VW12: The End of the War

Key Battles of American History

History

4.7 • 861 Ratings

🗓️ 27 August 2025

⏱️ 62 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In the 1972 presidential election, Richard Nixon defeated antiwar Democrat George McGovern in a landslide, aided by the announcement of a tentative peace deal. However, South Vietnamese President Thieu rejected the agreement, fearing it would lead to Communist domination. Talks broke down, prompting Nixon to launch the intense “Christmas Bombings” (Operation Linebacker II) in December 1972. The bombings pressured North Vietnam back to the negotiating table. The Paris Peace Accords were signed in January 1973, calling for a U.S. withdrawal and a ceasefire. Nixon forced Thieu to accept the terms, though both North and South Vietnam soon violated the agreement. Later in 1973,the U.S. exited Vietnam, leaving South Vietnam heavily dependent on continued American aid. By 1974, U.S. support dwindled due to the Watergate scandal and Congressional opposition. South Vietnam’s economy and military collapsed under the strain. In late 1974, North Vietnam launched a final offensive. The ARVN, plagued by desertions and logistical failures, crumbled. Saigon fell on April 30, 1975, marking the end of the war and the unification of Vietnam under Communist rule. John Sean and James as they narrate the dramatic final years of the Vietnam War.

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0:21.4	qualify for. Call 800-497-44-10. Advertisement sponsored by Legal Help Center may not be available in all states.
0:36.6	War has played a key role in the history of the United States, from the nation's founding
0:40.8	right down to the present. War made the U.S. independent, kept it together, increased its
0:46.4	size, and established it as a global superpower. Understanding America's wars is essential
0:51.8	for understanding American history.
0:59.0	Welcome to Key Battles of American History, a podcast in which we discuss American history through the lens of the most important battles of America's wars.
1:02.9	Here is your host, James Early.
1:19.6	Hello, everyone. Before we get started with today's episode, I wanted to share a major personal update with you.
1:30.4	I have just retired from my day job, where I worked for the past 24 years. I did this in part so that I can devote more time to the podcast. As you can imagine, my retirement has caused my income to be reduced significantly, and I'm going to
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1:41.3	college. I would like to not do that. I would like to go full-time with the podcast so that I can keep providing you with the same high-quality content to which you've grown accustomed.
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