Huw Thomas 12KE

Explain why the Nixon Doctrine was announced in June 1969 (12 marks)
US President Richard Nixon put the Nixon Doctrine forward in July 1969 with the main intention that the USA expected its allies to take care of their own military defences, but the United States would intervene if needed, especially in the event of a nuclear power threatening a nation allied with America. Historians such as Sanders assert that there are a myriad of reasons to why the Nixon Doctrine was announced in June 1969, one such reason being because the Tet Offensive had convinced Nixon that victory in Vietnam could not be achieved purely through military means. Political historians highlight that Nixon was as shocked as everyone else by the Tet Offensive and this was a great turning point for him as he realised that there would have to be drastic changes in American policy. Therefore, he advocated the policy of Vietnamisation whereby the South Vietnamese government and forces should take the main responsibility of the war against Communism. This would allow the gradual withdrawal of US troops and end the American war effort in Vietnam, with honourable peace. Additionally, Nixon is reported to have stated to the American public in relation to withdrawal, I pledge to you, new leadership will end the war and win the peace in the Pacific. Indeed, military historians support the idea that the South Vietnamese Army could be strengthened in order to assume the role formerly played by the USA. The Tet Offensive had significantly damaged the VC and this was a vital opportunity to reinforce the South Vietnamese and avoid a domestic crisis in the USA. Another reason why the Nixon Doctrine was introduced was because Nixon did not want to be seen as the President who lost Vietnam. Instead, he wanted to be viewed by the world as a, peacemaker, and Nixon firmly believed successes in his foreign policies would ensure his, place in the history books. Therefore, Nixon needed to devise a new strategy in order to avoid the domestic political consequences of an increasingly unpopular war amongst the US public. Indeed, there was a significant rising tide of anti-war protest, which had developed since the days of Johnsons administration, but more importantly, there were many influential Congressmen that shared the same beliefs as the anti-war pressure group. Sanders firmly believes that Nixon was completely aware of the failures of his predecessors foreign policy as both military escalation and bombing campaigns were ineffective in achieving any meaningful progress in terms of resolving the USAs role in Vietnam. Historians therefore uphold the opinion that due to a combination of factors including public and political pressures, as well as the failures of military escalation and bombing campaigns of the North, Nixon needed to announce the Nixon Doctrine. The Doctrine outlined his new strategies such as Vietnamisation and, Peace with Honour, in which American troops could gradually be withdrawn whilst America would honour their commitment to South Vietnam by insisting that Thieus government must stay in power in a viable South Vietnamese state. Inevitably, the Nixon Doctrine provided a legitimate way out of Vietnam without suggesting US defeat through specific strategies such as, Peace with Honour, and, Realpolitik.

Huw Thomas 12KE Lastly, historians such as Bragg assert that the Nixon Doctrine was part of a more complex strategy designed to reinforce the USAs diplomatic strength in future negotiations with the North Vietnamese. Through Nixons, Madman Theory, military historians suggest that he wanted Hanoi to think he was capable of anything, in order to frighten them into making peace. A clear-cut example of this occurred when Nixon wanted to convince Hanoi that he would use nuclear weapons if he felt this was the only option to solve the Vietnamese issue. Additionally, the Doctrine was seen as part of a wider strategy adopted from 1969, particularly the Phoenix Program. More importantly however, due to the Sino-Soviet Split, the threat of a monolithic world Communist bloc had been shattered. Therefore, historians suggest that Nixon decided that the USA could play off the two rival Communist giants against each other, by improving relations with both, an essential part of the Nixon Doctrine. This was essential as both China and the USSE would be vital in pressing Hanoi to a, peace with honour, settlement in Vietnam. Conclusively, there are a magnitude of reasons to why the Nixon Doctrine was introduced, including the impact of the Tet Offensive, the need to gain a, peace with honour, settlement with Hanoi and Nixons desire not to be seen as the President who lost Vietnam.