Category Archives: Vietnam War

States ratify constitutional amendment lowering voting age to 18 for all elections 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 1 1971)

1970s, Vietnam War


Video: '26th Amendment & Voting Age - Decades TV Network'

(Thursday, July 1, 1971, morning EDT; during the Vietnam War) — The Twenty-sixth Amendment to the Constitution, prohibiting the states and the federal government from using age as a reason for denying the right to vote to citizens of the United States who are at least eighteen years old, was ratified today as North Carolina became the 38th state to approve it, providing the necessary three-quarters majority necessary to become law. Continue reading States ratify constitutional amendment lowering voting age to 18 for all elections 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jul 1 1971) →

Supreme Court allows publication of top-secret ‘Pentagon Papers’ history of Vietnam War 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 30 1971)

1970s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents, Vietnam War


Video: 'Freedom of the Press: New York Times v. United States'

(Wednesday, June 30, 1971, 2:30 p.m. EDT; New York Times Co. v. United States) — The U.S. Supreme Court ruled today that The New York Times and The Washington Post newspapers could publish articles based on the then-classified Pentagon Papers on the origins of the Vietnam War, rejecting government injunctions as unconstitutional prior restraint. Continue reading Supreme Court allows publication of top-secret ‘Pentagon Papers’ history of Vietnam War 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 30 1971) →

The New York Times begins publishing Pentagon Papers, a secret history of the Vietnam War 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 13 1971)

1970s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'The Pentagon Papers'

(Sunday June 13, 1971; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War)— The New York Times today began to publish the Pentagon Papers, a U.S. Department of Defense history of the United States’ political and military involvement in Vietnam from 1945 to 1967 that demonstrated, among other things, the Johnson Administration had “systematically lied, not only to the public but also to Congress.” Continue reading The New York Times begins publishing Pentagon Papers, a secret history of the Vietnam War 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Jun 13 1971) →

Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum dedicated in Austin, Texas 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 22 1971)

1970s, U.S. Presidents, Vietnam War


Video: 'An Encounter With History: Dedication of the LBJ Library, 5/22/71. MP2073.'

(Saturday, May 22, 1971, 11:30 a.m. CDT) — The Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum, more commonly known as the “LBJ Presidential Library,” was dedicated today in Austin, Texas on the campus of the University of Texas, with U.S. President Richard Nixon and former U.S. President Johnson attending.
Continue reading Lyndon Baines Johnson Library and Museum dedicated in Austin, Texas 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 22 1971) →

Vice President Johnson assures Saigon of aid in army build-up 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 12 1961)

1960s, Cold War, U.S. Presidents, Vietnam War


Video: '1961 Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson Visits Saigon'

(Friday, May 12, 1961, 11:30 a.m. Indochina Time; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — U.S. Vice President Lyndon Johnson told South Vietnam’s National Assembly today in Saigon the United States was ready immediately to help South Vietnam increase its 150,000-man regular military forces by a substantial number. Continue reading Vice President Johnson assures Saigon of aid in army build-up 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (May 12 1961) →

Vietnam veterans discard medals in war protest at U.S. Capitol 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 23 1971)

1970s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam: A Television History - Homefront USA [10/11]' (Vietnam veterans protest, April 19–23, 1971, at 49:57)

(Friday, April 23, 1971; during the Vietnam War) — About 700 veterans of the Vietnam War marched past the United States Capitol today and bitterly flung away battle decorations which they now regard as symbols of wasted suffering in an unjust war.
Continue reading Vietnam veterans discard medals in war protest at U.S. Capitol 50 years ago #OnThisDay #OTD (Apr 23 1971) →

U.S. Army First Lieutenant William Calley found guilty of 22 murders in My Lai massacre 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 29 1971)

1970s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'SYND 30 3 71 VERDICT DELIVERED AT THE TRIAL OF LEIUTENANT WILLIAM CALLEY'

(Monday, March 29, 1971, 4:31 p.m. EST; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — U.S. Army First Lieutenant William Calley was found guilty today of the premeditated murder of at least 22 South Vietnamese civilians on Mar. 16, 1968, in the My Lai massacre.
Continue reading U.S. Army First Lieutenant William Calley found guilty of 22 murders in My Lai massacre 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 29 1971) →

Laos situation becoming ‘increasingly serious as the days go by,’ President Kennedy tells nation 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 23 1961)

1960s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'President John F. Kennedy's 8th News Conference - March 23, 1961'

(Thursday, March 23, 1961, 6:00 p.m. EST; during the Laotian Civil War, part of the Vietnam War, the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — President John F. Kennedy told the people of the United States tonight of the dangers in the Laotian situation and warned the Communist world that “no one should doubt our resolution” to preserve an independent, neutral Laos.
Continue reading Laos situation becoming ‘increasingly serious as the days go by,’ President Kennedy tells nation 60 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 23 1961) →

Anti-Vietnam War radicals set off bomb on Senate side of U.S. Capitol 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 1 1971)

1970s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Weather Underground Bombs the Capitol, Pentagon, and State Department'

(Monday, March 1, 1971, 1:32 a.m. EST; part of the Opposition to U.S. involvement in Vietnam) — A bomb, apparently planted by a group or person protesting against the recent the recent invasion of Laos as part of the Vietnam War, exploded early this morning in the men’s room at the United States Capitol, causing extensive damage but no injuries.
Continue reading Anti-Vietnam War radicals set off bomb on Senate side of U.S. Capitol 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Mar 1 1971) →

South Vietnamese units supported by U.S. military drive into Laos to strike enemy supply line 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 8 1971)

1970s, Cold War, Vietnam War


Video: 'Vietnam The Ten Thousand Day War The Village War 10 13' (Operation Lam Son 719 at 32:22)

(Monday, February 8, 1971, 7:00 a.m. Saigon Standard Time; during the Vietnam War, part of the Indochina Wars and the Cold War) — Operation Lam Son 719, an attack by the First Infantry Division of the Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) from South Vietnam into the Kingdom of Laos, was launched today in the Vietnam War against North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces operating across the border.
Continue reading South Vietnamese units supported by U.S. military drive into Laos to strike enemy supply line 50 years ago this hour #OnThisDay #OTD (Feb 8 1971) →