Vietnam: A Television History (1983–…): Season 1, Episode 11 - Vietnam: A Television History - full transcript

FIVE WEEKS AFTER
THE ASSASSINATION
OF PRESIDENT KENNEDY:

THE NEW PRESIDENT SPOKE

OF THE NATION'S LOSSES
AND HOPES:

JOHNSON:
WE BURIED ABRAHAM LINCOLN
AND JOHN KENNEDY.

BUT WE DID NOT BURY THEIR DREAMS
OR THEIR VISIONS.

THEY ARE OUR DREAMS
AND OUR VISIONS TODAY.

SO LET US, HERE,
ON THIS CHRISTMAS NIGHT

DETERMINE THAT JOHN KENNEDY
DID NOT LIVE OR DIE IN VAIN;

THAT THIS NATION, UNDER GOD,
SHALL HAVE

A NEW BIRTH OF FREEDOM

AND THAT WE MAY ACHIEVE,
IN OUR TIME AND FOR ALL TIME



THE ANCIENT VISION

OF PEACE ON EARTH,
GOODWILL TOWARD ALL MEN.

CAPTIONING OF THIS PROGRAM
IS MADE POSSIBLE BY A GRANT

FROM THE CORPORATION
FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING.

NARRATOR:
THREE MONTHS BEFORE
PRESIDENT KENNEDY'S DEATH

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
HAD FOCUSED NATIONAL CONCERN

ON CIVIL RIGHTS.

I HAVE A DREAM
THAT ONE DAY

DOWN IN ALABAMA

WITH ITS VICIOUS RACISTS

WITH ITS GOVERNOR

HAVING HIS LIPS DRIPPING
WITH THE WORDS

OF INTERPOSITION
AND NULLIFICATION.

ONE DAY,
RIGHT THERE IN ALABAMA



LITTLE BLACK BOYS
AND BLACK GIRLS

WILL BE ABLE TO JOIN HANDS

WITH LITTLE WHITE BOYS
AND WHITE GIRLS

AS SISTERS AND BROTHERS.

I HAVE A DREAM TODAY...

JOHNSON:
I'M ABOUT TO SIGN INTO LAW

THE CIVIL RIGHTS ACT OF 1964.

NARRATOR:
PRESIDENT JOHNSON'S
LIBERAL DOMESTIC POLICIES

DOMINATED THE NEWS
AND ECLIPSED VIETNAM.

BUT THE POLITICAL CONSENSUS
HE BUILT AROUND CIVIL RIGHTS

WAS SOON THREATENED
BY THE WAR.

IN 1964 AND EARLY 1965

THE COUNTRY WAS GOING ALONG
WITH THE PRESIDENT.

THE ARGUMENTS WERE BEING MADE

INCREASINGLY, TO THE COUNTRY

AND THROUGH THE MEDIA

THAT VIETNAM WAS IMPORTANT--

THAT THE UNITED STATES HAD
A COMMITMENT THERE--

THAT SOMETHING
WOULD HAVE TO BE DONE.

NEWSREEL ANNOUNCER:
UNITED STATES MARINES HEAD
FOR SECURITY DUTY

IN SOUTH VIETNAM

WHERE THEY WILL GUARD
THE AMERICAN JET AIRFIELD

AGAINST ATTACK
BY VIET CONG GUERRILLAS

AND INFILTRATORS
FROM NORTH VIETNAM.

AND I REMEMBER THINKING:

"MY GOD,
I HOPE JOHNSON IS RIGHT.

"I HOPE WE'RE NOT GETTING
INTO SOMETHING HERE

THAT THE COUNTRY CAN'T HANDLE."

IF TOMORROW THEY TELL YOU
TO BLESS MURDER

AND TO DECLARE WAR

THEN THERE'S ONLY
ONE THING TO DO:

SAY "NO."

CROWD:
TREASON, TREASON, TREASON!

¶ WE SHALL LIVE IN PEACE...¶

NARRATOR:
OPPONENTS AND SUPPORTERS
OF THE WAR

CLASHED EARLY
IN THE JOHNSON ADMINISTRATION.

AT FIRST

THE ANTI-WAR GROUPS WERE SMALL
AND LITTLE-NOTICED.

¶...SOME DAY...¶

NARRATOR:
THEY INCLUDED

CIVIL-RIGHTS ACTIVISTS

MEMBERS OF OLD LEFT
AND WOMEN'S ORGANIZATIONS

PACIFISTS, STUDENTS
AND CLERGYMEN.

¶...THAT WE SHALL OVERCOME
SOME DAY. ¶

THE CLERGY FOUND THEMSELVES
IN A VERY DIFFICULT DILEMMA.

CATHOLIC BISHOPS

WERE VERY ANTI-COMMUNIST

SO IT WAS VERY HARD

TO FIND A CATHOLIC BISHOP
WHO WOULD SAY:

"I THINK
THIS WAR IS EVIL."

RABBIS WERE VERY AFRAID

THAT IF THEY OPPOSED JOHNSON
ON THE WAR IN VIETNAM

JOHNSON WOULD NOT SUPPORT THEM
ON ISRAEL.

WHAT IS
THE PURPOSE

OF YOUR GROUP'S
PICKETING

THE WHITE HOUSE?

CLERGY AND LAYMEN
CONCERNED ABOUT VIETNAM

ARE HERE TODAY
HOLDING A SILENT VIGIL

IN ORDER SIMPLY

TO EXPRESS
A CRY OF ANGUISH

ABOUT WHAT WE
BELIEVE TO BE

AN IMMORAL AND A
SELF-DEFEATING COURSE.

YOU'RE BEING
EFFECTIVELY
COUNTER-PICKETED

BY AN ALMOST
EQUAL NUMBER
OF PEOPLE.

WHAT IS THE
DIFFERENCE

IN THE OPINION
OF YOUR GROUP

AND THAT ONE
ACROSS THE STREET?

AS MUCH DIFFERENCE
AS DAY AND NIGHT.

WE BELIEVE THE WAR
IS ESSENTIAL

TO DEFEND OUR FREEDOM
AND TO KEEP OUR WORD

AND OUR COMMITMENTS
TO THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE.

IT'S IMMORAL
TO KEEP OUR BOYS OVER THERE

IF WE'RE NOT GOING TO WIN!

NARRATOR: DESPITE THE DRAFT

COLLEGE STUDENTS

COULD AVOID MILITARY SERVICE

IF THEY REMAINED IN SCHOOL.

I DON'T WANT TO GO TO VIETNAM

BECAUSE I DON'T WANT
TO GET KILLED.

I HAVE THE PROBLEM

OF REALIZING
THE ATTITUDE OF MY PARENTS--

ESPECIALLY MY FATHER.

I'M CERTAIN
THAT HE WOULD CONSIDER

ANY REFUSAL OF MINE
PARTIPATE

AS NOTHING BUT COWARDICE--
LACK OF PATRIOTISM.

AND IT'S A DILEMMA

THAT I JUST HOPE
I DON'T HAVE TO FACE.

AND THERE'S A POSSIBILITY
THAT I WON'T HAVE TO FACE IT

BECAUSE I WILL BE IN SCHOOL
UNTIL I'M 26.

NARRATOR:
STUDENT ATTENDANCE
AT VIETNAM TEACH-INS GREW.

I THINK WE SHOULD STOP

LETTING PRESIDENT JOHNSON
FIGHT AN ARMCHAIR WAR

AND TURN IT OVER
TO OUR GENERALS.

AS FAR AS I REMEMBER
AMERICAN HISTORY

IT'S BEEN
A TRADITIONAL PRINCIPLE

THAT CIVILIANS EXERCISE CONTROL
OVER THE MILITARY.

YOU ARE NOT AFRAID
OF THE COMMUNIST MENACE.

HOWEVER, I AM.

IN 50 SHORT YEARS

THE COMMUNISTS,
WHO STARTED WITH 17 FOLLOWERS

HAVE ENSLAVED

40% OF THE EARTH'S PEOPLE
AND 25% OF THE EARTH'S LANDMASS.

(AUDIENCE JEERS)

THIS IS MORE
THAN CHRISTIANITY CAN COUNT

STANDING AFTER NEARLY 2,000

AND YOU TELL US
THERE'S NOTHING TO WORRY ABOUT?

HOW CAN YOU
STAND THERE

INSULT THE INTELLIGENCE
OF THESE STUDENTS...

(STUDENTS LAUGH)

MY APOLOGIES.

NARRATOR:
BLACKS WERE JOINING THE MILITARY

AMID SHARPENING DEBATE.

WHEN LYNDON BAINES JOHNSON

TALK ALL THAT GARBAGE

ABOUT HE'S SENDING BOYS

OVER THERE

TO FIGHT FOR THE RIGHTS
OF COLORED PEOPLE--

YOU OUGHT TO KNOW
THAT'S A LIE.

AS THE CASKETS BEGIN
TO COME HOME

PEOPLE BEGIN TO RE-EVALUATE.

AND THE VERY FACT

THAT THERE WERE

A DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER

OF BLACKS IN VIETNAM

MEANT THAT, VERY EARLY

A DISPROPORTIONATE NUMBER
OF CASKETS

BEGAN TO COME BACK
TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY.

DESPITE FEEBLE PROTESTATIONS
TO THE CONTRARY

THE PROMISES

OF THE GREAT SOCIETY

HAVE BEEN SHOT DOWN

ON THE BATTLEFIELDS OF VIETNAM.

THE PURSUIT
OF THIS WIDENED WAR

HAS NARROWED
THE PROMISED DIMENSIONS

OF THE DOMESTIC
WELFARE PROGRAMS

MAKING THE POOR--
WHITE AND NEGRO--

BEAR THE HEAVIEST BURDENS

BOTH AT THE FRONT
AND AT HOME.

NARRATOR:
AS THE WAR DRAGGED ON INTO 1967

STREET RHETORIC
GREW ROUGHER.

HOW MUCH TIME

HAVE YOU
SPENT THERE?

IN VIETNAM?
14 MONTHS.

ARE YOU
DISTURBED

ABOUT THE
DEMONSTRATIONS?

I JUST DON'T PAY
ATTENTION ANYMORE.

99% OF THE PEOPLE
IN THIS COUNTRY

ARE TERRIFIC AMERICANS

AND DISAGREE ENTIRELY

WITH FLAG BURNINGS,
AND CARRYING ENEMY COLORS, ETC.

NARRATOR:
A FEW CONGRESSMEN

NOW QUESTIONED
JOHNSON'S RIGHT TO WAGE WAR.

WOULD THE PRESIDENT

IF THERE WAS NO RESOLUTION

BE WITH OR WITHOUT
CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY

TO SEND U.S. SOLDIERS
TO SOUTH VIETNAM

IN THE NUMBERS
THAT ARE THERE TODAY?

IT WOULD BE MY VIEW

THAT HE HAS THAT AUTHORITY.

THAT'S A DIFFICULT DOCTRINE
FOR ME TO AGREE TO--

THAT THE CONGRESS CANNOT CONTROL

THE PRESIDENT
OF THE UNITED STATES

FROM THE STANDPOINT

OF THE USE OR THE WITHHOLDING
OF THE TROOPS

OF THIS COUNTRY ABROAD.

BUT DIDN'T THAT RESOLUTION
AUTHORIZE THE PRESIDENT

TO USE THE ARMED FORCES
OF THE UNITED STATES

IN WHATEVER WAY WAS NECESSARY?

WHAT COULD A DECLARATION OF WAR
HAVE DONE

THAT WOULD HAVE GIVEN
THE PRESIDENT MORE AUTHORITY?

IT WAS NOT
THE COUNTRY'S DECISION

TO LAND COMBAT TROOPS
IN VIETNAM.

THE POINT IS

THAT IF WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
COOPERATION AND ACCOMMODATION

AND MAKE THIS SYSTEM WORK

WE CAN'T HAVE
THIS KIND OF THING.

I UNDERSTAND THE PURPOSE
OF THE SECOND SECTION.

WE WERE TRYING TO TELL
THE COMMUNISTS IN SOUTHEAST ASIA

TO WATCH OUT.

NARRATOR:
THE ADMINISTRATION STOOD FIRM

AND CONGRESS CONTINUED
TO VOTE MONEY FOR THE WAR.

TROOP LEVELS
CONTINUED TO RISE.

MOST COMPLIED WITH THE DRAFT.

SOME, WHO OPPOSED CONSCRIPTION

ON GROUNDS OF CONSCIENCE

BURNED THEIR DRAFT CARDS.

SOME JOINED
AN ANTI-DRAFT ORGANIZATION

CALLED "THE RESISTANCE."

THE RESISTANCE
ATTEMPTED TO ORGANIZE

EXPLICIT PUBLIC NON-COOPERATION

WITH CONSCRIPTION

BY RETURNING DRAFT CARDS
TO THE GOVERNMENT--

A PUBLIC DECLARATION
THAT WE WOULD NOT COOPERATE

AND IF THE GOVERNMENT INTENDED
TO ENFORCE

THE SELECTIVE SERVICE ACT

IT COULD SEND US TO JAIL.

OCTOBER 16 HAD BEEN
THE DATE THAT WE HAD SET

FOR THE FIRST
NATIONAL DRAFT-CARD RETURN

IN 18 CITIES.

THERE WOULD BE
DEMONSTRATIONS

AT WHICH YOUNG PEOPLE
WOULD COLLECT DRAFT CARDS

AND GIVE THEM
TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

AND IN SAN FRANCISCO,
2,000 OF US GATHERED

ON THE STEPS
OF THE FEDERAL BUILDING

IN SAN FRANCISCO.

ORGANIZER: IF IT TAKES OUR LIVES
TO CHANGE THIS COUNTRY

THEN THAT'S
WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

(APPLAUSE)

HARRIS:
WE GOT THIS BASKET

AND ANNOUNCED ON THE BULL-HORN,
OK, THE TIME HAD COME

AND OUT GOES THE BASKET.

THERE IS THIS SCENE

OF ALL THESE HANDS COMING UP
HOLDING DRAFT CARDS

DROPPING THEM INTO THE BASKET

AND THE BASKET CIRCULATES
THROUGH THE CROWD

AND COMES BACK UP TO THE FRONT.

AND THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN,
FROM THE BACK OF THE CROWD

THESE SHOUTS START COMING:

"BACK HERE!
SEND THE BASKET!"

AND SO THE BASKET GOES BACK OUT

AND MORE DRAFT CARDS
START COMING INTO IT.

CECIL POOLE--

WHO WAS THE FEDERAL ATTORNEY
FOR SAN FRANCISCO--

CAME OUT ON THE FRONT STEPS.

AND THEN DICKIE HARRIS
TOOK THE BASKET OF DRAFT CARDS

AND WALKS OVER TO POOLE
AND SAYS:

"BROTHER POOLE,
YOU HEAD NIGGER HERE?"

AND DROPS...DUMPS THIS ENTIRE
BASKETFUL OF DRAFT CARDS

ON POOLE.

IT WAS AN ATTEMPT
TO CALL THE QUESTION

ON THE REST
OF THE ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT--

TO SAY
"PUT UP OR SHUT UP"--

IF YOU WERE GOING
TO BE AGAINST THE WAR

THEN PUT YOUR BODY
WHERE YOUR MOUTH WAS.

SO WE COINED A SLOGAN:

"FROM PROTEST TO RESISTANCE"

WHICH WAS THAT YOU KEEP

MARCHING AND RALLYING

BUT THAT WE WOULD
STEP UP THE PACE

OF NONVIOLENT
CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE.

NARRATOR:
THE NEW TACTICS WERE TESTED

IN THE MARCH ON THE PENTAGON--
OCTOBER, 1967.

IT IS CLEAR
FROM THE EVIDENCE THAT I HAVE

THAT THIS IS
A PART OF A MOVE

BY THE COMMUNISTS

TO DIVIDE
THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

DISRUPT OUR WAR EFFORT

DISCREDIT OUR GOVERNMENT
BEFORE THE ENTIRE WORLD.

THE LEADERS OF NORTH VIETNAM
CONSIDER

THE MARCH ON THE PENTAGON
TOMORROW

AS MUCH OF THEIR WAR EFFORT

AS THE GUERRILLA WARFARE
IN SOUTH VIETNAM.

THOSE WHO PARTICIPATE
IN THESE DEMONSTRATIONS

WILL BE ASSISTING OUR ENEMY.

GOD BLESS AMERICA!

¶ THERE IS NO FREEDOM
IN A LAND

¶ WHERE FEAR AND HATE PREVAIL.

¶ ISN'T THIS A TIME,
ISN'T THIS A TIME--

¶ A TIME
TO TRY THE SOUL OF MEN?

ISN'T THIS A TERRIBLE TIME? ¶

WE DECIDED TO HAVE
A MASS ACTIVITY

WHICH WOULD INCLUDE
CIVIL DISOBEDIENCE.

AND I GUESS
I MADE THE MAIN SPEECH

WHICH WAS SIMPLY TO SAY

THAT WE ARE HERE
TO SUPPORT THESE YOUNG PEOPLE

IN THEIR HOUR OF CONSCIENCE.

AND IF THEY ARE ARRESTED
FOR VIOLATING A LAW

WHICH VIOLATES
THEIR CONSCIENCES

THEN WE, TOO,
MUST BE ARRESTED

FOR WE HEREBY COUNSEL THEM

TO CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THE
DICTATES OF THEIR CONSCIENCE.

I WANT TO ASK YOU:

WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO OUR COUNTRY

WHOSE POLITICAL OBJECTIVES
MUST BE SECURED

AT THE END OF A BAYONET?

NARRATOR:
MORE THAN 55,000 DEMONSTRATED--

UNITED IN OPPOSITION
TO THE DRAFT AND THE WAR

BUT DIVIDED
ON MANY OTHER ISSUES.

THE PROTESTORS,
WHO WERE MAINLY STUDENTS

FACED OTHER YOUNG AMERICANS
WHO WERE ALREADY IN UNIFORM.

CROWD:
PEACE NOW!

NARRATOR:
MOST PROTESTED PEACEFULLY.

BUT 5,000 RUSHED THE PENTAGON

SOME TAUNTING
AND CURSING THE TROOPS.

MORE THAN 600 WERE ARRESTED
DURING THE MARCH.

THE DEMONSTRATION OUTRAGED
SOME OFFICIALS

INCLUDING THE HEAD
OF SELECTIVE SERVICE:

TO ME, A DEMONSTRATION IS
SOME LEGAL THING

THAT YOU ENGAGE IN

TO LET PEOPLE KNOW
HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT THINGS.

NOW, WHENEVER WE GET TO A PLACE

WHERE THE DEMONSTRATION--

MORE THAN ACCIDENTALLY--

INTERFERES WITH OUR OPERATIONS

IT CEASES TO BE A DEMONSTRATION

AND BECAME
A VIOLATION OF THE LAW.

I DON'T RECALL,
SINCE I'VE BEEN HERE

AS STRONG A DIVISION
OF OPINION

AS TO THE WISDOM OF A POLICY

AS NOW EXISTS

WITH REGARD
TO THE VIETNAMESE WAR.

THAT'S TRUE, I BELIEVE,
IN THE COMMITTEE;

I THINK THAT THAT EXISTS
IN THE COUNTRY.

NARRATOR:
THE ECONOMY WAS TURNING SOUR

AND TURNING SOME BUSINESSMEN
AGAINST THE WAR.

JOHNSON DISCUSSED
HIS DECISION TO RAISE TAXES

WITH A GROUP
OF FEDERAL HOME-LOAN OFFICERS.

JOHNSON:
I KNOW IT'S NOT POPULAR

FOR A PRESIDENT TO ASK ANYONE
FOR A PENNY OUT OF A DOLLAR

TO PAY FOR A WAR
THAT'S NOT POPULAR, EITHER.

NARRATOR:
BY LATE 1967, FOR THE FIRST TIME

A POLL SHOWED
THAT A MAJORITY OF AMERICANS

CONSIDERED THE WAR
A MISTAKE.

MOST PEOPLE'S INTENTIONS
ARE GOOD.

WE DON'T QUESTION
THEIR MOTIVES--

ALTHOUGH THEY SAY
SOME PRETTY UGLY THINGS

ABOUT US.

WE BELIEVE VERY STRONGLY

IN PRESERVING
THE RIGHT TO DISSENT

IN THIS COUNTRY.

AND IF I HAVE DONE A GOOD JOB
OF ANYTHING

IT'S TO ENSURE THAT THERE ARE
PLENTY OF DISSENTERS.

(LAUGHTER)

IN 1967

MOST PEOPLE WHO WANTED

A POLITICAL ALTERNATIVE

TO JOHNSON

DIDN'T MUCH CARE

WHO THE PRESIDENTIAL
CANDIDATE WAS

AS LONG AS IT WAS SOMEBODY
WHO COULD WIN.

NARRATOR:
EARLY IN 1968

VOTERS, SHOCKED
BY A MASSIVE ENEMY OFFENSIVE

IN VIETNAM--

THE TET OFFENSIVE--

WERE QUOTED

BY PRESIDENTIAL CHALLENGER
EUGENE McCARTHY.

I'VE BEEN SAYING
THAT I INTENDED TO STOP THE WAR

BY PROCEEDING TO NEGOTIATE
A COALITION GOVERNMENT

BUT BOTH THE PRESIDENT
AND MR. NIXON

ARE TALKING ABOUT ENDING THE WAR

BUT ARE NOT SAYING WHEN, OR HOW,
OR AT WHAT COST.

NARRATOR:
SENATOR McCARTHY'S
STRONG SHOWING IN NEW HAMPSHIRE

ENCOURAGED
ANOTHER CANDIDATE--

SENATOR ROBERT KENNEDY--
BROTHER OF THE LATE PRRESIDENT.

HIS CAMPAIGN GOT AN EARLY LIFT

FROM PRESIDENT JOHNSON'S
SUPRISE ANNOUNCEMENT

THAT HE WOULD NOT RUN
FOR RE-ELECTION.

BUT I NEED YOUR HELP.

I NEED YOUR ASSISTANCE.

SO, OVER THE PERIOD
OF THE NEXT 30 DAYS

WILL YOU HELP ME?

CROWD: YES!

WILL YOU TELL YOUR FRIENDS?

CROWD: YES!

WILL YOU WHISPER IT,
OR WILL YOU YELL IT?

CROWD: YELL IT!

NARRATOR:
WAR CRITICS KENNEDY AND McCARTHY

DOMINATED
THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES.

UNDER FBI SURVEILLANCE,
AND TROUBLED BY RISING VIOLENCE

IN THE ANTI-WAR
AND CIVIL-RIGHTS MOVEMENTS

MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR.
SPOKE IN MEMPHIS.

WE'VE GOT

SOME DIFFICULT DAYS AHEAD.

BUT IT REALLY DOESN'T MATTER

WITH ME NOW.

BECAUSE I'VE BEEN
TO THE MOUNTAINTOP.

(APPLAUSE)

I DON'T MIND.

(APPLAUSE)

LIKE ANYBODY

I WOULD LIKE TO LIVE
A LONG LIFE.

LONGEVITY HAS ITS PLACE.

BUT I'M NOT CONCERNED
ABOUT THAT NOW.

I JUST WANT
TO DO GOD'S WILL.

AND HE'S ALLOWED ME
TO GO UP TO THE MOUNTAIN.

AND I'VE LOOKED OVER

AND I'VE SEEN
THE PROMISED LAND.

I MAY NOT GET THERE WITH YOU.

BUT I WANT YOU
TO KNOW, TONIGHT

THAT WE, AS A PEOPLE,
WILL GET TO THE PROMISED LAND.

(APPLAUSE)

SO I'M HAPPY TONIGHT--

I'M NOT WORRIED ABOUT ANYTHING,
I'M NOT FEARING ANY MAN.

MINE EYES HAVE SEEN THE GLORY
OF THE COMING OF THE LORD.

NARRATOR:
KING'S ASSASSINATION
THE NEXT DAY

ROCKED THE NATION

AND SPARKED RIOTS
IN MORE THAN 100 CITIES.

BLACK-POWER MILITANCY
INCREASED.

UNLIKE MOST POLITICAL LEADERS,
KENNEDY HAD SYMPATHIZED

WITH KING'S OPPOSTION
TO THE WAR.

WOULD YOU
COMMENT

ON THE DEATH
OF DR. KING?

I WROTE OUT SOME WORDS.

HE DEDICATED HIMSELF
TO JUSTICE AND LOVE

BETWEEN FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS.

HE GAVE HIS LIFE
FOR THAT PRINCIPLE.

AND I THINK IT'S UP
TO THOSE OF US WHO ARE HERE--

HIS FELLOW CITIZENS
AND PUBLIC OFFICIALS

AND THOSE OF US IN GOVERNMENT--

TO CARRY OUT THAT DREAM;

TO TRY TO END THE DIVISIONS

THAT EXIST SO DEEPLY
WITHIN OUR COUNTRY

AND REMOVE
THE STAIN OF BLOODSHED

FROM OUR LAND.

NARRATOR:
OPPOSED TO BOTH KENNEDY
AND McCARTHY

JOHNSON PICKED
VICE PRESIDENT HUBERT HUMPHREY

AS HIS HEIR APPARENT.

HUMPHREY: WE'VE GOT TO TRY
TO BIND UP THESE WOUNDS.

AND IF THIS MEANS

THAT I DON'T HAVE
THE TIME FOR CAMPAIGNING

THAT'S THE WAY
IT'LL HAVE TO BE.

NARRATOR:
OVER THE NEXT TWO MONTHS

KENNEDY AND McCARTHY
CONTINUED THEIR RIVALRY

IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARIES.

THE CONTEST REACHED A CLIMAX
IN CALIFORNIA.

KENNEDY WON.

HIS ASSASSIN WAS WAITING.

MY THANKS TO ALL OF YOU

AND NOW IT'S ON TO CHICAGO!

NARRATOR:
McCARTHY'S CAMPAIGN WORKERS

WERE WATCHING
KENNEDY'S VICTORY CELEBRATION.

(SHOT)

(SCREAM)

WOMAN: THEY DON'T KNOW
WHO'S BEEN SHOT YET.

VOICE FROM TV:
IF YOU DO NOT LEAVE THE ROOM

WE CANNOT GET MEDICAL AID
TO THE SENATOR.

WOULD YOU PLEASE
LEAVE THE ROOM?

WOMAN:
KENNEDY'S BEEN SHOT!

VOICE FROM TV:
ARE THERE ANY MORE DOCTORS?

HELP CLEAR THIS ROOM!

ARE THERE ANY MORE DOCTORS?

WILL YOU PLEASE CLEAR THE ROOM?

IT WILL HELP
GET MEDICAL AID TO THE SENATOR.

SOMEBODY JUST SHOT
ROBERT KENNEDY.

TV REPORTER:
YOU SAW WHAT HAPPENED.

MAN: I'M SORRY,
I CAN'T MAKE ANY COMMENTS.

NARRATOR:
TO MANY

KENNEDY'S ASSASSINATION,
TWO MONTHS AFTER KING'S

SEEMED CONFIRMATION

THAT THE COUNTRY
WAS ON THE VERGE OF CHAOS.

THEN CAME CHICAGO.

TORN BY STRIKES
AND BRACED FOR VIOLENCE

MAYOR DALY'S CITY
WELCOMED THE DIVIDED DELEGATES

TO THE 1968
DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION.

RELATIONS BETWEEN THE POLICE
AND THE PRESS CORPS WERE TENSE.

COME ON--MOVE,
MOVE, MOVE!

NARRATOR:
VICE PRESIDENT HUMPHREY

WAS ASSURED OF THE NOMINATION
BEFORE HE ARRIVED.

BUT HUMPHREY
AND THE JOHNSON ADMINISTRATION

WERE STILL TARGETS
OF McCARTHY'S MUTED ATTACKS.

I THINK
THE CASE IS RATHER CLEAR

AS TO WHAT'S WRONG

ABOUT OUR INVOLVEMENT
IN VIETNAM.

AND I THINK
THE CASE IS RATHER CLEAR

AS TO WHAT
WE OUGHT TO BE DOING

ABOUT OUR PROBLEMS
HERE AT HOME.

IT CALLS FOR SOME QUIET
AND RESTRAINT--

A KIND OF BACKING OFF
TO LOOK AT AMERICA

AND TO CONSIDER
WHAT WE OUGHT TO BE DOING.

THE NATION HAS DONE THAT

AND WITH YOUR HELP
IN THESE NEXT THREE DAYS

I BELIEVE

THAT THE DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION
WILL DO THE SAME.

NARRATOR:
OTHERS HAD A DIFFERENT PURPOSE:

OUR POSITION IS

THAT WHOEVER THE CANDIDATES ARE

AND WHATEVER THE PLATFORMS

THAT WE MUST STAY IN THE STREETS
AND STAY IN ACTIVE RESISTANCE

OR ELSE
THERE WILL BE NO PEACE--

EITHER IN THE GHETTOS
OR IN VIETNAM.

DO YOU HAVE A
PERMIT TO MARCH?

NO.

ARE YOU EXPECTING
TROUBLE?

WE EXPECT TROUBLE
ALL THE TIME.

NARRATOR: THOUSANDS
OF HIGHLY VISIBLE PROTESTORS

DESCENDED UPON CHICAGO--

MILITANTS, PACIFISTS
AND HIPPIES--

WITH 500 UNDERCOVER AGENTS
AMONG THEM.

OFFICER: IF YOU DO NOT LEAVE,
YOU WILL BE SUBJECT TO ARREST.

NARRATOR:
SOME DEMONSTRATORS
WERE NONVIOLENT.

OTHERS DELIBERATELY PROVOKED
THE POLICE.

THESE PEOPLE ARE REVOLUTIONARIES

BENT ON THE DESTRUCTION

OF THE GOVERNMENT

OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

THEY'RE A PITIFUL HANDFUL.

THEY HAVE ALMOST NO SUPPORT.

BUT BY GOLLY

THEY GET THE COOPERATION
OF THE NEWS MEDIA.

THE HARD-CORE LEADERSHIP
ARE COMMUNISTS.

I TOLD MY PARTNER:

"GRAB YOUR CLUB
AND JUMP OUT SWINGING

"BEFORE THEY TIP US

BECAUSE WE'D SOONER FIGHT
THAN ROAST."

SO I JUMPED OUT FIRST

AND HE STAYED IN THE WAGON
AND CALLED FOR HELP.

I GRABBED ONE,
I HIT ANOTHER ONE DOWN.

AND THEN SOMEBODY GRABBED ME
FROM THE REAR

AND FLUNG ME INTO THE CROWD

AND THESE DIRTY HIPPIE
SON-OF-A-SO-AND-SOs--

THEY CALLED ME
A MOTHER-HUNCHIN' SO-AND-SO

AND A WHITE FASCIST.

THEY SAID:

"YOU'RE GETTING
SOME OF YOUR OWN MEDICINE."

AND THEN SOME CITIZEN
GOT OUT OF HIS CAR

AND STARTED HELPING US.

NARRATOR:
AMID THE VIOLENCE

TALK OF PEACE.

SIX MONTHS AGO IN VIETNAM

THE ONLY ALTERNATIVE BEFORE US

WAS FORCE--OR WITHDRAWAL.

AND I THINK

THAT WITHDRAWAL WOULD BE
TOTALLY UNREALISTIC

AND WOULD BE A CATASTROPHE.

THE SECOND ALTERNATIVE--
WHICH I NOW SPEAK OF--

IS THE CONFERENCE IN PARIS.

THE NEGOTIATIONS ARE UNDERWAY.

THEY'RE NOT MAKING
A GREAT DEAL OF PROGRESS

BUT THEY ARE UNDERWAY.

WE'VE BEEN SEEKING
THOSE NEGOTIATIONS FOR YEARS.

THE ROADBLOCK TO PEACE

IS NOT IN WASHINGTON, D.C.--
IT IS IN HANOI.

AND WE OUGHT TO RECOGNIZE IT.

NARRATOR:
OVER FOUR DAYS AND NIGHTS

SPORADIC BATTLES IN THE STREETS
WERE ECHOED

BY ANGRY DEBATES
ON THE WAR

INSIDE THE CONVENTION HALL.

IT IS ALTOGETHER TOO LATE HERE

FOR US TO BEGIN

TO DISCUSS THE MERITS
OF THE WAR IN VIETNAM.

THAT QUESTION HAS BEEN PRESENTED
TO SEVEN MILLION DEMOCRATS

AND IN THE STATES
WHERE THERE ARE PRIMARIES.

AND THE PEOPLE HAVE FOUND
AN INDICTMENT OF THAT WAR.

WE WANT PEACE NOW!

MOST DELEGATES DO NOT KNOW

THAT THOUSANDS OF YOUNG PEOPLE
ARE BEING BEATEN

IN THE STREETS OF CHICAGO.

WISCONSIN IS NOT RECOGNIZED!

THE INTERESTING THING WAS

THAT THE SIZE OF THE PROTEST

AGAINST THE WAR

BECAME SO LARGE

THAT IT WAS
IMPOSSIBLE TO AVOID IT

AS A NEWS STORY.

A LOT OF PEOPLE SAY
WE WERE MANIPULATED BY THAT.

I DON'T THINK SO.

WE HAD LEARNED
TO AVOID MANIPULATION.

IF YOU THINK OF

THE 1968 DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION

AND THE FIGHTING
ON MICHIGAN AVENUE IN CHICAGO

BETWEEN HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS--

PERHAPS THOUSANDS
OF DEMONSTRATORS--

IT WAS A STORY
OF INESCAPABLE NEWS VALUE--

IT HAD TO BE COVERED.

NARRATOR:
THE DEMONSTRATORS WERE TRYING

TO MARCH ON THE CONVENTION HALL
WITHOUT A POLICE PERMIT.

BLOCKED,
THEY SAT DOWN IN THE STREET.

I'VE NEVER SEEN
ANYTHING SO HORRIBLE!

CROWD:
THE WHOLE WORLD IS WATCHING!

¶ WE SHALL OVERCOME

MAN:
THE VICTORY IS OURS!

WALTER MEARS
OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
WROTE A LEAD

THE NIGHT THAT HUBERT HUMPHREY
RECEIVED

THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION:

"HUBERT HUMPHREY--
A MAN OF PEACE--

"RECEIVED THE DEMOCRATIC
NOMINATION TONIGHT

UNDER ARMED GUARD."

IT WOULD HAVE BEEN IMPOSSIBLE
TO HOLD

THE DEMOCRATIC

NATIONAL CONVENTION

IN ANY CITY

THROUGHOUT THE WORLD

WITHOUT DEMONSTRATIONS
OR DISRUPTION

BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY
HAS BLOOD ON ITS HANDS

AND BECAUSE THERE'S A STRUGGLE
GOING ON IN THE WORLD TODAY

BETWEEN YOUNG PEOPLE

AND BETWEEN THOSE OLD,
MENOPAUSAL MEN

WHO RUN THIS COUNTRY.

WELL, CHICAGO WAS
A SORT OF SAD TIME

BECAUSE IF YOU'D BEEN INVOLVED
IN THE POLITICS

AND THE PROCESS
OF TALKING TO PEOPLE

WHAT WAS QUITE CLEAR WAS

THAT A GREAT MANY
OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

IN FACT, WERE SYMPATHETIC
TO THE ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT.

AND YET, SUDDENLY,
THE IMAGE THAT THEY GOT

WAS NOT
OF THIS NICE YOUNG PERSON

BUT OF PEOPLE
SHOUTING OBSCENITIES

AND DISRUPTING THE CITY.

BUT IT WEAKENED

THE ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT--

AROUND THE EDGES, AT LEAST.

AND THE EDGES BECAME
WHAT RICHARD NIXON PLAYED ON.

NARRATOR:
THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE
DELIVERED

A FAMILIAR CAMPAIGN MESSAGE
TO CHICAGOANS

A WEEK AFTER
THE DEMOCRATS WENT HOME.

THIS IS A NATION OF LAWS.

AND,
AS ABRAHAM LINCOLN HAS SAID:

"NO ONE IS ABOVE THE LAW,
NO ONE IS BELOW THE LAW."

AND WE'RE GOING
TO ENFORCE THE LAW.

AND AMERICANS
SHOULD REMEMBER THAT.

NARRATOR:
HANDICAPPED BY HIS SUPPORT

OF JOHNSON'S WAR POLICIES

HUMPHREY HAD TROUBLE
TAKING THE OFFENSIVE.

CROWD:
DUMP THE HUMP! DUMP THE HUMP!

HUMPHREY:
YOU FELLOWS DO AN AWFUL LOT
TO PROMOTE THAT

FOR THAT CAMERA.

COME ON DOWN HERE!

KNOCK IT OFF!

NARRATOR: NIXON LUMPED
THE DEMORRATS TOGETHER

IN ATTACKS
ON THE ADMINISTRATION'S RECORD.

LET ME TELL YOU

WHAT THOSE FOUR YEARS HAVE DONE
TO AMERICA:

THE LONGEST WAR

THAT AMERICA'S EVER HAD
IN ITS HISTORY;

THE WORST CRIME WAVE;

THE HIGHEST TAXES;

THE HIGHEST RATE
IN THE COST OF LIVING

IN A GENERATION;

AND THE LOWEST RESPECT
FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

IN OUR HISTORY.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
THE BIGGEST ELECTION SURPRISE

THAT AMERICA'S KNOWN
IN 20 YEARS.

WE'RE GOING
TO WIN THIS ELECTION!

NARRATOR:
IT WAS NOT TO BE.

HUMPHREY'S CAMPAIGN TOOK OFF

WHEN HE CALLED
FOR A U.S. PEACE INITIATIVE.

AND IT ACCELERATED

WHEN JOHNSON DECLARED
A BOMBING HALT.

BUT NIXON, PROMISING

TO END THE WAR WITH HONOR

WON BY A SLENDER MARGIN.

I, RICHARD MILHOUSE NIXON,

DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR...

NARRATOR:
THE "HONEYMOON" PERIOD--

TRADITIONALLY GRANTED
A NEW PRESIDENT--

WAS CHARGED
WITH THE EXPECTATION

THAT NIXON WOULD UNVEIL A PLAN
TO END THE WAR.

BUT DURING
THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 1969

U.S. CASUALTIES WERE HIGH.

LIFE MAGAZINE
PUBLISHED PORTRAITS

OF G.I.s KILLED
IN A SINGLE WEEK.

AND WEEK AFTER WEEK--
EVERY THURSDAY NIGHT--

NETWORK NEWS VIEWERS SAW
THE BODY COUNTS.

I ENTERED GOVERNMENT
WITH THE CONVICTION

THAT ONE COULD CREATE

A LARGE CONSENSUS

BEHIND A REASONABLE PROGRAM--

WHICH WOULD THEN IMPRESS HANOI
WITH OUR DETERMINATION--

TO BE BOTH CONCILIATORY

BUT ALSO TO INDICATE
ITS LIMITS.

WE NEVER ACHIEVED THAT

BECAUSE THE MODERATE GROUPS
ALWAYS FELT

THEY HAD TO BE A STEP AHEAD
OF THE ADMINISTRATION.

CROWD: THIS PROTEST IS DIRECTED

NOT TOWARD THE YOUNG MEN--

AMERICAN OR VIETNAMESE--

WHO HAVE FOUGHT AND DIED...

BROWN:
THE NOTION OF THE MORATORIUM WAS

THAT WE HAD TO TAKE
THE ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT

OFF THE CAMPUS

AND BUILD IT BACK
INTO THE COMMUNITY.

THAT MEANT

THAT YOU HAD TO HAVE
LANGUAGE THAT WAS MODERATE--

NOT STRIDENT AND OFF-PUTTING;

THAT YOU HAD TO HAVE EVENTS

WHICH MODERATE PEOPLE
COULD PARTICIPATE IN.

IT HAD TO BE LOCALLY ORGANIZED

SO THE HEARTLAND FOLKS

HAD TO FEEL

THAT IT BELONGED TO THEM.

THERE ARE MILLIONS
OF GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS

THAT SUPPORT
THE UNITED STATES.

BUT MOST OF SOUTH VIETNAM
SUPPORT THE VIET CONG.

NARRATOR:
IN WASHINGTON

THE MORATORIUM DREW 50,000.

OVER ONE MILLION PARTICIPATED
NATIONWIDE.

NORTH VIETNAM'S PREMIER,
PHAM VAN DONG

SENT A MESSAGE OF FRIENDSHIP
TO THE ORGANIZERS.

AND THIS MESSAGE
IS A SHOCKING INTRUSION

INTO THE AFFAIRS

OF THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

BY AN ENEMY POWER.

THE LEADERS
OF THE DEMONSTRATIONS

ARE CHARGEABLE

WITH THE KNOWLEDGE
OF THIS COMMUNICATION

AND RESPONSIBLE
FOR MAKING CLEAR

WHAT THESE DEMONSTRATIONS
ARE FOR.

WHEN THE WAR IN VIETNAM
IS DOING THINGS LIKE THIS

TO OUR COUNTRY

DO WE HAVE TO ASK THE QUESTION

WHETHER WE ARE ENTITLED

TO DISSENT?

WE CERTAINLY ARE ENTITLED
TO DISSENT!

IF WE DON'T DISSENT,
WE ARE NINCOMPOOPS AND COWARDS!

CLEAR THE FRONT
OF THE CAMERAS!

NARRATOR:
AT THE SAME TIME

SUPPORTERS OF THE GOVERNMENT
STAGED COUNTER-DEMONSTRATIONS.

WHAT DO YOU FEEL
YOU PROVED

BY MAKING THIS JUMP?

WE WERE ASKED
TO DEMONSTRATE

THE WAY WE FEEL--

THE BEST WAY
WE KNOW HOW.

WHO ASKED YOU?

WELL, THE
AMERICAN PEOPLE.

PEACE!
PEACE!

THEIR CHAIRMAN
IS LOOKING

FOR A VIET CONG
VICTORY.

AND WE'RE NOT!

NARRATOR:
THE MORATORIUM ENDED

WITH CANDLELIGHT CEREMONIES
IN WASHINGTON AND ELSEWHERE.

I AM FOR PEACE--

I AM NOT EXACTLY SURE
HOW IT SHOULD COME ABOUT.

BUT BECAUSE I WANT PEACE

I'M MARCHING,
I'M HOLDING MY CANDLE.

WHAT THE PROTESTORS
DID NOT KNOW--

COULD NOT KNOW--

WAS THAT FOR MONTHS

NIXON HAD BEEN

PRIVATELY WARNING HANOI

THAT NOVEMBER 1

WAS THEIR DEADLINE--

THAT UNLESS THEY WERE READY
TO NEGOTIATE SERIOUSLY

AND SHOW US THAT THEY WERE,
BY NOVEMBER 1

THEY WOULD BEAR SOME VERY HEAVY
UNSTATED CONSEQUENCES--

WITH THE IMPLICATION
THAT THESE WOULD BE MILITARY.

NOW, HANOI WAS A DILIGENT READER
OF U.S. PUBLIC OPINION

AND OF U.S. DEMONSTRATIONS.

NIXON WAS VERY WORRIED

THAT
THE OCTOBER 15 MORATORIUM

WOULD BE SEEN BY THEM
AS EVIDENCE

THAT HE COULD NOT DELIVER.

AND SO TONIGHT,
TO YOU--

THE GREAT SILENT MAJORITY
OF MY FELLOW AMERICANS--

I ASK FOR YOUR SUPPORT.

I PLEDGED IN MY CAMPAIGN

FOR THE PRESIDENCY

TO END THE WAR

IN A WAY
THAT WE COULD WIN THE PEACE.

I HAVE INITIATED
A PLAN OF ACTION

WHICH WILL ENABLE ME
TO KEEP THAT PLEDGE.

THE MORE SUPPORT I CAN HAVE
FROM THE AMERICAN PEOPLE

THE SOONER
THAT PLEDGE CAN BE REDEEMED.

FOR THE MORE DIVIDED WE ARE
AT HOME

THE LESS LIKELY THE ENEMY IS
TO NEGOTIATE AT PARIS.

LET US BE UNITED FOR PEACE.

LET US ALSO BE UNITED
AG

BECAUSE LET US UNDERSTAND

NORTH VIETNAM CANNOT DEFEAT
OR HUMILIATE THE UNITED STATES.

ONLY AMERICANS CAN DO THAT.

THE MAJORITY OF THE POPULATION,
ON THE WHOLE

SUPPORTED THE ADMINISTRATION.

SO THERE WAS A CONFLICT

BETWEEN
WHAT THE ELITE WAS THINKING

AND WHAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC
WAS THINKING.

IT WAS NOT

THAT THE ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT
EVER ACHIEVED A MAJORITY

BUT WHEN 30% OF THE POPULATION

AND MANY OF THOSE
WHO WRITE FOR THE MEDIA
AND SPEAK PUBLICLY

OPPOSE A GIVEN COURSE

CONFUSION IS INEVITABLE.

NARRATOR:
THOUGH NIXON HAD STARTED

MAJOR TROOP WITHDRAWALS
FROM VIETNAM

MID-NOVEMBER BROUGHT
ANOTHER, LARGER PROTEST

TO WASHINGTON

CALLED
"THE MOBILIZATION."

VICE PRESIDENT AGNEW TOOK
A TOUGH LINE.

AGNEW: THE AMERICAN
WHO RELIES UPON TELEVISION
FOR HIS NEWS

MIGHT CONCLUDE

THAT THE MAJORITY
OF AMERICAN STUDENTS

ARE EMBITTERED RADICALS;

THAT THE MAJORITY
OF BLACK AMERICANS

FEEL NO REGARD
FOR THEIR COUNTRY.

CROWD:
ONE, TWO, THREE, FOUR--

TRICKY DICK,
STOP THE WAR!

AGNEW: WE KNOW

THAT NONE OF THESE CONCLUSIONS
IS TRUE.

PERHAPS
THE PLACE TO START LOOKING

FOR A CREDIBILITY GAP

IS IN THE STUDIOS
OF THE NETWORKS IN NEW YORK.

NOW, AFTER THE AGNEW ATTACK--

I'M A PRETTY CAREFUL READER
OF THE NEWSPAPERS

AND I USED TO GO AROUND,
SAYING TO PEOPLE...

WHEN THEY WOULD SAY:

"WHAT'S YOUR REACTION
TO AGNEW?"

I WOULD SAY:

"A GOOD JOURNALIST--

"WHEN HE GETS
INTO A SERIOUS SUBJECT-

ALWAYS THINKS TWICE
BEFORE USING CERTAIN WORDS"

AND I SAID THEN

THAT WE WERE THINKING
THRICE.

MEMBERS OF
THE PRESS--

JUST SO YOU
KNOW, NOW--

ALL THESE PEOPLE

ARE GOING TO FORM
OUT ON THE SIDEWALK.

AND THEY'LL STAND THERE
FOR A NUMBER OF MINUTES

FOR YOU TO TAKE PICTURES,
IF YOU WANT TO ASK QUESTIONS.

ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE BRIDGE,
THEY WILL NOT SPEAK TO YOU.

AGNEW: HOW MANY MARCHES
AND DEMONSTRATIONS

WOULD WE HAVE

IF THE MARCHERS DID NOT KNOW

THAT THE EVER-FAITHFUL
T.V. CAMERAS WOULD BE THERE?

NARRATOR:
AMID ARGUMENTS

WHETHER PEACE PROTESTS
LENGTHENED OR SHORTENED

THE WAR IN VIETNAM

THE WAR IN AMERICA
WAS A CONTINUI STORY.

AFTER THE MOBILIZATION,
ANOTHER SHOCK:

LIFE PUBLISHED PICTURES
OF VIETNAMESE PEASANTS

MASSACRED IN 1968
BY U.S. SOLDIERS

IN A VILLAGE CALLED "MY LAI."

THE TRIALS
OF LIEUTENANT WILLIAM CALLEY

AND OTHERS IMPLICATED
IN THE MY LAI MASSACRE

HAUNTED THE NEWS FOR MONTHS.

ONLY CALLEY WAS CONVICTED,
IN A SWIRL OF CONTROVERSY.

WAS HE A SCAPEGOAT
OR A WAR CRIMINAL?

WAS THE MASSACRE
AN ISOLATED CASE

OR A COMMON OCCURRENCE?

HAD DRAFT INEQUITIES HURT
THE MORALE OF THE ARMY?

THE NIXON ADMINISTRATION
REDUCED DRAFT CALLS

AND INSTITUTED A LOTTERY

WHICH WAS MEANT TO BE MORE FAIR
AND MORE PREDICTABLE.

MEN WHOSE BIRTHDATES CAME UP
WITH LOW NUMBERS

KNEW THAT THEY WOULD SOON HEAR
FROM THEIR DRAFT BOARDS.

JIM FALLOWS:
I WAS COMING BACK INTO BOSTON

AND I HEARD THAT MY BIRTHDATE--
AUGUST 2--

HAD COME UP
AS #45 ON THE DRAFT LIST.

AND SUDDENLY I REALIZED
THIS WAS SOMETHING

THAT I HAD TO FIGURE OUT
WHAT TO DO ABOUT.

THE COURSE
THAT I ENDED UP CHOOSING--

AND IT WAS, AGAIN,
IN THE SPIRIT OF THOSE TIMES--

WAS TO LOOK
FOR THE PAINLESS WAY OUT--

NAMELY,
A PHYSICAL DEFERMENT.

AND WITH A COMBINATION

OF JUST GENERALIZED ANXIETY

AND DETERMINATION TO GET OUT

I LOST ABOUT 10 POUNDS
OVER THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

NARRATOR:
HELPED BY A SYMPATHETIC DOCTOR

FALLOWS SUCCEEDED
IN FAILING HIS PHYSICAL.

FALLOWS: NEAR THE END
OF THE INDUCTION DAY

THE BUSES STARTED ARRIVING

FROM A WHITE,
WORKING-CLASS S DISTRICT
OF BOSTON.

AND WHILE NINE OUT OF TEN
OF MY COMRADES FROM HARVARD
AND MIT

WERE GETTING OUT
WITH THEIR DOCTORS' EXCUSES

THE SAME PROPORTION OF PEOPLE
FROM THIS PART OF TOWN

WERE MARCHING
RIGHT THROUGH THE PHYSICAL

AND WERE GOING OFF
TO THE MILITARY--

GOING OFF TO THE WAR.

NOBODY COULD AVOID RECOGNIZING
WHAT THAT MEANT THEN.

WE KNEW

THAT WHILE WE WERE NOT
GOING TO WAR

WE WERE SEEING THE PEOPLE
WHO WERE GOING TO BE KILLED.

THE MILITARY COMMAND POST,

JUST ACROSS THIS ROAD

IS OUTSIDE THE TOWN OF GHODHA--

ONLY A FEW MILES

FROM THE CAMBODIAN BORDER.

AS BEST WE CAN TELL

THIS IS THE SOUTH VIETNAMESE
COMMAND POST

FOR THE OPERATION

INTO THE CAMBODIAN
PARROT'S BEAK.

BUT THE STRICTEST KIND
OF SECURITY

IS BEING ENFORCED HERE.

NARRATOR: THE NIGHT THIS STORY
WAS BROADCAST ON THE NEWS

PRESIDENT NIXON ANNOUNCED
ON TELEVISION

THAT HE WAS SENDING
AMERICAN TROOPS INTO CAMBODIA.

IF, WHEN THE CHIPS ARE DOWN

THE WORLD'S

MOST POWERFUL NATION--

THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA--

ACTS LIKE
A PITIFUL, HELPLESS GIANT

THE FORCES OF TOTALITARIANISM
AND ANARCHY

WILL THREATEN FREE NATIONS
AND FREE INSTITUTIONS

THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

IT IS NOT OUR POWER,
BUT OUR WILL AND CHARACTER

THAT IS BEING TESTED TONIGHT.

THE QUESTION

ALL AMERICANS
MUST ASK AND ANSWER TONIGHT

IS THIS:

DOES THE RICHEST
AND STRONGEST NATION

IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD

HAVE THE CHARACTER

TO MEET A DIRECT CHALLENGE
BY A GROUP

WHICH REJECTS EVERY EFFORT
TO WIN A JUST PEACE;

VIOLATES THE NEUTRALITY
OF AN UNARMED PEOPLE

AND USES OUR PRISONERS
AS HOSTAGES?

NIXON IT SENT THE COUNTRY

INTO A SPASM OF HYSTERIA

WHICH THEN WAS EXACERBATED

A FEW DAYS LATER

WHEN FOUR STUDENTS WERE KILLED
AT KENT STATE.

NARRATOR:
ON THE NIGHT OF MAY 2

THE KENT STATE ROTC HALL
WAS PUT TO THE TORCH.

TWO DAYS LATER

STUDENTS CONFRONTED
OHIO NATIONAL GUARDSMEN.

SOME GUARDSMEN FIRED
INTO THE CROWD.

FOUR STUDENTS WERE KILLED.

NIXON: YOU SEE THESE BUMS
BLOWING UP THE CAMPUSES.

LISTEN, THE BOYS THAT ARE ON

THE COLLEGE CAMPUSES TODAY

ARE THE LUCKIEST PEOPLE
IN THE WORLD.

NARRATOR:
NIXON'S REACTION
WAS WIDELY REPORTED.

NIXON: HERE THEY ARE,
BURNIN' UP THE BOOKS.

GET RID OF THE WAR,
THERE'LL BE ANOTHER ONE.

NIXON'S HANDLING
OF THE ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT

WAS NOT GENEROUS

AND CONTRIBUTED

TO THE POLARIZATION
OF OUR SOCIETY.

NIXON,
WHEN CHALLENGED POLITICALLY

TENDED TO REACT
WITH CERTAIN GUT FEELINGS.

AND HE NEVER FOUND THE LANGUAGE
OF RESPECT AND COMPASSION

WHICH MIGHT HAVE CREATED
A BRIDGE--

AT LEAST TO
THE MORE REASONABLE ELEMENTS

OF THE ANTI-WAR MOVEMENT.

SO THAT
CIVIL-WAR CONDITIONS DEVELOPED.

MAN:
I GOT A FAMILY.

MY BOY WENT INTO THE ARMY--
18 YEARS OLD AND A DAY!

SUPPOSIN' THEY COME OVER
AND THEY TAKE OVER THE COUNTRY--

WHAT ARE YOU GONNA DO THEN?

I DON'T CARE WHO'S PRESIDENT--
WE BACK HIM UP.

AND THAT'S WHAT
ALL THE WORKIN' MEN DO.

THEY LOVE
THE FLAG OF THIS COUNTRY.

AND THEY LIVE HERE.

ANNOUNCER: THIS WEEK,
STRAIGHT FROM THE HEARTLAND...

NARRATOR:
TELEVISION COVERED

THE CONFLICT IN THE CITIES

AND ON OCCASION,
IT TURNED TO

"THE HEARTLAND."

THESE PEOPLE MAKE UP

AN IMPORTANT SEGMENT
OF AMERICAN SOCIETY.

BUT TOO OFTEN,
THEIR VOICES SEEM TO GET LOST.

AND SO, ABC NEWS CAME HERE
TO GRAND ISLAND

TO LISTEN.

WE VOTED NIXON IN

AND WE HAVE
TO GO ALONG WITH HIS JUDGEMENT.

I THINK PROBABLY
WE DO HAVE CLOSED MINDS

FOR A LOT OF THINGS.

AND WE HAVEN'T ADVANCED.

AND I HAVE TWO CHILDREN
IN COLLEGE NOW.

AND THEY'RE FOR THIS MORATORIUM

AND VERY, VERY CONCERNED
WITH THE CAMBODIA SITUATION.

ONE OF THE REASONS
I BOUGHT THE FLAG

IS BECAUSE I HAVE
A BROTHER-IN-LAW

THAT'S FIGHTING IN VIETNAM

AND I FEEL THIS IS ONE WAY
THAT I CAN TELL MY FEELINGS

AND SHOW SOME KIND OF SUPPORT.

I WANT MY SONS TO GROW UP

WITH A RESPECT
FOR THE UNITED STATES FLAG.

NARRATOR:
THE HEARTLAND REMAINED
CONSERVATIVE.

BUT SOME AMERICANS
WERE COMING BACK FROM VIETNAM

WITH CHANGED PERSPECTIVES.

ONE OF THEM
WAS LIEUTENANT JOHN KERRY.

KERRY: A TYPICAL MISSION
REALLY DIDN'T HAVE

ANY SENSE TO IT.

THE LOGIC
THAT WAS EXPLAINED TO US

BY THE COMMAND IN VIETNAM

WAS THAT WE WERE

"SHOWING THE FLAG
IN THE BACK YARD OF THE ENEMY."

THERE WERE PEOPLE WHO BELIEVED
THAT WE WERE FIGHTING COMMUNISM

AND THAT THIS WAS TERRIFIC,
AND IT WAS IMPORTANT

AND WHO WERE ALL
SWEPT UP IN IT.

BUT I THINK
MOST PEOPLE DID NOT.

MOST PEOPLE BEGAN TO SEE THAT--

WE WEREN'T GAINING
ANY TERRITORY;

WE WEREN'T WINNING
THE HEARTS AND MINDS OF ANYBODY;

WE CERTAINLY WEREN'T SECURING
ANY PARTICULAR STRONGHOLDS.

WE WERE SIMPLY DOING

A VERY MACHO KIND
OF PUBLIC DEMONSTRATION

OF OUR PRESENCE.

PEOPLE DID NOT LISTEN
TO THE VETERANS OFHE WAR.

THE PRESS ITSELF HAD DIFFICULTY
IN PERCEIVING

OF A GROUP
OF VIETNAM VETERANS

BEING OPPOSED TO THE WAR.

AND IT WAS A STORY
OF PROFOUND IMPORTANCE--

WHY THE WAR ITSELF WAS WRONG

AND WHY WE WERE NOT GOING
TO BE SUCCESSFUL

AND WHY WE HAD
TO RECOGNIZE THAT.

WE JUST FELT
THAT STORY HAD TO BE TOLD.

I VOLUNTEERED
TO GO INTO THE SERVICE;

VONTEERED
FOR VIETNAM;

VOLUNTEERED FOR EVERY MISSION.

I WAS THERE 10 DAYS,
AND I WAS IN CAMBODIA.

YOU PEOPLE DON'T KNOW THAT.

I WAS IN CAMBODIA
WITH ORDERS.

TALK TO VETERANS--
THEY'RE HERE ALL WEEK.

TALK TO THEM.

THEY'LL TELL YOU THINGS
YOU WON'T BELIEVE!

THE HOUSE
UNAMERICAN ACTIVITIES COMMITTEE

HAS RATED OUR ORGANIZATION

THE THIRD GREATEST THREAT
TO INTERNAL SECURITY

IN THIS COUNTRY.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
I DID IT.

I DID IT
BECAUSE I'M AN AMERICAN.

I HAVEN'T CHANGED.

MY POLITICS HAVE CHANGED

IN THAT I'M NOT WILLING
TO TAKE IT ANY MORE.

BUT I AM STILL NONVIOLENT.

I STILL BELIEVE
IN THIS SYSTEM.

I'M STILL VISITING MY SENATOR.

LET HER SPEAK.

A LOT OF OUR TAXES
GOES TO SUPPORT

JUST WHAT YOU'RE DOING TODAY.

I WISH YOU'D GET OUT
AND GET A JOB AND WORK!

I'M FROM UPSTATE NEW YORK.

AND I'D LIKE TO TURN IN

MY BRONZE STAR
AND TWO PURPLE HEARTS.

I LOST MY LEG IN VIETNAM.

I'M TOTALLY OPPOSED
TO THIS WAR.

SENATOR BUCKLEY
AND CONGRESSMAN JAMES HANLEY

WILL RECEIVE MY MEDALS
NEXT WEEK IN THE MAIL.

NARRATOR:
ONE BY ONE

DECORATED
AMERICAN WAR VETERANS

FLUNG AWAY THEIR MEDALS
ON THE STEPS OF THE CAPITOL.

THE AMERICAN WAR
WAS WINDING DOWN.

G.I. CASUALTIES
WERE DECREASING.

BUT THOSE VETERANS
WHO OPPOSED THE WAR

WERE ASKING FOR SOMETHING MORE
THAN AN END TO HOSTILITIES.

KERRY:
WE WISH

THAT A MERCIFUL GOD
COULD WIPE AWAY

THE MEMORIES OF THAT SERVICE

AS EASILY AS THIS ADMINISTRATION
HAS WIPED THEIR MEMORIES OF US.

AND SO, WHEN 30 YEARS FROM NOW,
OUR BROTHERS GO DOWN THE STREET

WITHOUT A LEG,
WITHOUT AN ARM OR A FACE

AND SMAL BOYS ASK,
"WHY?"

WE WILL BE ABLE TO SAY,
"VIETNAM"

AND NOT MEAN A DESERT--
NOT A FILTHY, OBSCENE MEMORY

BUT MEAN, INSTEAD

THE PLACE WHERE
AMERICA FINALLY TURNED

AND WHERE SOLDIERS, LIKE US,
HELPED IT IN THE TURNING.

NARRATOR:
ACROSS AMERICA

THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES BY NOW
WERE VISITING THE GRAVESITES

OF THEIR CHILDREN
KILLED IN VIETNAM.

AND MILLIONS OF AMERICANS
WERE SHARING THEIR LOSSES.

(PRAYS):
OUR FATHER...

HAIL, MARY...

ETERNAL REST GRANT UNTO HIM,
O LORD

AND MAY PERPETUAL LIGHT
SHINE UPON HIM.

MAY THE SOUL
OF THE FAITHFUL DEPARTED

THROUGH THE MERCY OF GOD
REST IN PEACE.

AMEN.

CAPTIONED BY
THE CAPTION CENTER
WGBH BOSTON