Nixon's speech may be remembered for being the one about America's "great silent majority," but it's actually about war. No, wait, it's about peace. No, war. Peace. War and Peace?
The whole point of this speech is to provide Americans with answers to the Vietnam War. But throughout the speech, Nixon states that peace will be maintained through an extension of warfare. That's a tough item to sell, but that's why he made the call to America's "great silent majority." He wants their support in his war efforts.
Or maybe in his peace efforts?
Questions About Warfare
- According to the speech, what is Nixon's plan for Vietnam?
- Let's go ahead and ask a question that Nixon himself asks: "how and why did America get involved in Vietnam in the first place?" (5.1) Think about how Nixon answers the question and how you might answer it using what you know about the Vietnam War.
- Does it seem weird to you that Nixon keeps using the word "peace" as he discusses the possibility of extending the war?
- It takes two to tango, as they say. Does Nixon admit any fault on the part of the United States for the situation in Vietnam? Who does he blame?
Chew on This
Nixon's Vietnamization wartime strategy was the one that should have been put into place years before Nixon took office. The whole Vietnam situation never would have gotten out of control the way it did if the United States had given the war back to the Vietnamese in the first place.
Nixon's emphasis on peace is an example of presidential hypocrisy. War can't be ended with more war. Peace was only attainable through the immediate and unimpeded removal of all American troops and personnel.