March 14

This Day in History

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Lead Story
Albert Einstein born, 1879
American Revolution
Alexander Hamilton is named captain of artillery company, 1776
Automotive
Mack Truck founder killed in car crash, 1922
Civil War
Yankees capture New Bern, North Carolina, 1862
Cold War
Gorbachev elected president of the Soviet Union, 1990
Crime
The FBI debuts 10 Most Wanted, 1950
Disaster
Boxing team among casualties in Polish Air crash, 1980
General Interest
Jack Ruby sentenced to death, 1964
Birmingham Six released, 1991
Hollywood
Billy Crystal is born, 1948
Literary
Sylvia Beach, bookstore owner and publisher of Ulysses, is born, 1887
Music
The Recording Industry Association of America awards first Gold Record to Perry Como for "Catch A Falling Star", 1958
Old West
Max Brand publishes his first novel, 1919
Presidential
JFK's body moved to permanent gravesite, 1967
Sports
President Clinton expresses desire to return to golf course, 1997
Vietnam War
Allies launch second wave of Rolling Thunder, 1965
Nixon discusses the possibility of U.S. troop withdrawals, 1969
World War I
German cruiser Dresden sinks, 1915
World War II
Germans recapture Kharkov, 1943

Vietnam War

Mar 14, 1969:

Nixon discusses the possibility of U.S. troop withdrawals

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At a news conference, President Richard Nixon says there is no prospect for a U.S. troop reduction in the foreseeable future because of the ongoing enemy offensive. Nixon stated that the prospects for withdrawal would hinge on the level of enemy activity, progress in the Paris peace talks, and the ability of the South Vietnamese to defend themselves. Despite these public comments, Nixon and his advisers were secretly discussing U.S. troop withdrawals. On June 8, at a conference on Midway Island with South Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu, Nixon formally announced a new policy that included intensified efforts to increase the combat capability of the South Vietnamese armed forces so that U.S. forces could be gradually withdrawn. This program became known as "Vietnamization." The first U.S. troop withdrawals occurred in the fall of 1969 with the departure of the headquarters and a brigade from the 9th Infantry Division.

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This Week in History, Mar 14 - Mar 20

Mar 14, 1965
Allies launch second wave of Rolling Thunder
Mar 14, 1969
Nixon discusses the possibility of U.S. troop withdrawals
Mar 15, 1965
Army Chief of Staff reports on South Vietnam
Mar 15, 1973
President Nixon hints at reintervention
Mar 16, 1968
U.S. troops massacre South Vietnamese
Mar 16, 1975
South Vietnamese flee Pleiku and Kontum
Mar 17, 1964
National Security Council reviews situation
Mar 17, 1970
Results of Peers investigation announced
Mar 18, 1969
U.S. bombs Cambodia for the first time
Mar 18, 1970
Lon Nol ousts Prince Sihanouk
Mar 19, 1966
Seoul agrees to send additional troops
Mar 19, 1970
National emergency declared in Cambodia
Mar 20, 1954
Americans alarmed about impending French defeat
Mar 20, 1968
Retired Marine Commandant comments on conduct of war

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