Vietnam War: Peace Talks

The following declassified records, originally issued between November 1972 and January 1973, are intelligence reports provided by the National Security Agency to the White House in support of American efforts to reach a settlement ending the Vietnam War. These reports, which were published as soon as possible after NSA obtained their contents and sometimes issued several times in a single day, sought to inform American diplomacy at a crucial time in our nation's past. Their release is intended to enhance the understanding of individual citizens, professional historians, and students of intelligence alike with respect to U.S. involvement in Vietnam and how NSA supports our country's most senior policymakers as they face critical decisions affecting our future.

In 1967, with American troop strength in Vietnam reaching 500,000, protest against U.S. participation in the Vietnam War had grown stronger as growing numbers of Americans questioned whether the U.S. war effort could succeed or was morally justifiable. They took their protests to the streets in peace marches, demonstrations, and acts of civil disobedience. Despite the country's polarization, the balance of American public opinion was beginning to sway toward "de-escalation" of the war

The United States, South Vietnam, Viet Cong, and North Vietnam formally sign “An Agreement Ending the War and Restoring Peace in Vietnam” in Paris.

1973 Vietnam-United States cease-fire agreement.

In January of 1973 the Paris Peace Accords were signed after four years of negotiations, with the intent to establish peace in Vietnam and end the war. The Accords were signed by the United States, and North and South Vietnam. The agreement stated that armies from both North and South Vietnam would hold their positions, the United States military would withdraw from combat and leave the country, and both sides of the conflict would work together to find a peaceful path to reunification. This segment from Iowa Public Television's Iowans Remember Vietnam documentary includes archival footage and an interview with a veteran of the war.

On January 23, 1973, President Nixon announced that Secretary of State Henry Kissinger and Le Duc Tho, the chief North Vietnamese negotiator, had initialed a peace agreement in Paris. A panel of former members of the National Security staff will examine the chronology, key players, and impact of the Paris Peace Accords. The panel will include Winston Lord, John Negroponte, and Dick Smyser. Fox News national security analyst KT McFarland will moderate. Presented in partnership with the Richard Nixon Foundation.