Interpret the Evidence
Who participated in the peace marches shown in the video (Document 27.11)? How does the video depict the marchers? What do you think was the narrator’s opinion of the participants? What other causes did the marchers endorse?
How did Richard Nixon argue that his Vietnam policy was different from Johnson’s (Document 27.12)? According to Nixon, why could the United States not leave Vietnam right away? What did he mean by “Vietnamization,” and what did he argue were the stakes for Vietnam, the United States, and the world?
Why did Spiro Agnew oppose demonstrations (Document 27.13)? What did he think about the education many colleges and universities were providing?
How did Nixon defend his decision to invade Cambodia (Document 27.14)? How did he characterize the tactics and goals of antiwar protesters? How did he relate the demands of the protesters to his own goals and policies in Cambodia and Vietnam?
Why did John Kerry oppose the Vietnam War (Document 27.15)? How did he describe his experience in Vietnam? How do you think he would have countered the arguments Richard Nixon made at his Cambodia press conference?
Put It in Context
Compare the arguments of liberals and conservatives on the Vietnam War. How were they similar and different?
How did antiwar protest affect the outcome of the Vietnam War?