A Year of Crises

1968

What was it?Massive NVA offensive

on major cities in South Vietnam including the capital, Saigon

Reaction – Increased antiwar

protestsNow a slim majority

think Vietnam was a mistake and that the war could not be won

Tet Offensive (January 30)

Anti-War Views (April 4, 1967) Makes speech outlining his

opposition to the Vietnam War

Poor People’s Campaign (1968) King believed that poverty led

to violence, wanted to end all economic injustice, proposes a new march on Washington, travels country to gain support

April 3 – “

I’ve been to the mountaintop” speech, seen as being prophetic about his death

April 4 – Link King shot with a high-

powered rifle on the balcony of his motel

MLK Assassination(April 4)

EventsJames Earl Ray – man

accused & convicted of killing MLK

Reaction – A nation mourns,

huge funeral procession, riots erupt in 124 cities, 5,500 troops needed to stop the violence

RFK Speech

MLK Assassination(April 4)

Eugene McCarthy – Anti-war candidate in 1968, almost

beat LBJ in primary, showed vulnerability of President

Decision – Decides to run for President,

campaign got boost when LBJ decides not to run (March 31)

RFK – the Candidate Years Since JFK’s Assassination –

Reached out to different groups (Native Americans, African Americans, Chicanos, poor whites)

Against the War – Morally & politically opposed, critical

of LBJ for not financing programs at home

New Hope – Seen as the new hope to finish what

brother started

RFK Assassination(June 5-6)

California Primary – RFK wins key victory, makes victory speech Sirhan Sirhan –

Palestinian, shot RFK as he made his way through food prep room at hotel, dies day later at hospital on June 6

Reaction – seen as the end of

hopes for reform and change

RFK Assassination(June 5-6)

Hubert Humphrey – VP for LBJ, advocate of social justice & civil rights, privately opposed LBJ’s Vietnam Policy BUT publicly supported it – Why? “Dump the Hump” – anti-war

democrats harassed Humphrey Humphrey Heckled

Party Divided – Democratic Party was split

between Humphrey & McCarthy

Richard Daley – Democratic mayor of Chicago,

did not like radicals, peace marchers, or hippies

Protected convention hall with barb wire & chain link fence

Democratic National Convention

(Aug 26-29)

Demonstrations - Link – Police order them to

leave, tear gas & clubs, move in on crowd, several violent confrontations, police beat everyone & anyone

“The Whole World Is Watching” Much of violence was

seen on TVDemonstrators chanted

this as they were beaten

Nomination –Humphrey gets

nomination, but party is in ruins & divided

Republicans – Richard Nixon VP – Spiro Agnew (Gov. of MD) – attacked

Humphrey Ran on – law & order, secret plan to get out

of Vietnam Refused to Debate Humphrey – Why? Vietnam Ad / Leadership / The One

Democrats – Hubert Humphrey VP – Edmund Muskie (VP) from Maine Nixon’s Accomplishments Ad /

Nixon Shift Ad / Type of Man to be president

American Ind. – George Wallace Conservative, against forced integration –

Campaign Ad

Election o f 1968(Nov 5)

Results

Importance - marks beginning of rise of Conservatives & Republican rule

Election o f 1968(Nov 5)