McGovern–Hatfield Amendment

The McGovern–Hatfield Amendment (alternately, Hatfield–McGovern Amendment) was a proposed amendment to an appropriations bill in 1970 during the Vietnam War that, if passed, would have required the end of United States military operations in the Republic of Vietnam by December 31, 1970 and a complete withdrawal of American forces halfway through the next year. It was the most outstanding defiance of executive power regarding the war prior to 1971. The amendment was proposed by Senators George McGovern of South Dakota and Mark Hatfield of Oregon, and was known as the "amendment to end the war."

The amendment was heavily opposed by the administration of President Richard Nixon. A revision of the amendment intended to gain more widespread support extended the deadline for withdrawal to the end of 1971. Nevertheless, the amendment was opposed by Nixon and his backers in the Congress, who argued that a withdrawal deadline would devastate the American position in negotiations with North Vietnam. On September 1, 1970, the amendment failed by a 55–39 margin.

McGovern's speech

Minutes before the voting began, McGovern appealed for support with the strongest and most emotional language he had ever used regarding the war: Template:Quote

According to historian Robert Mann, McGovern's brief, passionate speech shocked his Senate colleagues. As McGovern took his seat, most senators sat in stunned silence. "You could have heard a pin drop," recalled John Holum, McGovern's principal staff advisor on Vietnam. As the Senate prepared to begin voting on the amendment, one senator approached McGovern and indignantly told him that he had been personally offended by the speech. McGovern replied, "That's what I meant to do."

Text of the amendment

McGovern–Hatfield Amendment, H.R. 17123

(a) In accordance with public statements of policy by the President, no funds authorized by this or any other act may be obligated or expended to maintain a troop level of more than 280,000 armed forces of the United States in Vietnam after April 30, 1971.

(b) After April 30, 1971, funds herein authorized or hereafter appropriated may be expended in connection with activities of American Armed Forces in and over Indochina only to accomplish the following objectives:

(1) the orderly termination of military operations there and the safe and systematic withdrawal of remaining armed forces by December 31, 1971;

(2) to secure the release of prisoners of war;

(3) the provision of asylum for Vietnamese who might be physically endangered by withdrawal of American forces; and

(4) to provide assistance to the Republic of Vietnam consistent with the foregoing objectives; provided however, that if the President while giving effect to the foregoing paragraphs of this section, finds in meeting the termination date that members of the American armed forces are exposed to unanticipated clear and present danger, he may suspend the application of paragraph 2(a) for a period not to exceed 60 days and shall inform the Congress forthwith of his findings; and within 10 days following application of the suspension the President may submit recommendations, including (if necessary) a new date applicable to subsection b(1) for Congressional approval.

Vote Total

Senate vote on the Amendment to End the War
September 1, 1970	Party		Total votes
	style="color:black;background-color:Template:Democratic Party (US)/meta/shading"| Democratic	style="background-color:Template:Republican Party (US)/meta/shading" | Republican
Nay	21	34	55
Yea	32	7	39
Result: Failed
Roll call vote Senator Party State Vote R Vermont Nay D Alabama Nay R Colorado Nay R Tennessee Nay D Indiana Yea R Oklahoma Nay R Utah Nay D Nevada Nay R Delaware Nay R Massachusetts Yea D North Dakota Yea D Virginia Nay D West Virginia Nay R New Jersey Yea D Idaho Yea R Kentucky Nay R Kentucky Nay R New Hampshire Nay D California Yea R Nebraska Nay D Connecticut Nay R Kansas Nay R Colorado Nay D Missouri Yea D Mississippi Nay D Louisiana Nay D North Carolina Nay R Arizona Nay R Hawaii Nay D Arkansas Yea R Arizona Nay R New York Yea D Tennessee Nay D Alaska Yea R Michigan Nay R Florida Nay R Wyoming Nay D Oklahoma Yea D Michigan Yea D Indiana Yea R Oregon Yea D Florida Nay D South Carolina Nay R Nebraska Nay D Iowa Yea D Hawaii Yea D Washington Nay R New York Yea D North Carolina Nay R Idaho Nay D Massachusetts Yea D Washington Yea D Montana Yea R Maryland Yea D Minnesota Yea D Arkansas Nay D Wyoming Nay D South Dakota Yea D New Hampshire Yea D Montana Yea R Iowa Nay D Minnesota Yea D New Mexico Yea R California Nay D Maine Yea D Wisconsin Yea D Rhode Island Yea R Kansas Nay D Rhode Island Yea R Illinois Nay R Vermont Nay D Wisconsin Yea D West Virginia Nay D Connecticut Yea D Georgia Nay R Ohio Nay R Pennsylvania Nay R Pennsylvania Yea R Illinois Nay R Maine Nay D Alabama Nay D Virginia Nay D Mississippi Nay D Missouri Yea D Georgia Nay R South Carolina Nay R Texas Nay D Maryland Yea R Delaware Nay D New Jersey Yea D Texas Yea R North Dakota Nay D Ohio Yea