Sunday, January 28, 1973

It could have turned out different in Vietnam



Back in 1973, President Nixon announced a ceasefire in Vietnam.  It came about after the famous Christmas bombing of 1972, when President Nixon reminded North Vietnam that he had a lot of B-52s and was willing to use them.  In simple terms, the bombing was so intense that the North came back begging Secretary Kissinger for the paper to sign!
Two months later, the POWs came home, including John McCain.   
Twenty-seven months later, the North walked into Saigon, and we’ve known it as Ho Chi Minh City ever since.
Did it have to turn out that way?    
President Nixon did not think so.  He wrote about it in No More Vietnams, a book that gets better with age.  The point is that we choose to win wars or lose them, the latter of which we did in Vietnam.  To win would not have required a single soldier – just a few B-52s to remind the North that we meant to enforce the ceasefire.  We should remember that North Vietnam was devastated in 1973.
The tragedy of Vietnam is that the USSR could not believe that we let South Vietnam collapse in 1975, as Stephen J. Morris wrote on the 30th anniversary of the disintegration of Saigon:
If the United States had provided that level of support in 1975, when South Vietnam collapsed in the face of another North Vietnamese offensive, the outcome might have been at least the same as in 1972. 
But intense lobbying of Congress by the antiwar movement, especially in the context of the Watergate scandal, helped to drive cutbacks of American aid in 1974. 
Combined with the impact of the world oil crisis and inflation of 1973-74, the results were devastating for the south. 
As the triumphant North Vietnamese commander, Gen. Van Tien Dung, wrote later, President Nguyen Van Thieu of South Vietnam was forced to fight “a poor man’s war.”
Even Hanoi’s main patron, the Soviet Union, was convinced that a North Vietnamese military victory was highly unlikely. 
Evidence from Soviet Communist Party archives suggests that, until 1974, Soviet military intelligence analysts and diplomats never believed that the North Vietnamese would be victorious on the battlefield. Only political and diplomatic efforts could succeed. 
Moscow thought that the South Vietnamese government was strong enough to defend itself with a continuation of American logistical support. 
The former Soviet chargĂ© d’affaires in Hanoi during the 1970’s told me in Moscow in late 1993 that if one looked at the balance of forces, one could not predict that the South would be defeated. 
Until 1975, Moscow was not only impressed by American military power and political will, it also clearly had no desire to go to war with the United States over Vietnam. 
But after 1975, Soviet fear of the United States dissipated.
No kidding that fear of the U.S. dissipated.  The post-Vietnam years contributed to the perception that the U.S. was weak and unwilling to defend its interests.  From Nicaragua to Iran to the Soviets in Afghanistan and Cuban troops in Africa, it was a time of U.S. weakness.  Thankfully, it ended with the Reagan presidency.
There were many mistakes in Vietnam, from using the Gulf of Tonkin resolution to send 500,000 soldiers to war to not fighting to win.  I believe that the biggest mistake was not preserving our gains, or a South Vietnam that would have looked a lot like South Korea today.
Again, it could have turned out very different, especially for the many who served in Vietnam.  They won the battles, and the politicians lost the peace.
P.S. You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).



1973: The cease fire started in Vietnam


Image result for president nixon announces cease fire images
On this day in 1973, the Vietnam War cease fire went into effect.    

The fighting did not stop because both sides accused the other of violations.   The "cease fire" did allow the US to finish its mission and get the POW's out of North Vietnam.

The "cease fire" quickly fell apart in late 1974 when the North invaded much of the South without consequences.    In other words, the US did not use its air power to support the South.

South Vietnam collapsed in May 1975.   Wonder who would have believed that on this day in 1973?

Years later, President Nixon wrote a great book about the war and how it ended:
 
PS: You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).





Monday, January 22, 1973

1973: Another awful anniversary of "Roe v Wade" and abortion in the US

We recall today another anniversary of Roe v Wade, the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in the U.S.  Before the Roe v Wade opinion, abortion was a state matter or an issue settled by voters, not un-elected judges.

My opposition to abortion, or Roe v Wade, is based on two factors;

1) Abortion is the taking of a human life.  What else is it?  Why does any woman have an abortion anyway?  (Of course, I'm not talking about those isolated and rare cases where the mother's life is in jeopardy)

2) Abortion is a state issue.  I think that voters, and legislatures, should decide whether or not abortion is legal in their jurisdictions.

Last, but not least, Roe v Wade has "poisoned" our judicial appointments.  We've turned every Supreme Court nomination into a battle over Roe v Wade

We pray that Roe v Wade is overturned.  We will be a better country without legal abortions.

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.



1973: Another anniversary of Roe v Wade


Image result for roe v wade newspaper images

We recall today another anniversary of Roe v Wade, the Supreme Court decision that legalized abortion in the U.S.  Before the Roe v Wade opinion, abortion was a state matter or an issue settled by voters, not un-elected judges.

My opposition to abortion, or Roe v Wade, is based on two factors;

1) Abortion is the taking of a human life.  What else is it?  Why does any woman have an abortion anyway?  (Of course, I'm not talking about those isolated and rare cases where the mother's life is in jeopardy)

2) Abortion is a state issue.  I think that voters, and legislatures, should decide whether or not abortion is legal in their jurisdictions.

Last, but not least, Roe v Wade has "poisoned" our judicial appointments.  We've turned every Supreme Court nomination into a battle over Roe v Wade

We pray that Roe v Wade is overturned.  We will be a better country without legal abortions.

P.S.  You can listen to my show.  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.



Sunday, January 14, 1973

January 14, 1973: We remember the 17-0 Miami Dolphins


Back in the 1970's, Cubans arrived daily in Miami on those historic "freedom flights." 

They found freedom and a city madly in love with the Dolphins. It did not take long for those Cubans to start cheering for the team.


Our family was up in Wisconsin but we detected a little "Dolphin-mania" whenever we spoke to a friend down in Florida.


As my mother said one time: "Esa gente en Miami esta loca con los Dolphins"!
"On January 14, 1973, the Miami Dolphins defeat the Washington Redskins 14-7 at the Los Angeles Coliseum in Super Bowl VII, becoming the first team in National Football League (NFL) history to finish with an undefeated season."
d 14-game schedule whereas teams today play 16 games.

Nevertheless, perfection is perfection and those Dolphins were perfect for that season.


And I'm sure some Cuban "abuelo" probably said: "Que cosa mas grande. No perdieron un juego."


That's right! The 1972-73 Dolphins did not lose a game!

 P.S.  Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

1973: ‘Que cosa mas grande,’ said a Cuban abuelo about the perfect Dolphins!


Image result for the perfect Dolphins images
Back in the 1970’s, Cubans arrived daily in Miami on those historic “freedom flights.” They found freedom and a city madly in love with the Dolphins. It did not take long for those Cubans to start cheering for the team.
Our family was up in Wisconsin but we detected a little “Dolphin-mania” whenever we spoke to a friend down in Florida.
As my mother said one time: “Esa gente en Miami esta loca con los Dolphins”!
“On January 14, 1973, the Miami Dolphins defeat the Washington Redskins 14-7 at the Los Angeles Coliseum in Super Bowl VII, becoming the first team in National Football League (NFL) history to finish with an undefeated season.”
It was a great achievement. We do remind you that the Dolphins played in the old 14-game schedule whereas teams today play 16 games.
Nevertheless, perfection is perfection and those Dolphins were perfect for that season.
And I’m sure some Cuban “abuelo” probably said: “Que cosa mas grande. No perdieron un juego.”
That’s right! The 1972-73 Dolphins did not lose a game!
 P.S.  Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos. If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column of the blog page.

Thursday, January 11, 1973

January 11, 1973: AL approved the DH

Image result for Designated Hitter  imagesOn this day in 1973 or 2 months before players reported to spring training, the American League adopted the "Designated Hitter" effective for the upcoming season.   

Until 2020, or the COVID season, the American and National league played with different rules.    In other words, the pitchers hit in the National but a hitter is designated to hit for the pitcher in the American.

By the way, Ron Bloomberg of the Yankees was the first DH in AL history.   He came to bat in a game at the old Yankee Stadium.


P.S.  You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column.




Tony Oliva, Mike Cuellar, Luis Tiant and the first year of the DH in the American League

Image result for luis tiant boston images
On this day in 1973 or 2 months before players reported to spring training, the American League adopted the “Designated Hitter” effective for the upcoming season.   
3-time batting champion Tony Oliva, who could no longer play the outfield every day, swung the bat with authority:    .291 with 16 HR & 92 RBI as a full time DH in 1973.   Tony-O followed that with a .285 average in 1974.   The DH rule allowed Tony-O to pass 2,000 hits.
The rule initially benefited starting pitchers because they were not removed from the game by a pinch-hitter.   It gave pitchers more decisions and complete games!
P.S.  You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column.

Wednesday, January 10, 1973

We remember Jim Croce (1943-1973)



Jim Croce had a brief but very important musical career.   He released five albums & 11 singles, including two # 1 hits:  “Bad, Bad Leroy Brown” and “Time in a Bottle”.    
Croce was born on this day in 1943 and killed in a plane crash in 1973. 
Great talent.   His wife Ingrid had done great work keeping the musical legacy alive.

P.S.  You can listen to my show (Canto Talk).  If you like our posts, please look for ”Donate” on the right column.



Wednesday, January 03, 1973

1973: George Steinbrenner Purchased New York Yankees

Image result for george steinbrenner

On this day in 1973, George Steinbrenner Purchased the New York Yankees.   

He got to work quickly and the Yankees started winning.   They competed for division titles in 1974 & 1975.     In 1976, the Yankees won their first AL pennant since 1964 but lost to the Reds in the World Series.   

The Yankees beat the LA Dodgers in the 1977 & 1978 World Series.   

In 1980, KC beat NY in the ALCS.    In 1981, LA beat NY in the World Series.

Steinbrenner spent most of the 1980's spending money but not winning.

In 1995, NY was a wild card team but lost a tough series to Seattle.   

From 1996 to 2003, the Yankees won 4 World Series and lost 2.  

They won another WS in 2009 but Steinbrenner died in 2010.

By the way, he was born on July 4, 1930 and died in 2010.  

Very controversial but very successful team owner: