A Very Near Thing: The Tet Offensive and After, 1968

Identifications

Wheeler Report
Clifford Task Force
Eugene McCarthy
AGold Crisis
March 31 Speech
Cheu Hoi Program
Phoenix Program
Operation Recovery
October Bombing Halt
Madame Anna Chennault
Abattle of the tables

Questions for consideration:

1		Do you agree with General Westmoreland's appraisal of the Tet Offensive?
2		Why would the author assert that if Tet was a Adefeat for the enemy, Ait was still a costly victory for the United States and South Vietnam?
3		Why did the Clifford Task Force reject Westmoreland's request? Instead what did Clifford recommend and why? What was Johnson's position on the recommendation?
4		According to the author, how did media attitudes and reporting change during Tet? What effect did it have?
5		How does the author respond to the charges of Westmoreland and others that the media Aseized defeat from the jaws of victory by turning the public against the war?
6		According to the author, why was Johnsons speech on March 31 Ain some ways a major turning point in U.S. involvement in Vietnam?
7		How does the author respond to the charges of Westmoreland and others that the media Aseized defeat from the jaws of victory by turning the public against the war?
8		According to the author, why was Johnsons speech on March 31 Ain some ways a major turning point in U.S. involvement in Vietnam?
9		Why does the author argue Apacification and Vietnamization were both long-range undertakings... and the frenzied efforts of 1968 could not make up for years of neglect?
10		Why does the author assert that Aalthough it improved markedly in the aftermath of Tet, the performance of the government of South Vietnam remained at the best uneven, its stability uncertain?
11		Why does the author believe Ait seems doubtful that South Vietnamese intransigence sabotaged an opportunity for a peace settlement in 1968?
12		Do you agree with the author that ATet represented a major political victory for the enemy because it convinced most Americans that the war could not be won in an acceptable time and at an acceptable cost?