The Vietnam War
Moderated by Professor Robert David “KC” Johnson
Six decades ago this month, John Kennedy’s inaugural address promised a nation that would “pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, in order to assure the survival and the success of liberty.” This high-minded rhetoric, however, paved the way for the introduction of U.S. troops into Vietnam, a conflict that would dominate American foreign policy for the next decade and a half. Vietnam is no longer America’s longest war–Afghanistan, sadly, has passed it–but the conflict had a lasting effect on the U.S. role in the world and on how Americans thought about their government, military, and international obligations. This seminar will examine the war and its legacy.
Seminar Dates & Times
Wednesdays | 10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m. EST
| March | 10, 24 |
| April | 7, 21 |
| May | 5, 19 |
| Session 1 | Background to Intervention |
| Session 2 | Kennedy, Johnson, and Militarizing the War |
| Session 3 | Protest and Politics |
| Session 4 | 1968 and Nixon’s “Secret Plan” |
| Session 5 | The War Ends |
| Session 6 | The War’s Legacy–Politics, Diplomacy, Popular Culture |
Seminar Cost: $450 (tax-deductible portion $225)