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Dec. 31, 1971
December 31, 1971
US Withdraws from Vietnam
After more than 42,000 American soldiers gave up their lives, the last troops are finally coming home. President Muskie is holding to his promise to end the war before his 1972 re-election campaign by withdrawing the 50,000 or so soldiers remaining in Vietnam. In return for withdrawal of all United States troops, ships and bombers, the North Vietnamese have guaranteed the safe return of the withdrawing forces and the release of American POWs. However, no cease‐fire or agreement on an over‐all peace plan has been reached. While Muskie urges the government in Saigon to move toward a political accommodation with the Communists, or else lose indirect United States military support, no such plans have been made.
Leading Republican candidates for President, such as former Maryland Governor Spiro Agnew, criticized Muskie’s decision, believing that South Vietnam will soon fall to the Communists without American support. Senator Robert J. Dole (R-KS), and Senator William E. Brock III (R-TN) called Mr. Muskie's statement “the worst kind of gutter politics.” [1]