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Santa Clara University Digital Exhibits

About

This project aims to explore the Vietnam War and the U.S.'s role in it its escalation, fighting, and conclusion. This project precisely aims to look at how Vietnam unfolded under the presidencies of Truman, Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, and Nixon, examining how each precedent approached the situation in Vietnam or contributed to the conflict. All too often, the Vietnam War and the U.S.’s role in it are oversimplified, placing blame on one or two presidents and actions; however, this oversimplification is dangerous as it ignores crucial surrounding context and nuance within the situation in Vietnam and the U.S. This project aims to fully examine the role of each president in Vietnam, showing how responsibility for Vietnam is much more shared and spread out than commonly thought to be.