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Remembering : 12 Critical Episodes in the 6 7 4 5 8 Why did the became involved in Vietnam? 3 Why was the war so long? Why was it so controversial? 9 11 10 12 2 It is important to answer these questions. The sacrifices made by veterans and their families, the magnitude of death and destruction, and the war’s lasting effects require no less. “Remembering Vietnam” is a resource for refreshing Icon Key our collective memory. Iconic and recently discovered National Archives records trace the policies and decisions 1 No. Episode Location made by the architects of the conflict. Its collection of evidence provides an opportunity for new insight and Hands On Interactive greater understanding of one of the most consequential A/V Experience wars in American history.

Visit “Remembering Vietnam” online for more information and to see related programs and events: www.archives.gov/vietnam 12 CRITICAL EPISODES IN THE Teach with these primary source documents on DocsTeach: VIETNAM WAR www.docsteach.org/topics/vietnam-war

1. Truman Sides with , 1946–53 Twitter: www.twitter.com/usnatarchives Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/usnatarchives 2. Eisenhower Backs Diem, 1953–61 Facebook: www.facebook.com/usnationalarchives Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/usnationalarchives 3. Kennedy Doubles Down, 1961–63 Tumblr: www.usnatarchives.tumblr.com 4. Johnson Sets the Stage, 1964 YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/usnationalarchives 5. America Goes to War, 1965 Share your story: #RememberingVietnam 6. Fighting on Three Fronts, 1966–67 7. , 1968 8. Nixon’s Campaign Promise, 1968–69 On exhibit through 9. Crossing into , 1970–71 “Remembering Vietnam” is presented in part by: 10. Fighting While Talking, 1972 January 6, 2019 11. , 1973 in the 12. , 1975 Lawrence F. O’Brien Gallery

Maris S. Cuneo Foundation The Eliasberg Family Foundation, Inc. HISTORY ® National Archives, Washington DC Visit us online at www.archives.gov/museum REMEMBERING VIETNAM QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE The conflict in Vietnam involves a mind-boggling mass of acronyms, a lengthy cast of characters, LEADERS and a multiplicity of terms. Use this guide to help Democratic Republic of Vietnam you keep track of the of architects, fighting forces, DEMOCRATIC and battle sites of the Vietnam War. REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM Hanoi COMBATANTS Hai Phong Vo Nguyen Giap Le Duan Prime Minister Principal General Official Name American Name Predecessor (1945–55) commander First Secretary and President Indochina War Central People’s (1955–69) People’s (1946–54) and Committee Army of North Republic of Vietnam War Communist Vietnamese Vietnam (1960–75) Party Vietnam Vietnam () (1960–86) (PAVN) Army (NVA) 17th Parallel

Capital Hue LEADERS Da Nang Army of the South Vietnamese Key Sites Republic of Vietnam Republic Vietnamese National of Vietnam Army (SVA) Army (VNA) (ARVN) Dak To Pleiku Ngo Dinh Nhu Nguyen Van Thieu US Armed President (1955–63) Brother and chief President (1965–75) Republic of Vietnam political advisor Republic of Vietnam Forces CAMBODIA REBUBLIC OF () to President Diem (South Vietnam) VIETNAM

People’s An Loc Liberation Armed Viet Cong Viet Minh Saigon Forces United States (PLAF) Robert McNamara Harry Truman Lyndon Johnson U.S. Secretary of (1945–53) (1963–69) Defense (1961–68) ABOUT THE TERM “VIET CONG” Americans and their South Vietnamese allies referred McGeorge Bundy Dwight Eisenhower Richard Nixon to the South Vietnamese insurgents as “Viet Cong,” a National Security (1953–61) (1969–74) Adviser (1961–66) William Westmoreland derogatory term that roughly translates to “Vietnamese U.S. Secretary of Defense (1961-68) traitor” or “Vietnamese communist.” The insurgents Henry Kissinger John F. Kennedy Gerald Ford called themselves liberators. Officially, the “Viet Cong” National Security (1961–63) (1974–77) Advisor (1969–75) were known as the National Liberation Front of South Vietnam and the People’s Liberation Armed Forces.