Former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara publishes “In Retrospect: The Tragedy and Lessons of Vietnam,” admitting that the Vietnam War was “terribly wrong” and that he knew it all along. McNamara writes: “We of the Kennedy and Johnson administrations who participated …
Former Secretary of Defense Robert McNamaraBrian VanDeMark (co-author)government-deceptionwar-profiteeringinstitutional-corruptionaccountability-failure
Attorney Victor Yannacone files a class action lawsuit in the Southern District of New York against U.S. chemical manufacturers of Agent Orange, including Dow Chemical Company and Monsanto—the two largest producers—along with Diamond Shamrock, Uniroyal, Thompson Chemicals, Hercules, and dozens of …
Lawyer Victor YannaconeDow Chemical CompanyMonsanto CompanyVietnam VeteransDiamond Shamrock+1 morecorporate-corruptionwar-profiteeringhealth-crisisgovernment-deceptionaccountability-failure
The Supreme Court decides 6-3 in New York Times Co. v. United States that the Nixon administration cannot prevent newspapers from publishing the Pentagon Papers, marking the first time in American history a publication was temporarily halted due to national security concerns. A federal judge in New …
U.S. Supreme CourtNew York TimesWashington PostDaniel EllsbergNixon Administration+1 morepress-freedomgovernment-deceptionconstitutional-lawwhistleblowinginstitutional-corruption
On June 13, 1971, The New York Times began publishing excerpts from a 7,000-page classified Defense Department study titled “History of U.S. Decision-Making in Vietnam, 1945-1968”—soon known as the Pentagon Papers. Leaked by military analyst Daniel Ellsberg, the documents revealed that …
Daniel EllsbergNew York TimesWashington PostPresident Richard NixonSecretary of Defense Robert McNamara+2 moregovernment-deceptionmilitary-industrial-complexwhistleblowerpress-freedomvietnam-war
After four months of proceedings, Lieutenant William Calley is found guilty on 22 counts of premeditated murder for his role in the My Lai massacre and sentenced to life in prison. Calley becomes the only person convicted for the mass killing of between 347 and 504 unarmed Vietnamese civilians, …
Lieutenant William CalleyPresident Richard NixonSecretary of the Army Howard CallawayLieutenant General William Peerswar-crimesinstitutional-corruptiongovernment-deceptionmilitary-corruptionaccountability-failure
The Selective Service System conducts its first draft lottery since 1942 at its Washington D.C. headquarters in response to widespread criticism that the draft systematically favors wealthy and educated Americans. Of the 2.5 million enlisted men serving in Vietnam, 80% come from poor or …
Selective Service SystemU.S. CongressCongressman Alexander Pirnieclass-inequalityinstitutional-corruptiongovernment-deceptionsystematic-corruption
Investigative journalist Seymour Hersh publishes explosive revelations about the My Lai massacre through Dispatch News Service after both Life and Look magazines refuse the story. Hersh’s investigation begins when he receives a tip on October 22, 1969 about a soldier being court-martialed at …
Journalist Seymour HershWhistleblower Ronald RidenhourLieutenant William CalleyU.S. ArmyDispatch News Servicewhistleblowinggovernment-deceptionwar-crimesinstitutional-corruptioninvestigative-journalism
Nixon and Kissinger launch Operation Menu, a covert bombing campaign against neutral Cambodia conducted without congressional authorization or public knowledge. The secret carpet-bombing campaign—with missions codenamed Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Snack, Dessert, and Supper—is confirmed at an Oval …
President Richard NixonNational Security Advisor Henry KissingerSecretary of Defense Melvin LairdSecretary of State William RogersGeneral Earle Wheeler+1 morewar-crimesgovernment-deceptionmilitary-industrial-complexillegal-surveillanceconstitutional-violations
Richard Nixon’s campaign secretly communicates with the South Vietnamese government to sabotage President Johnson’s Paris peace talks, with H.R. Haldeman’s notes documenting Nixon’s direct instruction to “keep Anna Chennault working on SVN [South Vietnam].” Nixon …
Richard NixonAnna ChennaultH.R. HaldemanJohn MitchellSouth Vietnamese President Nguyen Van Thieu+2 moreelection-interferencegovernment-deceptioncorruptionwar-profiteeringinstitutional-corruption
U.S. Army soldiers from Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 20th Infantry Regiment massacre between 347 and 504 unarmed South Vietnamese civilians—mostly women, children, elderly men, and infants—in the village of My Lai during a search-and-destroy mission. Led by Lieutenant William Calley, …
Lieutenant William CalleyCaptain Ernest MedinaCharlie Company 1st Battalion 20th Infantry RegimentHugh Thompson Jr. (helicopter pilot who intervened)U.S. Armywar-crimesmilitary-corruptiongovernment-deceptioninstitutional-corruptioncover-up
The term “credibility gap” enters widespread use to describe the growing disconnect between the Johnson administration’s optimistic public statements about Vietnam War progress and the grim reality experienced by soldiers and reporters in the field. The New York Herald Tribune …
Secretary of Defense Robert McNamaraPresident Lyndon B. JohnsonSenator J. William FulbrightDepartment of Defensegovernment-deceptionmilitary-industrial-complexinstitutional-corruptionpropagandasystematic-corruption
Congress passes the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution with near-unanimous support (416-0 in the House, 88-2 in the Senate), granting President Johnson broad war powers to use military force in Southeast Asia without a formal declaration of war. The resolution responds to reported attacks on U.S. Navy …
President Lyndon B. JohnsonSecretary of Defense Robert McNamaraNational Security AgencyU.S. Congressmilitary-industrial-complexwar-profiteeringgovernment-deceptioninstitutional-captureintelligence-manipulation