It seemed that all of the problems of the sixties—the Vietnam War, civil rights, the counterculture, anti-war protests, and national politics—came to a fiery head in 1968 in a series of events that left many Americans wondering if their country would not disintegrate into anarchy.

In January, 80,000 North Vietnamese coordinated a massive attack known as the "Tet Offensive," driving American troops out of 100 major positions in the South. This huge loss was a major political turning point in the United States. President Johnson's guarantees of an American victory began to ring hollow. Polls showed for the first time that a majority of Americans disapproved of Johnson's handling of the war. Every day protesters would gather around the White House and chant "Hey, hey LBJ, how many kids did you kill today?" Seeing no way out, the president announced...