The Century, America's Time Approaching the Apocalypse 2 of 3

Summary

The script recounts the turbulent early 1970s in America, marked by anti-Vietnam War sentiment, identity politics, and a society divided. Highlighting the Attica prison riot of 1971 and its aftermath, it underscores the nation's boiling tensions, reflecting on the war's impact on soldiers and the public's perception of the conflict. It also discusses President Nixon's foreign policy moves, including the historic visit to China and the arms limitation treaty with the Soviet Union, as strategies to navigate the Vietnam War towards a peaceful resolution.

Takeaways

• 👷‍♂️ The hard hats became heroes and symbols for the 'silent majority' who felt their way of life was under siege in the early 1970s.
• 🌐 The construction union leaders were praised and even invited to the White House, reflecting the political and social influence of these groups.
• 🔥 The backlash against identity politics and protests was brewing, leading to a tense social and political climate.
• 🏛️ The Attica prison riot in September 1971 was a significant event that further intensified the nation's anger and frustration, focusing on the prison system and its conditions.
• 🌐 The rhetoric of the Attica revolt was influenced by Marxist ideologies, highlighting the broader ideological struggles of the time.
• 👨‍👨‍👦‍👦 The Attica prison riot resulted in a violent response from the state, with 29 inmates and 10 hostages killed, marking the largest and deadliest attack on Americans by other Americans since the Civil War.
• 🌳 The Vietnam War was increasingly seen as unwinnable, with American troops feeling abandoned and a sense of despair growing among the soldiers.
• 🌟 President Nixon's strategy involved leveraging foreign policy, particularly with China and the Soviet Union, to pressure North Vietnam into making concessions.
• 🌐 Nixon's visit to China and subsequent signing of the first strategic arms limitation treaty with the Soviet Union were major diplomatic achievements that changed Cold War dynamics.
• 💣 Despite initial optimism, peace talks in Paris stalled, and Nixon ordered the bombing of Hanoi and Haiphong in an attempt to force North Vietnam back to the negotiating table.
• 🏆 Nixon's re-election in a landslide victory was partly due to his perceived success as a world statesman, although peace in Vietnam remained elusive.

Q & A

What symbolized the 'silent majority' during the early 1970s according to the script?

The hard hat became a symbol for the so-called 'silent majority', those who felt their way of life was under siege.

What was the significant event in September 1971 that led to a backlash against the politics of protest?

The significant event was the riot at Attica Correctional Facility in Upstate New York, where 1500 prison inmates demanded their rights, capturing 50 hostages and taking control of the prison's D yard.

What were the 'non-negotiable demands' issued by the inmates of Attica Correctional Facility?

The script does not provide specific details about the 'non-negotiable demands', but it mentions that the inmates issued five such demands.

How did the Attica Correctional Facility riot end?

The 4-day standoff ended with helicopters dropping CS gas on the D yard and State Police marksmen opening fire, resulting in the deaths of 29 inmates and 10 hostages.

What was the impact of the Attica riot on the perception of the United States at the time?

The Attica riot was the largest and deadliest attack on Americans by other Americans since the Civil War and contributed to the perception that the country was in the middle of another civil war.

What was the sentiment among American troops in Vietnam by 1970?

By 1970, American troops in Vietnam felt the country was abandoning the war and them, as the number of American ground forces had been cut in half.

What was the strategy behind President Nixon's foreign policy moves in China and the Soviet Union?

Nixon aimed to have China pressure their North Vietnamese allies to come to terms at the peace table and to block the Soviet Union or China from presenting a united front against the United States.

What was the outcome of the secret negotiations between Henry Kissinger and Le Duc Tho?

The negotiations did not make significant progress, but a separate set of secret negotiations led to a diplomatic coup, with America recognizing and dealing with Communist China.

What was the significance of the Christmas bombings of Hanoi and Haiphong by the United States?

The bombings were an attempt by President Nixon to force North Vietnam back to the peace negotiations after they had left the talks and peace was not at hand.

How did the anti-war movement in America evolve during the early 1970s?

The anti-war movement escalated and included not only protesters but also some of the men who had fought in the war, feeling lied to and betrayed.

What was the final outcome of the peace talks in Paris between the United States and North Vietnam?

Despite the announcement that 'peace is at hand', the North Vietnamese left the negotiations and peace was not achieved by the end of 1972.

Outlines

00:00

🛠️ Construction Workers' Pride and the Rise of Identity Politics

In the early 1970s, construction workers in New York were celebrated as heroes for their role in a major event that saw them praised by Wall Street workers and given free coffee by local business owners. Union leaders were even invited to the White House, where they presented President Nixon with an honorary hard hat, symbolizing the 'silent majority' who felt under siege. This period was marked by a rise in identity politics, with various groups such as women, Native Americans, Puerto Ricans, Black Panthers, and the Pink Panthers demanding their rights. The backlash against this political climate was intense, culminating in a September 1971 prison riot at Attica Correctional Facility in New York. The inmates took 50 hostages and issued five non-negotiable demands, reflecting Marxist rhetoric. The situation escalated, leading to a violent response from state authorities, resulting in the largest and deadliest attack on Americans by other Americans since the Civil War.

05:28

🏖️ The Brutal Reality of the Vietnam War and its Impact on American Troops

American soldiers in Vietnam during the 1970s were primarily focused on surviving their tour of duty, rather than winning the war. The conflict was seen as unwinnable, leading to a brutal existence that eroded morale and purpose. By 1970, many troops felt abandoned as the number of ground forces was halved under Nixon's policy of 'Peace With Honor.' New recruits faced the reality of fighting a war that was already lost, and the enemy's determination for victory or death contrasted sharply with the American soldiers' one-year tours. The reliance on air attacks and underground defenses did little to deter the enemy, who were continuously resupplied by China and the Soviet Union. The anti-war movement gained momentum, even among veterans who felt betrayed by the government. This disillusionment was further exacerbated by the government's handling of the war and the lack of a clear path to peace.

10:29

🌐 Nixon's Diplomatic Maneuvers and the Struggle for Peace in Vietnam

As the Vietnam War dragged on, President Nixon's approval ratings plummeted due to his elusive promise of 'Peace With Honor.' Peace talks in Paris were stalled, and secret negotiations with North Vietnam made little headway. However, in February 1972, a significant diplomatic breakthrough occurred when Nixon announced a visit to China, marking a major shift in Cold War politics. This move aimed to pressure North Vietnam into making concessions at the peace table. Nixon's visit to Moscow further complicated the geopolitical landscape, as he signed the first strategic arms limitation treaty with Leonid Brezhnev. Despite these diplomatic efforts, peace remained elusive, and by December 1972, Nixon ordered the bombing of Hanoi and Haiphong to force the North Vietnamese back to negotiations. These actions highlighted the complex and often contradictory strategies employed by Nixon in his quest for a resolution to the Vietnam War.

Keywords

💡Silent Majority

The term 'Silent Majority' refers to the large, often unorganized group of people in a population who do not express their opinions publicly but are believed to hold conservative views. In the context of the video, it is used to describe those who felt their way of life was under siege by the early 1970s, amidst various social and political movements, and who were seen as supportive of traditional values and the status quo.

💡Identity Politics

Identity politics is a political approach where the interests and perspectives of specific social groups are emphasized, often in contrast to the interests of the majority. The video mentions various groups such as women, Native Americans, Puerto Ricans, Black Panthers, and Gray Panthers, all demanding their rights during this era, highlighting the significance of identity politics in shaping the socio-political landscape of the time.

💡Attica Correctional Facility

Attica Correctional Facility is a prison in New York State that became a symbol of the backlash against the politics of protest in the 1970s. The video describes a riot in September 1971, where inmates took control of the prison and issued demands, leading to a violent standoff with authorities that resulted in significant loss of life. This event is a key example of the tensions and conflicts within the American justice system during this period.

💡Vietnam War

The Vietnam War was a conflict in Southeast Asia from 1955 to 1975, involving the United States and other allies supporting South Vietnam against North Vietnam, which was supported by the Soviet Union and China. The war is a central theme in the video, illustrating the anti-war sentiment, the experiences of soldiers, and the political and social repercussions it had on American society.

💡Peace With Honor

The phrase 'Peace With Honor' was used by President Nixon to describe his policy of ending U.S. involvement in the Vietnam War while maintaining the dignity and perceived integrity of the nation. The video discusses how this promise proved elusive, contributing to Nixon's falling approval ratings and the ongoing struggle to find a resolution to the war.

💡Anti-War Movement

The anti-war movement refers to the social and political opposition to the Vietnam War, which gained significant momentum in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The video mentions the escalation of this movement, including protests and the involvement of veterans who felt betrayed by the government, reflecting the widespread disillusionment with the war.

💡Diplomatic Coup

A diplomatic coup refers to a significant and unexpected success in international diplomacy. The video describes President Nixon's opening of relations with China as one of the biggest diplomatic coups of the 20th century, which was a major shift in Cold War politics and aimed at leveraging China's influence to help end the Vietnam War.

💡Strategic Arms Limitation Talks (SALT)

SALT refers to a series of negotiations and agreements between the United States and the Soviet Union aimed at limiting the growth of nuclear arsenals. The video mentions the signing of the first strategic arms limitation treaty during Nixon's visit to Moscow, which was a significant step towards reducing the threat of nuclear war.

💡B-52 Bombers

B-52 bombers are large, long-range strategic bombers used by the U.S. military. In the context of the video, they were used to conduct heavy bombing campaigns in Vietnam, which had a significant impact on the war and the landscape of the country, but also contributed to the perception of the war as brutal and inhumane.

💡Prisoners of War (POWs)

Prisoners of War, or POWs, are individuals captured by an enemy during armed conflict who are entitled to protection under international law. The video discusses the experience of American POWs in Vietnam, particularly during the Christmas bombings of Hanoi, highlighting the harsh conditions and the psychological impact of captivity.

💡Nixon's Reelection

The video mentions President Nixon's reelection in a landslide victory, which was influenced by his foreign policy successes, such as the opening to China and the SALT talks. However, it also notes that despite his political achievements, peace in Vietnam remained elusive, reflecting the complexity and challenges of his presidency.

Highlights

Hard hats became a symbol of the 'silent majority' in the early 1970s, praised by Wall Street workers and given honorary recognition by President Nixon.

A variety of groups including women, Native Americans, Puerto Ricans, Black Panthers, Gray Panthers, and Pink Panthers were demanding their rights during the era of identity politics.

The Attica Correctional Facility riot in September 1971 intensified the backlash against the politics of protest, as 1500 inmates took control and demanded rights.

The Attica riot resulted in a 4-day standoff that ended in a deadly 9-minute attack by state police, killing 29 inmates and 10 hostages.

The Attica riot was the largest and deadliest attack on Americans by other Americans since the Civil War.

American troops in Vietnam by 1970 felt the country was abandoning them, as ground forces were cut in half and new recruits felt they were fighting a lost war.

The enemy in Vietnam was fighting for home and had a strong national mobilization, including men, women, and children.

The anti-war movement escalated globally and even included some American veterans who felt lied to and betrayed.

President Nixon's foreign policy moves, including recognizing China and signing a strategic arms limitation treaty with the Soviet Union, aimed to pressure North Vietnam into peace talks.

The Christmas bombings of Hanoi by American B-52s in December 1972 did not result in significant damage to the POW camp, despite extensive destruction in the city.

The North Vietnamese appeared ready to make concessions in peace talks in October 1972 after Nixon's foreign policy moves, but negotiations stalled again by December.

President Nixon's recognition of China and visit to Moscow marked a significant shift in Cold War politics and demonstrated his strategic foreign policy skills.

The war in Vietnam was seen as unwinnable and criminal by some American soldiers, leading to a sense of hopelessness and disillusionment.

The war had a significant negative impact on the morale, sense of worth, and purpose of American soldiers, contributing to a brutal, prison-like existence of survival.

The war in Vietnam was influenced by the geopolitical interests of superpowers like China and the Soviet Union, who were more concerned with their own strategic goals than the fate of their North Vietnamese allies.

The Christmas bombings of Hanoi by the US in 1972 were a desperate attempt to force North Vietnam back to peace negotiations, but resulted in limited impact on the POW camp.

Transcripts

very proud uh we scattered the

enemy the hard hats were Heroes for a

few days praised by Wall Street workers

given free coffee by area lunchonette

owners the leaders of the construction

unions were invited to the White House

where they presented President Nixon

with an honorary hard hat and the hard

hat became a symbol for the so-called

silent majority those who felt their way

of life was now under Siege by the early

1970s it wasn't just anti Vietnam

protesters on the streets and on the

news anymore but a dizzying array of

other forces as well women Native

Americans chos Puerto Ricans black

panthers gray Panthers the openly gay

Pink Panthers all these groups forged in

this era of so-called identity politics

were all militantly demanding their

rights the backlash against this

politics of protest was just about ready

to

explode an event in September of 1971

hastened the eruption when 1500 prison

inmates rioted and demanded their rights

the nation's anger and frustration

became focused on the ateka correctional

facility in Upstate New

York the inmates captured 50 hostages

took control of the prison's dard and

issued what they call five

non-negotiable

demands wait a minute New York Times

Reporter Tom wicker was one of the

outside observers the inmates called on

to help negotiate the non-negotiable the

ATA inmates revolted basically against

uh internal prison conditions but the

rhetoric of the Revolt was very Marxist

you know uh the oppressed peoples of the

world arise the entire incident that

that has erupted here at Ana is a result

of the unmitigated oppression wrought by

the racist administrative network of

this

prison as this tense real life drama

unfolded families of the hostages

desperate for word on the condition of

their husbands or fathers or brothers

clustered around the

prison would you take that would you

take the mic out they saw Black Panther

leader Bobby seal come to visit the

inmates they heard that North Vietnam

offered the riers asylum

ATA quickly became a symbol for all of

America's boiling

hatreds I went outside prison uh to uh

report on what was happening inside and

all of a sudden there began to be these

shouts and screams from the crowd I hope

they kill you all that sort of thing

they identified us The Observers with

the with the

inmates the tensions mounted as neither

side seemed willing to make concessions

and the state ready to take the the

prison back by

force on the morning of the revolts

fourth day prison officials did not let

The Observers back into

dard armed state troopers were perched

on the Prison

Walls everybody got a gas

mas and certainly those uh scared young

Troopers thought the inmates were going

to kill the

host so they came in

scared they came in shooting they came

in taking no chances the hostages are on

the cck box would not H their

throat the 4-day standoff ended in 9

minutes of

Mayhem helicopters dropped CS gas on

dard and State Police Marksman open fire

killing 29 inmates and 10

hostages it's crazy they didn't have to

do that if to stay just sat there just

sat

there for two more weeks maybe three at

the outside I mean those guys would have

given

up will not be

CL your hands on top of your head and

move to the outside of the D and block

Corridor what is it now 20 odd years

later I can't get over that thing they

didn't have to do that you know but they

did what happened at Ana was the largest

and deadliest attack on Americans by

other Americans since the Civil War and

in 1971 it often looked as though the

country was in the middle of an another

civil

war

I'm just like the lot most of the guys I

would say in Vietnam I'm just going to

do my time and get out of here if I can

I'm not here to win a war I'm just here

to do my time and

rotate how short am I how much time do I

have left that's the biggest concern of

everyone and can I make

it the war was not going to be won it

was just going to be exited in the best

possible Poli itical

Manner and it was about dog eat dog and

surviving really a very brutal

prison-like existence of of

survival inside that really eats away at

you that has a has a tremendous negative

effect on your spirit and your your

sense of worth and your sense of purpose

you I was tired of all of it weary of it

too many deaths and too much pain and

too much suffering

by 1970 American troops left in Vietnam

felt the country was abandoning the war

and them

hey the number of American Ground Forces

had been cut in half as part of

President Nixon's pledge to win Peace

With Honor as the pullout continued new

recruits overwhelmingly draf e felt they

were being asked to fight a war already

lost on the battlefield and despised at

home the enemy had no doubt about its

purpose its only way out of the war was

Victory or death unlike American son who

came to Vietnam and they came only for

one year and then got out in Vietnam

there was no drop period like a one or

two years so you would go on to the end

of the day to the end of the

war great shot back in the third one you

can do that this one I'll buy you a case

of

beer

they were tough and they proved

it when the trails were bombed they

would carry all of their gear on their

back they were hump it for days they

were fighting for home which is

something I wasn't doing when you're

fighting for home you get

down as American ground forces were

being cut back air attacks were being

stepped up in an effort to pound

concession out of the

enemy we had to rely on caves and

tunnels and underground bunkers to

defend us because the B52 is a terrible

High take if you see half of the long

bomb like this then we know for sure

that it would go to another

place but when you look up and you see

ra bomb like this it means that it's

right on you

but continuous rounds of bombing and

hundreds of thousands of casualties did

little to deter an adversary

continuously resupplied by China and the

Soviet Union and able to recruit

seemingly endless numbers of

people there is truly a national

mobilization in that own people men and

women young children took part in

the national effort of

War we saw an

escalation of the antiw movement all

over the world and even in

America we heard about the killing of

the student in can State and uh

everything the news from the

antiw movement all over the world gave

us

strength Walt CT Tennessee four Brian

Stars right on in America by the early

'70s protesters against the war included

some of the men who had fought in it

once eager soldiers who now felt lied to

and betrayed I pray the time will

forgive me and my brothers what we did I

wasn't in Washington where they threw

their medals I thought I'd try to do one

better and I sent my campaign ribbons to

uh President Nixon I saw the war as as

completely unwinable which made it even

worse even more criminal go on fighting

a a war that you know you can't and

won't

win struck me as as worse than criminal

struck me as

Insanity as the war dragged on into the

10th year of American Military

involvement there was still no end in

sight Vietnam had already brought down

one president and was now threatening to

bring down another President Nixon

standing in the polls dropped severely

as the promise of Peace With Honor

proved elusive peace talks in Paris with

the North Vietnamese were stalled over

the concept of mutual withdrawal and the

release of American prisoners of war

secret negotiations between National

Security adviser Henry Kissinger and Lee

dooe were not making any progress but in

February of

1972 another set of secret negotiations

did lead to one of the biggest

diplomatic coups of the 20th

century

in one stunning swoop the Cold War

politics of the post-war era changed

America was recognizing and dealing with

the

Communists Nixon was the great

anti-communist and to come on national

television and announced that I've been

invited to China and I've accepted with

pleasure it was

astonishing and you could tell by the

reaction of the

press White House Aid Patrick Buchanan

was on the trip the president called the

we that changed the world we had a

wonderful we have at times in the past

been

enemies we have great differences today

he went to Beijing frankly because he

was trying to work the foreign policy

game to get the United States out

Vietnam With

Honor Nixon's aim was to have the

Chinese pressure their North Vietnamese

allies to come to terms at the peace

table and just 4 months after China

Richard Nixon became the first American

president to visit Moscow where he and

Leed brev signed the first strategic

arms limitation treaty the president got

something else as

well he wanted Ma and Joe and Li in

Beijing to have sleepless nights

wondering what's ni and talking to bref

about over there in Moscow

tonight and he was a genius at

this and putting those tensions on would

had the effect of blocking Soviet or

Chinese getting together to present a

united front against the United States

in Vietnam Nixon had taken a calculated

chance and it had worked the Soviet

Union cared more about getting controls

on American offensive missiles and

preventing the Americans from broadening

and thickening an anti-ballistic missile

system and they do about their little

allies in North Vietnam who were getting

the living hell bombed out of them and

there was a sense of being betrayed soed

up you know at that time by the by the

superpowers no longer able to depend on

their powerful allies the North

Vietnamese appeared ready to make

concessions at the peace talks in

October of 1972 there was an

announcement from the National Security

advisor we

believe that peace is at hand a month

later President Nixon now seen as a

seasoned World Statesman was reelected

in a

landslide

but by December peace was still not at

hand the North Vietnamese had left the

negotiations and President Nixon ordered

the bombing of Hanoi and the port of

Hong to force them back for 11 days

American B-52s pounded Hanoi with 40,000

tons of

bombs

Hanoi was in rubbles the railroads the

bridges were all down they had selected

targets obviously and US knew where we

were and the only thing that happened in

the p camp was a piece of plaster fell

down and it hit one of the PS in the

head and cut his head that's the only

the only injury throughout that whole

bombing Bob Jones was in Hanoi during

the Christmas bombings he was one of 500

American prisoners of War held in a

prison they called the handle