Question

What did Nixon believe would be the consequences of immediate U.S. withdrawal from Vietnam? What specific events did Nixon cite to support his arguments against "precipitate troop withdrawal"?

Answer 1

Nixon believed they would prepare the South Vietnamese to take responsibility for their own defense against a Communist takeover and allow the U.S. to leave the conflict with its honer intact. He used the domino theory, that once Viet Nam fell to Communism the rest of South East Asia would fall to Communism as well.

Answer 2

Nixon believed his Vietnam strategy, which involved building up South Vietnam’s military strength in order to facilitate a gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops, would prepare the South Vietnamese to take responsibility for their own defense against a Communist takeover and allow the U.S. to leave the conflict with its honor intact.