The bombing of North Vietnam took its toll, and the Viet Cong were more willing to talk peace in the fall of 1972. Both sides appeared willing to make compromises they had been unwilling to make earlier. The United States was willing to permit the NVA to keep some of its troops in the south, and American forces would be withdrawn within sixty days. North Vietnam no longer insisted that South Vietnam's President Nguyen Van Thieu abdicate to the NVA, and it would return American prisoners of war. A council made up of North and South Vietnamese would be formed to supervise national elections and determine the fate of South Vietnam. Everything appeared set for the cease-fire and treaty until South Vietnam's President Thieu rejected the agreement. He knew that, with this agreement, he had no chance to stay in power once...