Tet Docs

     Learning more about the Tet Offensive and the Vietnam War as a whole made me wonder who was suffering more. The U.S. or the Vietnamese people? The first document stated that although the North Vietnamese Army suffered almost 10x the casualties as the U.S./South Vietnamese troops, they won on a psychological standpoint. The NVA had attacked the South during its most vulnerable time. The Tet holiday was meant to be celebrated by civilians and the agreed cease-fire was taken advantage of. The attack was the straw that broke President Johnson's back. Because of this, he refused to run for re-election.
     Walter Cronkite's broadcast echoed many of the thoughts and feelings of the American people towards the Vietnam War. Cronkite openly expressed his doubts about the future of the war and even says "we have been too often disappointed by the optimism of the American leaders, both in Vietnam and Washington". Many Americans believed that they were not being told the whole truth of the war overseas. Americans were clearly worn down from the years of fighting and were demanding answers along with results.
     I couldn't help but feel bad while reading President Johnson's address to the nation. The doubt and disappointment in his voice was obvious. When he referenced JKF's line of "paying any price", you could tell that he knew that there actually WAS a limit as to how far the U.S. was willing to fight. His address was meant to instill hope and optimism in the American people but I could tell he was also trying to convince himself that the decision to go to war was a good one. After saying he would not run for re-election, President Johnson said "let men everywhere know, however, that a strong, a confident, and a vigilant American stands ready tonight". How can America be seen as confident when the President backs out of the presidency?