The Fall of Saigon was the breaking point that shifted the collective perspective of the Vietnam war for many Americans at home and abroad. A crushing defeat that ushered in the anti-war movement.

For the United States, the fall of Saigon, was the first clear defeat. As 60,000 Americans had died in Southeast Asia – families and friends were deeply affected by the events of Saigon. As the death count stacked, the faith of America was crippled. The LBJ administration had been pushing for positive coverage, headlining “The end is soon!”. The Fall of Saigon contradicted this narrative and uncovered the harsh truth. Americans felt mislead by LBJ, which corrupted the view of the presidency. Prominent ABC anchors saying, “the war is lost” and “the presidents credibility is under fire”.

As television sets became a staple in the American household. The raw and bleak coverage of this event made the message that much stronger. The press captured the atrocities of war through front-line coverage, and day to day records of field stories. With less censorship than ever –  America had a birds eye view.

In a final breath, President Ford asked Congress for $722 million in emergency military aid for the government of South Vietnam, to help keep the North Vietnamese at bay and facilitate evacuations. Congress responded with a resounding “No”. This indicated that the collective public opinion had shifted – and the war was not winnable.

My Resource: USN – The US and Vietnam: 40 Years After the Fall of Saigon.