Effects of President McGovern on Cambodian Genocide

But there is one thing George has going in his favor.

Just like only Nixon could go to China, and only Bill Clinton could do welfare reform, sometimes it helps to play against type.

So, the fact that George McGovern the peace guy is advocating military intervention, it does grab people's attention and at least gives him a hearing with the American public.
 
But there is one thing George has going in his favor.

Just like only Nixon could go to China, and only Bill Clinton could do welfare reform, sometimes it helps to play against type.

So, the fact that George McGovern the peace guy is advocating military intervention, it does grab people's attention and at least gives him a hearing with the American public.
Nixon could go to China in the 1970s, but had he decided to go in the 1950s (when anti-Communism was a lot more virulent and the Korean War was still fresh in people's minds) it would have been the end of his political career. The same principle applies to McGovern and Cambodia. The Vietnam War is too fresh in people's minds for another military adventure in Indochina to be even remotely possible. What it would most likely do is convince the doves in the Democratic Party that McGovern has abandoned them, leaving him in the awkward position of being opposed by both the hawks and the doves. He could well be the first President since Chest Arthur to get primaried.
 
just plain good luck might create a little bit more of an opening:

1. or 2. We in the U.S. were supposed to trade heavy earth moving equipment (in part for mine clearance) for sincere help on the part of the N. Vietnamese communists in resolving MIA and POW issues. Nixon and Kissinger included in the list, to give themselves bargain chips in reserve, a couple of guys who were already back in the states! And maybe in the larger scheme, it didn't really matter. But maybe in other ways, the Nixon administration didn't do their best work in the end game as far as soldiers and their families. Nixon was a lousy delegator. George, or any random Senator, most likely would have been better in this regard. And so, perhaps in large part due to good luck, George's point person on POW issues does a solid job. Maybe more skillful back and forth with the communists: you give us this amount of help, we'll release this amount of heavy equipment. I have heard this approach called ping pong negotiation.

2. or 1. We avoid the humiliating evacuation from the roof of the U.S. Embassy.

Don't know which of the main aspects of each happened first, although of course MIA and POW issues spanned a number of years.
 
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