Without this domestic opposition, it is probable that the Nixon administration would have pursued the war longer and more vigorously than it did, with even higher casualties and greater destruction. However, the dissent does not explain why the Vietnam War was lost. That outcome was rooted in factors that preceded Nixon’s election: the unpopularity, weakness, and corruption of the Saigon government; the poor morale of the South Vietnamese military; the discipline and dedication of the adversary; and the indigenous nature of the insurgency.
