"Nixon's Coming"

The actions of President Richard Nixon in May, 1970 were meant to end the war in Vietnam. Yet the decision to invade Cambodia boomeranged and exploded in his face. Protests exploded across the country and led to the largest student protest in U.S. history.

Setting the Stage

Before the massive anti-war protests in May 1970, in the winter and spring of 1970 NC State focused on one issue outside the usual norm of sports and academics: challenging the administration. Though nothing like the protests and activism seen at more liberal universities, the often subdued campus was caught up in a food services crisis and an election for student body president. The former upset many students because it involved the very material they consumed and implied that the school’s administration did not care for their well-being. The latter overthrew a long running tradition of safe candidates for student body president and showed that the student population were tired of the older form of campus government. A write-in candidate, Cathy Sterling, did surprisingly well in the first round of voting but eventually lost. However, it turned out that the election was in question and a second round of voting was inaugurated. For a time it appeared that this new election would dominate the campus for the remainder of the school year.

And then Nixon invaded Cambodia.