The Vietnam War and the Watergate Scandal
Economic
The Ho Chi Minh Trail
A diagram of the Ho Chi Minh Trail.
The Ho Chi Minh Trail was a supply line that sent weapons and supplies from North Vietnam into South Vietnam to the Vietcong. By 1965, North Vietnam had begun converting the trail into a sophisticated communications and transportation system. President Johnson was very anxious to bomb the trail, so that is just what he did. Bombing roads and bridges built to handle heavy trucks, but was unsuccessful for the Vietcong quickly repaired them or made do without them. An army of 300,000 North Vietnamese, armed primarily with shovels, worked full time to keep the trail in good shape and to expand it.
Political
The White House Tapes
Analysts listening to the White House Tapes.
After winning the Presidential Election by a landslide in 1972, it only took Richard Nixon about two years to get involved in a controversy. At the Democratic headquarters were broken into by five men who were searching for blackmail were arrested. One of the men, was involved in Nixon's presidential campaign which created some finger pointing. The White House Tapes were recordings of the presidents phone conversations and were what solved the debate between John Dean, who was accusing the president, and Nixon. The tapes determined the fact that Nixon was involved in the Watergate Scandal. Knowing he was going to be impeached anyway, Nixon resigned from office.
Social
Antiwar Movement
Students protesting the war.
A variety of pacifist, religious, civil rights, and student groups shaped the antiwar movement. These groups pushed for things such as peace and a sane nuclear policy. By 1965, members in 124 colleges were members of the SDS (Students for a Democratic Society). The SDS was recognized as the antiwar movement. The group held antiwar rallies and debates and criticized the involvement of universities in research and development for the military. They also protested the draft and the presence of the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) on campus.
How Did This Show Progress?
The White House Tapes and the Antiwar Movement both were examples of progress. The White House Tapes showed that even though Nixon was the president, he still wasn't above the law which was a humbling experience for the country. The Antiwar Movement exemplified progress because it gave the younger generation a voice against war and promoted peace. The Ho Chi Minh Trail, however, did not show progress because it fed the enemy that the United States were fighting against. It also, proved hard to destroy, from the amount of workers ready to fix anything that went wrong.