1968+The+Turning+Point

-One of the most important years in calendar history -Turning point in Vietnam, and at home (USA)
 * 1968**

-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 - more of fighting against the Viet Cong, more than Vietnam -US tries to "pacify" South Vietnam -LBJ (Johnson) remained determined -Optimistic reports are sent back -McNamara sees "a light at the end of the tunnel" -Overall, the public still supported America in Vietnam
 * LEADING UP TO 1968...**

-An attack on U.S. strongholds througout Southern Vietnam by the VC (Viet Cong) -Fighting in the cities of Vietnam -It's being televised - people are seeing everything that is happening - very violent -They find out that U.S's 15 locations around South Vietnam have been attacked by Viet Cong -Eventually developed into a U.S. victory -Walter Cronkite actually goes to Vietnam - he is the voice of the American People. Walter thinks that the war in unwinnable ... which really shakes up LBJ. -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 -The nation turns on Johnson. He then says that he is not going to run for another term, because he thinks that he can not win. This is a very big surprise.
 * THE TET OFFENSIVE**

-Riots all over the Nation, after MLK was assassinated. (Even in Milwaukee, WI) -Robert Kennedy wants to bring the black and the white together - he wants to get the Democratic Nomination, and win the election. He has distanced himself from LBJ. -The nation is struggling - ROBERT Kennedy is assassinated, there are riots, and the whole nation is in trouble. -The democrats need a candidate. They don't have Kennedy, because he's dead. The candidate is going to be either Eugene McCarthy, who is very anti-war, and not highly thought of, and then there's Hubert H. Humphrey, who is pretty well-known, because he's Vice Pres. of Lyndon Johnson. The only problem is that he IS the Vice President of Lyndon Johnson, so he isn't very popular with the people... -People are NOT liking the Government, OR the leaders. RIOTS ARE EVERYWHERE.
 * ASSASSINATION**

1968 WAS CRAZYTOWN.

-Nixon is running for Republican Candidate, Wallace is also running for president, but he likes segregation.

THE ELECTION RESULTS -After a very close election, NIXON IS ELECTED. He wants Peace and Honor... (ew)