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Podcast: Key Battles of American History
Episode: VW12: The End of the War
Description: In the 1972 presidential election, Richard Nixon defeated antiwar Democrat George McGovern in a landslide, aided by the announcement of a tentative peace deal. However, South Vietnamese President Thieu rejected the agreement, fearing it would lead to Communist domination. Talks broke down, prompting Nixon to launch the intense “Christmas Bombings” (Operation Linebacker II) in December 1972. The bombings pressured North Vietnam back to the negotiating table. The Paris Peace Accords were signed in January 1973, calling for a U.S. withdrawal and a ceasefire. Nixon forced Thieu to accept the terms, though both North and South Vietnam soon violated the agreement. Later in 1...