In April 1965, President Johnson committed American troops to ground combat in Vietnam. Unable to end the war quickly, the United States found itself increasingly drawn into the conflict.
In January 1968, Vietcong fighters staged the Tet offensive. Though they were turned back, Americans began to question whether or not the war could be won. When Johnson decided not to run for reelection, Republican Richard Nixon, campaigning on the promise to "bring the nation together," was elected president.
Nixon expanded the war into neighboring Cambodia and Laos to stop enemy lines of supply. This effort failed while antiwar protests increased. Finally, Nixon opted for "Vietnamization," the withdrawal of American troops and replacing them with Vietnamese soldiers.
