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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. When does Halberstam say that McNamara realized he had been misled about the conditions in Vietnam?
(a) When he received envoys from Vietnam in March of 1964.
(b) When he read the military reports in December 1963.
(c) In his March 1964 trip to Vietnam.
(d) In his December 1963 trip to Vietnam.

2. Who tipped off Senator Wayne Morse about the real situation of the Gulf of Tonkin incident?
(a) An anonymous caller.
(b) General Westmoreland.
(c) McGeorge Bundy.
(d) President Johnson.

3. How does Halberstam say the U.S. spun the Gulf of Tonkin incident?
(a) They said that the U.S. ship had been attacked.
(b) They said that the offensive was completely unexpected.
(c) They said that the U.S. plane was in international airspace.
(d) They said that the use of napalm was necessary now.

4. What event does Halberstam say triggered bombing operations against the North?
(a) The Bay of Pigs invasion.
(b) A North Vietnamese success in the Mekong Delta.
(c) The Gulf of Tonkin Incident.
(d) A North Vietnamese attack on American B-57 bombers.

5. How does Halberstam say Kennedy was feeling about the war at the beginning of Chapter 15?
(a) Dispirited.
(b) Enthusiastic.
(c) Frustrated.
(d) Optimistic.

6. What did Hanoi do in response to U.S. war games in the South?
(a) Seek peace talks.
(b) Withdraw troops from the South.
(c) Launch the Gulf of Tonkin attacks.
(d) Send more Vietcong down the trails.

7. The war continued until which President took office?
(a) Ford.
(b) Reagan.
(c) Nixon.
(d) Carter.

8. Who does Halberstam say eventually took on the role of setting the tone for Vietnam policy?
(a) Taylor.
(b) Harriman.
(c) Bundy.
(d) Rusk.

9. When did McNamara say the U.S. would be out of Vietnam, when he visited the country?
(a) By the end of 1965.
(b) By the beginning of 1966.
(c) By 1970.
(d) By the end of 1968.

10. Why does Halberstam say that September and October of 1963 were good for the Kennedy administration?
(a) Averell Harriman made progress on the test ban treaty.
(b) There was accord on civil rights issues.
(c) The administration was prepared to pick up seats in special elections.
(d) The military made progress in the Mekong Delta.

11. How did McNamara's position on bombing change over time?
(a) After a few months, he was convinced of bombing's effectiveness.
(b) Years later, he would say that he had doubts about how useful bombing would be.
(c) After a year, he reversed his position entirely.
(d) After the first weeks, he was sure that bombing would end the war.

12. What does Halberstam say was the purpose of operation Rolling Thunder?
(a) To open North Vietnamese markets.
(b) To force Hanoi to capitulate.
(c) To demonstrate the benefits of democracy.
(d) To display American airpower.

13. What were people calling for by Thanksgiving 1964, in Halberstam's account?
(a) Escalation.
(b) Victory at all costs.
(c) Surrender.
(d) Withdrawal.

14. What position did Maxwell Taylor begin to support as a result of his late 1964 trip to Vietnam?
(a) A bombing campaign against North Vietnam.
(b) Withdrawing troops from Vietnam.
(c) International sanctions against North Vietnam.
(d) Renewing diplomatic efforts.

15. What does Halberstam say was the result of the Spring Offensive?
(a) General Westmoreland raised troop levels to 200,000.
(b) American troop levels were reduced to 20,000.
(c) The military employed more bombers.
(d) General Harkin withdrew from his post.

Short Answer Questions

1. What problem does Halberstam say McNamara discovered in Vietnam?

2. What does Halberstam say the Kennedy administration found out after the coup?

3. Who does Halberstam say was making the case for bombing after the 1964 election?

4. What does Halberstam say was the conclusion of the study that analyzed the results of a bombing attack against the north?

5. What does Halberstam say General Westmoreland was asking President Johnson for, now that he was in control of Vietnam?

(see the answer keys)

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