Peace with honour

Richard Nixon became US president in January 1969, promising ‘peace with honour’ in Vietnam. He wanted to bring American soldiers home and reduce US casualties, but also preserve South Vietnam as an independent, non-communist ally. Simply abandoning it would make American involvement appear to have ended in defeat.

Nixon called his goal ‘peace with honour’. He wanted a settlement that would bring American troops home while leaving South Vietnam able to survive. Withdrawal was therefore a gradual process involving troop reductions, efforts to strengthen South Vietnam, continued military pressure and negotiations—not an immediate decision to stop fighting.