Please educate me, re: Congress' decision to stop funding Vietnam war

[journalist3072]

Can someone with some historical knowledge/perspective please educate me on this:

I know that the United States Congress helped end the Vietnam war by refusing to fund it.

And my main question is regarding the lawmakers who voted in favor of ceasing funding for the war. Were they called "cut and runners" or accused of waving "the white flag of surrender?"

[ramapo]

1. Not at that point

Too many people were sick of seeing the bodybags coming home. There was plenty of that kind of talk earlier. Nixon had his secret plan, peace with honor, etc.

The Bushies decided early on that we'd never see that. This war is relegated to the tenth page of the B section fo your local paper.

People might be uncomfortable about this war but for most it is just another unpleasantness to ignore.

[DemocratSinceBirth]

2. The War Had Already Ended When Congress Defunded It.

I think Ford didn't react to the fall of Saigon in 75 because Congress wasn't going to fund it.

I'm sure someone will elaboarate.

[Faygo Kid]

3. As I recall it, there was no push for continued funding. It was over.

Different world then. No neocons, and Nixon's problems precluded a stand by the hawks on the War. It ended with a whimper, not a bang. I think everybody at that time just felt in their bones that it was over - finally - and time to move on. Unless we can stop Bush this election year, the same thing will happen in 2009. With thousands more dead in the interim.

[Jack from Charlotte]

4. One other thing about the fall of Saigon that will be similar......

to when Iraq-nam falls.... The same Sec. of Defense will have been in charge both times.

Rummy will be the 1st to have been Def Sec when helicopters are pulling our guys out from the roof top.... TWICE.

And, of course The AWOL/moron will be the 1st pres to have lost 2 wars.

[onenote]

5. I think you're talking about the Cooper-Church amendment

The first Congressional effort to limit funding was the Cooper Church amendment in 1970 (or maybe 1971), which sought to prevent US funds from being expended for actions in Cambodia and Laos (not in Vietnam itself). It passed the Senate but was bottled up in the House. A watered down version did pass eventually, again, only aimed at Camabodia (and maybe Laos).

Funding for US military operations in Vietnam was not cut off before the troops were largely withdrawn in 1973. Rather, funding for the South Vietnamese army was cut off in 1975.

As for whether the proponents of cutting off funding were vilified as cut and runners? I don't recall that phrase being used, but Church and other anti-war Democrats,like many who opposed the war, were called every other name in the book.