insisted Vietnam must be politically unified.

Was the U.S. expectation about a joint government with the Viet Cong was realized?

It was not achieved.

Did the U.S. retain the South Vietnamese presidency as expected?

No.

Did the U.S. secure expulsion of all NVA forces from the South?

No.

What major U.S. goal was achieved?

Return of POWs.

Did the U.S. gain any broad political concessions?

No.

How did the negotiations mirror domestic political weakness?

They resembled an “8-Democrat vote” that ended a shutdown with no gains.

What did the president (implied) realize after negotiations collapsed?

His political viability was finished.

What effect did domestic turmoil have on Nixon’s bargaining stance?

It pressured him to seek a quick, face-saving agreement.

How did public disillusionment constrain the administration?

Anti-war sentiment limited military escalation options.

How did the draft shape Nixon’s political calculus?

Continued conscription increased public pressure to end the war.

What was Nixon’s educational background?

Duke Law School (non-Ivy League).

What was Nixon’s military service record?

Served in the Navy during WWII.

What political reputation shaped his approach to Vietnam?

Anti-communist crusader.

How did Nixon’s VP experience under Eisenhower affect foreign policy?

He viewed foreign affairs as central to presidential power.

How did Nixon’s 1972 reelection strategy intersect with peace talks?

He pursued a negotiation timeline favorable for the campaign.

How did the Watergate scandal weaken Nixon during peace implementation?

It destroyed his political capital needed to enforce the agreement.

What role did Nixon’s tapes play?

Intended for memoirs but used as evidence against him.

How did Nixon’s erratic personal behavior undermine trust?

Heavy drinking and late-night rambling raised doubts about leadership stability.

How did Watergate affect North Vietnam’s strategy?

They anticipated U.S. paralysis and prepared for later offensives.

What cultural event captured Nixon’s decline?

SNL parody of a drunken Nixon with Kissinger kneeling.

What case cemented Nixon’s anti-communist reputation in the 1940s?

The Alger Hiss case.

Who provided microfilm hidden in a pumpkin patch as evidence?

Whittaker Chambers.

How did Nixon’s anti-communism influence negotiations?

He sought a deal that avoided appearing to “lose Vietnam.”

Why is Nixon seeking a deal to avoid appearing to “lose Vietnam” important?

It encouraged reliance on military pressure (e.g., Cambodia) to strengthen bargaining.

How did early Cold War politics shape Nixon’s approach?

He believed Communists responded only to force—not concessions.

What position did Kissinger hold during the peace talks?

National Security Advisor (unusually the lead negotiator).

Who was Kissinger’s North Vietnamese counterpart?

Le Duc Tho.

What was the “decent interval” strategy?

A temporary peace allowing U.S. withdrawal before an inevitable Communist takeover.

What key insight did Kissinger offer about the war?

The U.S. fought a military war; the Vietnamese fought a political one.

What was the only reliable outcome achieved through Kissinger’s negotiations?

POW repatriation.

Which two rice-producing regions shaped negotiation stakes?

Mekong Delta (South) and Red River Delta (North).

Why were these deltas crucial?

Control of them meant economic survival and political legitimacy.

What region was sparsely populated and militarily limited?

The Central Highlands.

How did geography limit Nixon’s bargaining leverage?

The North held strategic terrain making concessions unlikely.

Why did Hanoi expect eventual victory regardless of U.S. pressure?

They controlled key agricultural heartlands essential for sustaining war.

What campaign promise guided Nixon’s early strategy?

“I can end the war.”

What policy replaced the previous attrition strategy?

“Vietnamization”—returning the war to advisory support.

What effect did troop withdrawals have on negotiations?

Strengthened Hanoi’s belief the U.S. was leaving no matter what.

What was the public reaction to withdrawals?

Growing opposition to the war; fewer violent protests.

How did the draft’s continuation until 1973 affect negotiations?

Heightened political urgency to finalize a peace deal.

Why did Nixon invade Cambodia?

To hit presumed COSVN command sites and strengthen U.S. leverage.

What did U.S. forces actually find in Cambodia?

A collection of thatched huts—not a command complex.

How did the Cambodia invasion affect peace talks?

It briefly pressured Hanoi but sparked major domestic backlash.

What event symbolized renewed protest violence?

Shooting of an ROTC cadet in a crowd at Penn State.

How did Cambodia undermine Nixon’s position long-term?

It eroded domestic support, limiting military options during negotiation.

What morale problem undermined U.S. negotiating strength?

Troops refusing orders or conducting fake patrols.

How prevalent was drug use?

Marijuana and heroin use were widespread (“doing a shotgun”).

How did declining discipline affect Kissinger’s leverage?

The U.S. could no longer credibly threaten sustained escalation.

What message echoed in 1971?

“If you get drafted now, you’re a sucker”—the war was seen as unwinnable.

How did the draft shape negotiations?

Nixon needed a rapid exit strategy—limiting U.S. demands.