Kissinger Henry. White House Years

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oftheseinalongdayofnegotiation,butmadesurethatenoughwereleftover,

ornewonesreopened,topreventaconclusion.Theissuesleftoverusuallyvaried

fromdaytoday.Therewasnointractablesubstantiveissueseparating thetwo

sides,butratheranapparentNorthVietnamesedeterminationnottoallowthe

agreementtobecompleted.Thiswastheinsolubleproblemoverwhichwebegan

theChristmasbombingfivedayslater.



IconcludedtheDecember13meetingwithawarningtoLeDucThoofthe

growingimpatienceinWashington:



Wecameheretwice,eachtimedeterminedtosettleitveryquickly,eachtimeprepared

togiveyouaschedulewhichwewouldthenhavekeptabsolutely.WekepttheVicePresident

standingbyfortendays,inordertostarttheschedulewhichwehadgivenyou.Andwebelieve

thatinthelastweektherehasbeenjustenoughprogresseachdaytopreventabreakupbut

neverenoughtobringaboutasettlement.IadmiretheSpecialAdviser’sskillinkeepingthe

negotiationsgoing.



Weagreedtotellthepressthatwewouldstayincontactaboutwhento

meetagain.Expertsfrombothsideswouldcontinuetomeetontheprotocols.



Itwas,toputitmildly,asombertripbacktoWashington.NoVIPaircraft

beingavailable,wehadtouseanairbornecommandpost.Itwasan

uncomfortableandnoisyplane,withnowindows,crammedwithcommunications

equipment—noneofwhich,itturnedout,couldbemadetocommunicatewith

theWhiteHouse.Encapsuledinthatgloomycocoon,cutofffromtheworld

practicallyandsymbolically, wecouldreflectontheupsanddownsofthepast

twomonths.Nogoalinmypubliclifehaddrawnsuchanemotionalcommitment

fromme.Wehadbeennegotiatingfortendaysonmattersthatwithanygoodwill

couldhavebeensettledintwo.Hanoihadquitesimplydecidedthatthesplit

betweenWashingtonandSaigon,theevidentdivisionswithinourgovernment,

andtheimminentreturnofaCongressevenmorehostiletotheAdministration

thanitspredecessorprovidedtoogoodanopportunitytopassup.Hanoi,recently

soeagerforasettlement,hadreturnedtoitstraditionaltacticofpsychological

warfare.Whetherinmakingwarorpeace,Vietnamseemeddestinedtobreak

Americanhearts.



Butself‐pity,whateverthecause,couldnotbemorethanatransient

indulgence.Somehowwehadto masterevents,notsimplydeplorethem.Istill

thoughtthatthewarcouldbebroughttoanendquickly,butitwouldnow

requireanothertimeoftrialthatwoulddeepenthedomesticwounds.Thepeace

processwouldnot,asIhadhoped,beatimeofhealing.Wehadbeenfrustrated

essentiallybecauseoureagernesstosettleenabledeachoftheVietnamesesides

toblackmailuswhiledeprivingusofeffectivesanctionsagainstthem.Ourfirst

obligationwastoreestablishabetterbalanceofrisks;tobringhometothem

boththatwemeanttodetermineourowndestiny.Isummedupouroptionsin

myfinalcablefromParis:



Wherethendoesthisleaveus?Iexplainedourbasicdilemmayesterday.Hanoiisalmost

disdainfulofusbecausewehavenoeffectiveleverageleft,whileSaigoninitsshort‐sighted

devicestosabotagetheagreementknocksoutfromunderusourfewremainingprops…We

willsoonhavenomeansofleverageatallwhilepressureswillbuildupdomesticallyifwefailto

reachanagreementorgetourprisonersback.Wewillneithergetanagreementnorbeableto

preserveSaigon.



Wenowhavetwoessentialstrategicchoices.ThefirstoneistoturnhardonHanoiand

increasepressureenormouslythroughbombingandothermeans.Thiswouldincludemeasures

likereseedingthemines,massivetwo‐daystrikesagainstthepowerplantsoverthisweekend,

andacoupleofB‐52efforts.Thiswouldmakeclearthattheypaidsomethingforthesepastten

days.Concurrently…pressuresonSaigonwouldbeessentialsothatThieudoesnotthinkhehas

facedusdown,andwecandemonstratethatwewillnotputupwithourally’sintransigence

anymorethanwewilldosowithourenemy.



Thesecondcourseistomaintainpresentappearancesbyschedulinganothermeeting

withLeDucThoinearlyJanuary.ThiswouldtesttheextremelyunlikelyhypothesisthatTho

mightgetnewinstructions.Ifwewereonceagainstonewalled,wewouldthenturnhardon

Hanoi.Wewouldgiveupthecurrenteffort,blamingbothVietnamesepartiesbutplacingthe

majoronusonHanoi.Wewouldofferabilateraldealofwithdrawalandanendofbombingfor

prisoners.UnderthiscourseaswellwewouldhavetomoveonSaigon,tobringThieuaboardin

theeventofanagreementinJanuaryorinthelikelyeventoffailure,tolaythebasisforgoing

thebilateralroute[withHanoi].



<<Contents>>

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

TheChristmasBombing



hathasbeencalledtheChristmasbombinghasbeenportrayedtoooften

asamassiveorgyofdestruction,senselessinitspurpose,maligninits

conception.Thisisamythinseveralrespects.MydescriptionoftheDecember

negotiationscanleavelittledoubtthatHanoihadineffectmadeastrategic

decisiontoprolongthewar,abortallnegotiations,andatthelastmomentseek

unconditionalvictoryonceagain.NixonandIreturnedwiththeutmostreluctance

totheconsideration ofmilitaryactions.



FormeDecember1972wasamelancholyperiod.Whateverhappened

now,itwaslikelythattheendofthewarwouldindivisivenessparallelthe

conductofit.Ifwetooknodecisivestep,thetwoVietnamesepartieswoulddrift

fartherapart;thebriefnear‐agreementofOctoberwouldhaveunraveled;we

wouldnotagainbeabletogetsuchtermsexceptthroughmilitaryexertionofa

scaleanddurationwhichtheCongressandpublicwouldneversustainorwhich,if

theydid,wouldtearourcountryapart.Wecould,inmyview,overcomethe

dilemmaonlybyanimmediateshowdownsimultaneouslywithbothHanoiand

Saigon.



DuringtheDecembe rroundofnegotiationsIhadtriedtoimpressonNixon

thatabreakup(orarecess) wouldmeanthatwewouldhavetostepupmilitary

pressuresonHanoiifwedidnotwanteitheranendlesswaroranunenforceable

peacelikelytowreckSaigon.IhadwantedNixontoexplaintheimpassetothe

publicandtoescalatemilitaryoperations.Preoccupiedwiththenegotiations,I

hadnotimetothinkthroughwhatkindofmilitarymeasuresIwouldrecommend

whenthetimecame.HaighadrequestedplanningpapersfromtheNSCstaffthat

concentratedmostlyonliftingourself‐imposedbombingrestrictionsofthe

previousOctober;inotherwords,toconfineB‐52stoSouthofthetwentieth

parallelandtoattackthepopulatedareaswithfighterbombers.Imadeno

specificrecommendationfromParis.



Nixon’sattitudewasmorecomplex.Basically,henowwantedthewarover

onalmostanyterms.ThoughIfrequentlyreceivedbellicose‐soundinginstructions

intendedtobereadtotheNorthVietnamese,operationa l recommendations

weremuchsofter.Iwastoldtokeeponnegotiating,which,giventhesituation,

couldonlyconfirmthedead‐lock;togobeyondevenourfallbackpositionsandon

theDMZtoaccepttheCommunistformulation. IampositivethathadHanoiin

Decembergivenusoneortwominimal,essentiallywindow‐dressing,propositions

ontheDMZorciviliantechnicians,Nixonwouldhaveacceptedthemwith

alacrity—farmoresothanI.Hewasnotanxioustoresumebombing.Hehada

horrorofappearingontelevisiontoannouncethathewasbeginninghisnew

mandatebyonceagainexpandingthewar.



ButHanoihadbecomegreedy.Encouragedbytheevidentdiscordbetween

WashingtonandSaigon,probablyperceivingaccuratelywhatthenewCongress

woulddoinJanuary,theNorthVietnamesethoughtthattheycouldtake

everything,makeuscavein,anddemoralizeSaigon.TheNorthVietnamese

committedacardinalerrorindealingwithNixon:Theycorneredhim.Nixonwas

nevermoredangerousthanwhenheseemedtohaverunoutofoptions.Hewas

determinednottohavehissecondtermtormentedlikethefirstbyournational

trauma—especiallywhenasettlementhadseemedsonear.



Therewasanotherpersonnotquiteoftheinnercirclebutgettingever

closertoitwhoplayedasignificantroleinthedecision:mydeputyAlHaig,who

wassoontobepromotedtoViceChiefofStaffoftheArmy.Hehadoriginally

supportedthenegotiations,buthadbecomemoreskepticalasThieubalkedand

Hanoistalled.TheDecemberroundhadconvincedhimthatonlymassivemilitary

pressurecouldoverco meHanoi’sdisdainfulobstruction.Hefavoredlarge‐scaleB‐

52raidsintheNorthandmadetheseviewscleartomeatAndrewsAirForceBase

onWednesdayevening,December13,onmyreturnfromParis.



Nixon,Haig,andImetonthemorningofDecember14toconsiderour

course.Wewereagreedthatifwedidnothingwewouldwindupparalyzed,in

effectprisonersofwhatevermaneuverHanoimightchoosetoinflictonus.There

wasnoreasontoexpectHanoitochangeitstacticsiftalksdidresumeinJanuary.

PressuresonustosettlefortheOctoberdraftwouldmount.Afterallthathad

happened,todosowouldrepresentamassivedef eat;itwouldbepsychologically

devastatinginSaigon;havingcollapsedsocompletely,wewouldcertainlyloseour

abilitytoenforcetheagreement.That,ofcourse,waspreciselythereasonfor

Hanoi’scontemptuousbehavior.Saigon,foritspart,wouldseenopointin

flexibility;withCongressundoubtedlypressingcutoffsoffundsitwouldrunno

additionalrisksbystickingtoitscourse.Weknewthattherewasnosupportfor

militaryactionelsewhereintheAdministration,andthatitwouldprovokea

violentuproarintheCongressandthemedia.AndgiventhePresident’s

reluctancetoexplainhiscasepersonallytothepublic,thiswasboundtoerode

whateverpopularsupportwasleft.WhileIwasonthewaybackfromParis,Laird

hadsentamemorandumtoNixonopposingamilitaryresponse;heclaimedtobe

supportedinthisjudgmentbyRushandMoorer.Haig,checkingwithMoorer,

foundthattheChairmanconsideredhisviews“misunders tood.”



AllofusintheDecember14OvalOfficemeetingagreedthatsomemilitary

responsewasnecessary.Butwewerenotatfirstinaccordaboutwhatkind,and

itisdifficulttoreconstructnowbecausethereseemtobenowrittenrecords.

NixonremembersthatIurgedintensifiedbombingSouthofthetwentiethparallel

andinSouthernLaos

butnobombingatallinthepopulatedareas.Ihaveno

suchrecollection;mymemoryisthatIfavoredresumingbombingonthescaleof

thatbeforetheOctoberself‐imposedrestrictions,overallofNorthVietnambut

usingfighter‐bombersoverthepopulatedareas.Haig,ontheotherhand,favored

B‐52attacks,especiallyNorthofthetwentiethparallel,onthegroundthatonlya

massiveshockcouldbringHanoibacktotheconferencetable.Nixonaccepted

Haig’sview.Iwentalongwithit—atfirstwithslightreluctance,laterwith

conviction.ForNixonandHaigwere,Istillbelieve,essentially right.Wehadonly

twochoices:takingamassive,shockingsteptoimposeourwilloneventsandend

thewarquickly,orlettingmattersdriftintoanotherroundofinconclusive

negotiations,prolongedwarfare,bitternationaldivisions,andmounting

casualties.Therewerenootheroptions.



Nixonchosetheroadofforcing aconclusion—resumingheavybombing

andusingB‐52sonasustainedbasisforthefirsttimeovertheNorthernpartof

NorthVietnam.ThechoiceofB‐52swaspartlyforshockeffectbutalsobecause

ourotheraircrafthadnoall‐weathercapability.Ihavementionedbeforethat

abouthalfourplannedmissionsoverNorthVietnaminthesummerwereaborted

becauseofweather.Moorerestimatedthatweatherdifficultieswouldbeeven

worseinDecember.(Asitturnedout,duringthetwo‐weekperiodthatB‐52s

wereusedoverNorthVietnam,therewereonlytwelvehourswhenfighter‐

bomberscouldhaveoperated.)Nixo nreasoned,correctly,thathewouldpaya

seriousdomesticpriceforliftingtheself‐imposedbombingrestrictions;butit

wouldbecomeunmanageableonlyifhefailed.Hepreferredamassivebriefeffort

toaprolongedinconclusiveone.



LatertherewerestoriesofariftbetweenNixonandmeovertheuseofB‐

52s.Theywerefalse.ThefactisthatIagreedwith,indeedrecommended,

steppingupmilitarypressureinthewakeofHanoi’sconductattheParistalks.I

sawtheforceofNixon’sandHaig’sargumentsintheuseofB‐52sandconcurred.

OnceNixonhadmadethedecision,Iimplementeditwithpainandregretover

therecedingprospectsofpeace,butwithouthesitation,asthebestofdifficult

alternatives.



IfIadmiredNixon’sdecision,Iwaslessenthusiasticabouthisrefusalto

explainittothepublic.HehadorderedreseedingoftheminesforDecember17

andresumptionofbombingforDecember18.Theseeventswereboundto

produceatremendousfuror.ButNixonwasdeterminedtotakehimselfoutofthe

lineoffire.Iwasaskedtogivealow‐keybriefingofthereasonsfortherecessing

oftheParistalks;howtobelow‐keyaboutsuchadramaticeventwasnomore

apparenttomeinWashingtonthanithadbeeninParis.Ihadnoobjectiontothis

assignment;indeed,Ivolunteeredforit.Butiftherewasamajoruproar,onlythe

Presidentwouldbeabletoquietitandgivethepublicasenseofwherewewere

headed.ItwasproperthatIshouldbethebuttofattack,asIhadbeenandwould

beagainthefocalpointofsuccess.Ihaddecidedtoresignandassume

responsibilityforthefailureifthenegotiationscollapsedirretrievably.



Buttheoverriding,immediateneedwouldbetocalmpublicfearsand

rescuenationalself‐confidenceoutofthebedlamcertaintofollowNixon’s

decision.Nixonexplainsthathewasconcernednottojeopardizethe

negotiations;silenceenabledhimtoavoidgivingouractionsthecharacterofan

ultimatumandthuspermittedHanoito returntotheconferencetablewithout

lossofface.

Thiswaspartofhisconcern;butIalsothinktherewereother,more

complex,reasons.Nixonwasstillseizedbythewithdrawnandsullenhostilitythat

haddominatedhismoodsincehiselectoraltriumph.Heresentedhavingtoface

onceagaintheemotionaltravailofanexpandedwarattheverystartofhisnew

Administration.HewasmuchlesscertainofsuccessthanI;hetoldmehisdoubts

repeatedly.AnddeepdownhewasreadytogiveupbygoingbacktotheOctober

draft.Hedidnotwanttobeidentifiedwithanegotiatingprogramthatmight

conflictwiththis.TheB‐52bombingwasinthissensehislastrollofthedice,as

theMarchoffensivehadbeenHanoi’s—helpfulifitworked;ademonstrationto

therightwingifitfailedthathehaddoneallhecould.TheparadoxofNixon’s

relationshipwithmeduringthatperiodwasthathefavoredthetoughermilitary

measuresbutthesofternegotiatingstance,whilemypositionwassomewhatthe

opposite.I favoredastrongernegotiatingposition and,atfirst,moreflexible

militarytactics(though,Imustrepeat,onceIthoughtaboutitIconcurredinthe

B‐52decision).



Thenecessityofmilitarymeasureswasbeingpowerfullyreinforcedinour

mindeverydaybytheconductoftheNorthVietnameseattheexperts’meetings

continuinginParis.Sullivanhadstayedbehindtonegotiateontheprotocol

concerningthereleaseofPOWs,oneofthemostimportantdocumentsforus.

TheNorthVietnamesestalledalldayonDecember14;theyfinallysubmitteda

Vietnamese‐languagetexttoolateinthedaytopermitanynegotiation.Their

draftfollowedthepatternoftheprevioussessionsofputtingbackintothe

protocolsobjectionableclausesLeDucThohadagreedtodeletefromthebasic

agreement.ThusthereleaseofSouthVietnameseciviliandetaineesappeared

onceagainasaspecificobligation,afterhavingbeendroppedbyLeDucThoonat

leastthreepreviousoccasions,thelasttimefivedaysearlier.Sullivanreported

sarcastically:“WeexpecttoreceiveanEnglishlanguagetextofthishorrorwhen

wemeetatGiftomorrowandwilltransmititimmediatelythroughthischannel.

AtGif,wewillmakeagreateffort”(Tho’scodephrase).



SullivanthenreturnedtoWashington,andAmbassadorWilliamPorter,

headofourParispeacedelegation,waslefttonegotiatewithXuanThuyonboth

protocolsandunderstandings.TheymetonDecember16;XuanThuycarriedLe

DucTho’sarrogancetonew heights.Insteadofstallingonsubstanceherefused

todiscussitwithrespecttoanysubject,ontheCatch‐22pretextthathecouldnot

discussanyoftheoutstandingproblemsuntilhehaddealtwithallofthem.(And

ofcoursehecouldnotdealwithallofthemexceptbyaddressingtheparts.)

Porter’sreportdescribedtheatmosphere:



WemetwithDRVatNeuillyfrom1530to1815.XuanThuystonewalledfrombeginning

toend.



Despitefactwehadagreedyesterdayonagendawhichconsistedofa)understandingon

LaosandCambodia,andb)ICCSprotocol,XuanThuytookpositionhewasunpreparedto

discusseither.



WehandedoverourrevisedunderstandingonLaosandCambodiaandaskedfortheir

commentsonitaswellasonmutualunderstandingoncessationofhostilitiesinCambodia

whichwehadpreviouslyhandedover.XuanThuyacknowledgedreceiptofboth,butsaidhe

wouldhavenocommentuntilallunderstandingshadbeendiscussed.



XuanThuythenlaunchedintolengthyexegesisonDRVconceptionofcontroland

supervisionfeaturesofouragreement,whichmadeitclearthatTwo‐Partycommissionwasto

bemultitudinousandubiquitous,whileICCSwastobeminusculeandcloistered…



Whenmeetingclosed,XuanThuyratherlamelysaidDRVwishedproceedasrapidlyas

possible.Thiscommentonlyservedtoemphasizefactthattoday’ssessionwasatotalDRVstall,

buildingarecordofKléberizedintransigence[areferencetothefouryearsoffutileplenary

sessionstakingplaceintheInternationalConferenceCenteronAvenueKléber].



ThiswasthecontextinwhichIsteppedintotheWhiteHousepressroom

onDecember16toexplainthestalematednegotiations.Ihadbeengivendetailed

guidancebyNixon,whohadsentmetwopersonalmemorandaonDecember15

andDecember16;thefirsttookupfive,thesecondtwo,single‐spacedpages.

TheiressencewasthatIshouldnottrytodefendmyOctober26“peaceisat

hand”briefing;therewerevarioussubtledigsblamingthatbriefingforour

difficulties.Nixon’sadvicewasto stressthePresident’sconsistency,

unflappability,firmness,patience,andfarsightednessincarryingusthroughthis

difficultperiod.Lateron,itwasnotedthatIhadmentionedthePresident

fourteentimesinmyDecemberpressconference,whereasIhadmentionedhim

onlythreetimesonOctober26.

Knowingthatacountwouldbekeptbyoneof

Haldeman’sminions,IhadlittlechoiceinviewofNixon’sinstructions.



TheaimofmybriefingasIconceiveditwastoplacetheblamewhereit

belonged—onHanoi—andagaintoleavenodoubtinSaigonofourdetermination

toconcludetheagreement.Iexplainedthereasonsforthebreakdowninsome

detail,stressingthatHanoihadraisedonefrivolousissueafteranother.“Wewill

notbeblackmailedintoanagreement,”Isaid.“Wewillnotbestampededintoan

agreement,and,ifImaysayso,wewillnotbecharmedintoanagreementuntil

itsconditionsareright.”AgainIhadtwoprincipalaudiences—HanoiandSaigon—

butIalsoknewthehopesoftheAmericanpeoplewereridingontheoutcomeof

thepresentimpasse:



So,weareinapositionwherepeacecanbenear,[Iwasgettingbetteratcareful

formulations.]butpeacerequiresadecision.Thisiswhywewantedtorestateoncemorewhat

ourbasicattitudeis.



WithrespecttoSaigon,wehavesympathyandcompassionfortheanguishoftheir

peopleandfortheconcernsoftheirgovernment.Butifwecangetanagreementthatthe

Presidentconsidersjust,wewillproceedwithit.



WithrespecttoHanoi,ourbasicobjectivewasstatedinthepressconferenceofOctober

26th.Wewantanendtothewarthatissomethingmorethananarmistice.Wewanttomove

fromhostilitytonormalizationandfromnormalizationtocooperation.Butwewillnotmakea

settlementwhichisadisguisedformofcontinuedwarfareandwhichbringsabout,by

indirection,whatwehavealwayssaidwewouldnottolerate.



Wehavealwaysstatedthatafairsolutioncannotpossiblygiveeithersideeverything

thatitwants.Wearenotcontinuingawarinordertogivetotalvictorytoourallies.Wewantto

givethemareasonableopportunitytoparticipateinapoliticalstructure,butwealsowillnot

makeasettlementwhichisadisguisedformofvictoryfortheotherside…



NothingthatIhavedonesinceIhavebeeninthispositionhasmademefeelmorethe

trusteeofsomanyhopesasthenegotiationsinwhichIhaverecentlyparticipated.Itwas

painfulattimestothinkofthehopesofmillionsand,indeed,ofthehopesofmany ofyou

ladiesandgentlemenwhowerestandingoutsidethesevariousmeetingplacesexpecting

momentouseventstobeoccurring,whileinsideonefrivolousissueafteranotherwassurfaced

inthelastthreedays.



So,whatwearesayingtoHanoiis,wearepreparedtocontinueinthespiritofthe

negotiationsthatwerestartedinOctober.Wearepreparedtomaintainanagreementthat

providesfortheunconditionalreleaseofallAmericanandalliedprisoners,thatimposesno

politicalsolutiononeitherside,thatbringsaboutaninternationallysupervisedcease‐fireand

thewithdrawalofallAmericanforceswithinsixtydays.Itisasettlementthatisjusttoboth

sidesandthatrequiresonlyadecisiontomaintainprovisionsthathadalreadybeenaccepted

andanendtoproceduresthatcanonlymockthehopesofhumanity.



Onthatbasis,wecanhaveapeacethatjustifiesthehopesofmankindandthesenseof

justiceofallparticipants.



Thefirstreactionbythemediawasmeasure dandbalancedthoughnot

overlygenerous.Fewneglectedtocontrastittomyearlier“peaceisathand”

statement.Theynowhadanotherwordtoplaywith;IhadsaidthatIwas

speakingtoavoida“charade.”TheBaltimoreSun ofDecember18titledan

editorial:“EndoftheVietnam‘Charade’“;theWashingtonPost(“TheGreat

PeaceCharade,”December19)concludedthatataminimumtheAdministration

hadbeen“takenforalonghardridebytheNorthVietnamese.”TheNewYork

Timesofthesamedatewasmoreexplicit,headingitseditorial“Deceptionor

Naiveté?”andonthewholeleaningtotheformerinterpretationofthe

Administration’smotivation.



Whatnoneoftheselearnedcommentatorscontributedwasanysenseof

whattheUnitedStatesshoulddoinitspresentimpasse,or,forthatmatter,how

weshouldhaverespondedtotheNorthVietnameseofferofOctober8.There

wasamarkedambivalence.OnDecember14,whenmattersseemedtobe

progressing,ifpainfully,theNewYorkTimesundertheheading “Who’sWinning

What?”criticizedtheWhiteHouseforitsunwillingnesstoadmitthatthe

proposedagreementwould“perilouslyweakenSaigon’sposition.”(Theterms

were,ofcourse,farmorefavorablethanthecoalit iongovernmentandunilateral

withdrawalthattheNewYorkTimeshadbeenurgingforyears.)Oncethe

deadlockbecameapparent,allthecriticswerebackattheiroldstand:Theonly

legitimatewaraimleftfortheUnitedStateswastogetitsprisonersback.Few

challengedthepropositionoraskedwhatmightbeleftoftheconfidenceinusof

otherswhodependedonusifwesimplyabandonedanallytoretrieveour

prisoners.Andifwewerepreparedtoinsistonsomeminimumconditionsbeyond

slinkingoutwithourprisonerswhileleavingthepeoplesofIndochinatothe

tendermerciesoftheinvadingNorthVietnamese,whatelsecouldwedoexcept

topursuethestrategyNixonhadordered?Wewererightbacktotheperennial

debate:Whatevertheclaimsmadepreviously,werethereanyminimumterms

thatdefinedourhonor?



Suchquestionsasthesewererapidlysubmergedinmountingrageoverthe

bombingthatresumedonDecember18andlastedfortwelvedays,immortalized

asthe“Christmasbombing.”TheChristianScienceMonitorofDecember20

expressedthecommonviewthatbombsnothavingworkedbefore,theycould

notpossiblyleadtoresultsnow(adubiouspremiseandonethatinanyevent

Hanoididnothold).TheSt.LouisPost‐DispatchofDecember19urgedusto drop

the“contemptible”PresidentThieuofSouthVietnamandurgedCongressto

legislateusoutofthewar.



Themoralindignationrosewitheachday.ThepropositionthattheUnited

Statesgovernmentwasdeliberatelyslaughteringcivilians inapurposeless

campaignofterrorwentunchallenged.Someheadlinesofeditorialstellthestory:

“NewMadnessinVietnam”(theSt.LouisPost‐Dispatch,December19);“TheRain

ofDeathContinues”(theBostonGlobe,December20);“ThisWillEndtheWar?”

(theChicagoDailyNews,December22);“TerrorfromtheSkies”(theNewYork

Times,December22);“ShameonEarth”(TomWicker,theNewYorkTimes,

December26);“TerrorBombinginTheNameofPeace”(theWashingtonPost,