GBH Openvault

Vietnam: A Television History; Peace is at Hand (1968 - 1973); Interview with Melvin R. Laird, 1981

Part of The Vietnam Collection.

06/03/1981

Secretary of Defense from 1969 to 1972, and domestic advisor to President Nixon from 1973 to 1974, Melvin Laird is best known for coining the term “Vietnamization.” Laird discusses the pressure he felt for troop withdrawal under President Nixon and the idea that it was time for South Vietnam to be handed the tools to defend their country and let the Americans withdraw. Laird also talks about the Cambodian bombing in 1969 and the fact that while he agreed with the act of bombing, he disagreed with the plan to keep it secret. He also talks about his disagreements with Henry Kissinger and the tension he felt while working with him.

Series

Vietnam: A Television History

Program

Peace is at Hand (1968 - 1973)

Program Number

110

Title

Interview with Melvin R. Laird, 1981

Series Description

This 13 part series covers the history of Vietnam from France's colonial control, through the 1945 revolution, to the 1975 U.S. evacuation from Saigon and the years beyond. The series' objective approach permits viewers to form their own conclusions about the war. 101--Roots of a War--Despite cordial relations between American intelligence officers and Communist leader Ho Chi Minh in the turbulent closing months of World War II, French and British hostility to the Vietnamese revolution laid the groundwork for a new war. 102--The First Vietnam War (1946-1954)--The French generals expected to defeat Ho's rag-tag Vietminh guerrillas easily, but after eight years of fighting and $2.5 billion in U.S. aid, the French lost a crucial battle at Dienbienphu--and with it, their Asian empire. 103--America's Mandarin (1954-1963)--To stop the spread of communism in Southeast Asia, America replaced France in South Vietnam--supporting autocratic President Ngo Dinyh Diem until his own generals turned against him in a coup that brought political chaos to Saigon. 104--LBJ Goes to War (1964-1965)--With Ho Chi Minh determined to reunite Vietnam, Lyndon Baines Johnson determined to prevent it, and South Vietnam on the verge of collapse, the stage was set for massive escalation of the undeclared Vietnam War. 105--America Takes Charge (1965-1967)--In two years, the Johnson Administration's troop build-up dispatched 1.5 million Americans to Vietnam to fight a war they found baffling, tedious, exciting, deadly and unforgettable. 106--America's Enemy (1954-1967)--The Vietnam War as seen from different perspectives: by Vietcong guerrillas and sympathizers; by North Vietnamese leaders; by rank and file; and by American held prisoner in Hanoi. 107--Tet (1968)--The massive enemy offensive at the Lunar New Year decimated the Vietcong and failed to topple the Saigon government, but led to the beginning of America's military withdrawal. 108--Vietnamizing the War (1968-1973)--President Nixon's program of troop pull-outs, stepped-up bombing and huge arms shipments to Saigon changed the war, and left GI's wondering which of them would be the last to die in Vietnam. 109--Cambodia and Laos--Despite technical neutrality, both of Vietnam's smaller neighbors were drawn into the war, suffered massive bombing, and in the case of Cambodia, endured a post-war holocaust of nightmare proportions. 110--Peace is at Hand (1968-1973)--While American and Vietnamese continued to clash in battle, diplomats in Paris argued about making peace, after more than four years reaching an accord that proved to be a preface to further bloodshed. 111--Homefront USA--Americans at home divide over a distant war, clashing in the streets as demonstrations lead to bloodshed, bitterness and increasing doubts about the outcome. 112--The End of the Tunnel (1973-1975)--Through troubled years of controversy and violence, U.S. casualties mounted, victory remained elusive and American opinion moved from general approval to general dissatisfaction with the Vietnam war. 113--Legacies--Vietnam is in the Soviet orbit, poorer than ever, at war on two fronts; America's legacy includes more than one half million Asian refugees, one half million Vietnam veterans and some questions that won't go away. Series release date: 9/1983

Program Description

While American and Vietnamese continued to clash in battle, diplomats in Paris argued about making peace, after more than four years reaching an accord that proved to be a preface to further bloodshed.

Duration

00:31:39

Asset Type

Raw video

Media Type

Video

Subjects

Vietnam War, 1961-1975

Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Influence

Vietnam War, 1961-197--Campaigns--Laos

Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Public opinion

Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Personal narratives, American

Draft

Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Cambodia

Vietnam (Republic)

Vietnam (Democratic Republic)

Military assistance, American

United States--History, Military--20th century

Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Protest movements

United States--History--1945-

Morale

Vietnam--Politics and government

Vietnam--History--1945-1975

United States--Politics and government

Locations

Reader's Digest, Washington, DC

Genres

Documentary

Topics

War and Conflict

Creators

Ellison, Richard (Series Producer)

Contributors

Laird, Melvin R. (Interviewee)

Publication Information

WGBH Educational Foundation

Rights Summary

No materials may be re-used without references to appearance releases and WGBH/UMass Boston contract. 2) It is the liability of a production to investigate and re-clear all rights before re-use in any project. Rights Holder: WGBH Educational Foundation

Citation

Chicago: “Vietnam: A Television History; Peace is at Hand (1968 - 1973); Interview with Melvin R. Laird, 1981,” 06/03/1981, GBH Archives, accessed December 22, 2024, http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_D1F9E80249DA419BBFCC019B8B0F3A64.

MLA: “Vietnam: A Television History; Peace is at Hand (1968 - 1973); Interview with Melvin R. Laird, 1981.” 06/03/1981. GBH Archives. Web. December 22, 2024. <http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_D1F9E80249DA419BBFCC019B8B0F3A64>.

APA: Vietnam: A Television History; Peace is at Hand (1968 - 1973); Interview with Melvin R. Laird, 1981. Boston, MA: GBH Archives. Retrieved from http://openvault.wgbh.org/catalog/V_D1F9E80249DA419BBFCC019B8B0F3A64