Escalation of the Vietnam War: Contextualizing a Primary Document
On May 15, 1972 the President of the California Democratic Council, Nathan N. Holden, wrote to the President of the United States, California Senators and Congressmen, including Harold T. “Bizz” Johnson in an effort to express the opinion of the California Democratic Council about the Presidents actions to escalate the war in Southeast Asia. The escalation of the war in Vietnam came after the North Vietnamese Army began the Nguyen-Hue campaign to collapse the South Vietnamese and remaining American forces. On March 30th, 1972 the NVA launched the “Easter Offensive”, which was the largest NVA offensive of the war. The escalation of the war in Southeast Asia in which Nathan N. Holden was referring to was President Nixon’s response to the “Easter Offensive.” President Nixon responded with a massive air campaign utilizing the only tool left in his arsenal, the B-52 Bombers. This strategy included “the bombing of urban targets in North Vietnam” and was referred to “as ‘war by tantrum’ and an act of senseless terror.”
Nathan N. Holden expresses that the California Democratic Council has passed a unanimous resolution in that the Tonkin Gulf Resolution should been repealed. The Tonkin Gulf Resolution was passed after the Tonkin Gulf Incident, were NVA vassals attacked U.S. ships in Southeast Asia. The Tonkin Gulf Resolution states “Congress approves and supports the determination of the President, as Commander in Chief, to take all necessary measures to repeal any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent any further aggression.” The problem with the Tonkin Gulf Resolution in the views of the California Democratic Council and many other Americans at this point in history is that it conflicted with the Constitution. The Constitution divides war powers into two sections in the federal government between legislative and executive branches. Article II, section 2 states that “the President is the Commander in Chief of the armed forces, while Article I, Section 8 of the United States Constitution states that “Congress has the power to make declarations of war.” With that being said, the legitimacy of Nathan N. Holden’s argument that “the President acted unconstitutionally” is justified through Article I, section 8 of the United States Constitution regarding war powers.
Nathan N. Holden also explains in his resolution that “the expenditures of money on the war are destroying the economy.” In fact, the effects on the economy were felt quickly starting with “withholding rates on wages and salaries” that were reduced immediately at the state of the war. The economic implications as the war escalated were as predicted, taking a tremendous toll, “with real wages declining, interest rates soaring, and the price of energy and food escalating.” After Mr. Holden lays out the foundation to his argument he demands on the behalf of the California Democratic Council that Congress, including Harold T. “Bizz” Johnson, “reasserts its Constitutional prerogatives” and in doing so Mr. Holden proposes that congress should cut all funds for the Vietnam war. This contextualized document exemplifies the cause and effect of the series of events that took place during this period of time and brings life to this chapter in American history.
