Tag Archives: Richard Nixon

Sunday Almanac: Cambodian Coup (March 18-20, 1970)

Prince Norodom Sihanouk of Cambodia visiting C...

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On this date:

March 18 – 20, 1970 Prince Sihanouk of Cambodia is deposed by General Lon Nol.

Sihanouk, who had been out of the country at the time of the coup, had been walking a fine line for years between the Americans and the North Vietnamese– he allowed the U.S. to conduct strategic bombing against NVA targets inside Cambodia while at the same time he was the one who granted those same NVA troops sanctuary within his borders. Sihanouk was desperate to keep his country out of the fighting war so he played both ends against the middle, and was remarkably successful at it. In the end it was his inability, or lack of effort, to stop supplies destined for the NVA and Viet Cong from traversing his ports and countryside that finally led the US to support his removal… More>>

Audio: LBJ and Nixon on Vietnam and 1968 Presidential Election

US Postage stamp: LBJ, 1973 issue, 8c

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These nuggets of history give us a rarely seen glimpse into the inner workings of our government, and as is usually the case when the curtain is pulled back, it’s not a pretty picture… More>>