Although the wars weren’t far apart at all, the receptions of the two were vastly different. The wars were fought a generation apart. For the most part, the parents of those who were draft eligible in the Vietnam War served in World War II. However, the people weren’t as keen on going to war. It wasn’t all the people’s fault though, the government wasn’t all that trusted at the time. In World War II, at the announcement of the United State’s entrance of the war, the American people joined arms and supported the cause. People would carpool so the extra gas could go to the war. People would donate their scrap and metals in order to supply for the troops. Those who were drafted, for the most part, gladly stood and served their nation. Although they knew they were walking into death, they wanted to protect their nation. In the Vietnam War, the people were split. The president felt that if Vietnam fell into communism, then the surrounding nations would soon follow after. …show more content…
After Kennedy's assasination, the people lost trust in the new president. Lyndon B. Johnson supported the American involvement in the Vietnam War. Due to the backlash though, he didn't even run for re-election in 1968. The next president, Richard Nixon, immediately began with plans to withdraw from Vietnam. But he wasn't going to leave them without trying to bring peace. As it says in the textbook that Nixon "initiated negotioations with North vietnam," (Perry 506). Around this time though, the Pentagon Papers were released to the press, causing even more distrust against the government. Nixon, through "vietnamization", slowly pulled the United States' involvement from the war. Unlike what they wanted, when the U.S. pulled its troops, the communists still took over. It says in the text "In the wake of the American withdrawal, Cambodian Communists- the Khemer Rogue -seized power under their leader, Pol Pot." (Perry