This Day In 1970's History: Thursday November 9, 1972
- General Alexander Haig, Henry Kissinger's deputy, is in Saigon to persuade President Thieu to agree to the peace settlement. At the Paris Peace Talks, the U.S. announced that peace is closer.
American Ambassador William Porter stated that the U.S. delegation was invigorated by President Nixon's massive victory, which represents an endorsement of his Vietnam policy. North Vietnam's Nguyen Minh Vy said that peace is not set for tomorrow because the U.S. still refuses to sign the peace accord. The Viet Cong's Madame Binh accused the Nixon administration of stalling in order to further bomb North and South Vietnam and deliver an unprecedented stockpile of arms to South Vietnam. An American spokesman said he is optimistic that Kissinger will meet soon with North Vietnam to settle the peace plan. [CBS]
- In Charleston, S.C., mine-sweeping helicopters are missing from the naval base, prompting speculation that they're on the way to sweep mines from North Vietnamese ports. The Navy had no comment. [CBS]
- President Thieu's secretary told a group of reporters that in the past 10 days 50,000 Communists in South Vietnam have been arrested, put out of commission, or killed. A Hanoi newspaper claims that 5,000 South Vietnamese were murdered. [CBS]
- 598 South Vietnamese troops were reported killed last week, along with 2,391 enemy and 17 Americans. [CBS]
- Despite 11 years of war, Duc Boa, South Vietnam, remains unchanged. On December 22, 1961, James Davis was killed in the Duc Hoa district near Saigon, the first American to die in the Vietnam war. The district is still a V.C. stronghold. The area is rich with rice and vegetables, and the residents lead prosperous lives. But the government cannot protect the people from Viet Cong terrorism; the Viet Cong also levies taxes on people. The district is on the main infiltration route from Cambodia to Saigon. Vietnamization is almost complete in the area; only three American advisers remain. [CBS]
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