U.S. congressional opposition to American involvement in wars and interventions
1812North America
House Federalists’ Address
1847Mexican–American War
Spot Resolutions
1917World War I
Filibuster of the Armed Ship Bill
1935–1939
Neutrality Acts
1935–1940
Ludlow Amendment
1970Vietnam
McGovern–Hatfield Amendment
1970Southeast Asia
Cooper–Church Amendment
1971 Vietnam
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1973 Southeast Asia
Case–Church Amendment
1973
War Powers Resolution
1974
Hughes–Ryan Amendment
1976Angola
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1982Nicaragua
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v t e

TheMcGovern–Hatfield Amendment (alternately,Hatfield–McGovern Amendment) was a proposed amendment to an appropriations bill in 1970 during theVietnam War that, if passed, would have required the end ofUnited States military operations in theRepublic 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 bySenatorsGeorge McGovern ofSouth Dakota andMark Hatfield ofOregon, and was known as the "amendment to end the war."

The amendment was heavily opposed by the administration of PresidentRichard 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 withNorth Vietnam. On September 1, 1970, the amendment failed by a 55–39 margin.

A second version of the amendment was reintroduced in 1971 with only minor revisions.^[1] In light of Nixon's interventions inCambodia andLaos the year prior, public and Congressional enthusiasm for the legislation indicated the 1971 amendment could fare better than the original. McGovern, along with Senate allies, appeared on nationwide broadcasts and at protests to lobby for the amendment's passage. Ultimately, the 1971 revised amendment would be defeated by a margin of 55–42, gaining three additional sponsors.

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

Every senator in this chamber is partly responsible for sending 50,000 young Americans to an early grave. This chamber reeks of blood. Every Senator here is partly responsible for that human wreckage at Walter Reed and Bethesda Naval and all across our land—young men without legs, or arms, or genitals, or faces or hopes.

There are not very many of these blasted and broken boys who think this war is a glorious adventure. Do not talk to them about bugging out, or national honor or courage. It does not take any courage at all for a congressman, or a senator, or a president to wrap himself in the flag and say we are staying in Vietnam, because it is not our blood that is being shed. But we are responsible for those young men and their lives and their hopes. And if we do not end this damnable war those young men will some day curse us for our pitiful willingness to let the Executive carry the burden that the Constitution places on us.

So before we vote, let us ponder the admonition ofEdmund Burke, the great parliamentarian of an earlier day: "A conscientious man would be cautious how he dealt in blood."

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," recalledJohn 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."^[2]

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.^[3]

Six Senators did not vote, but all made clear their feelings regarding the legislation. Democratic SenatorsRussell Long of Louisiana,Howard Cannon of Nevada, andClinton Anderson of New Mexico expressed they opposed the amendment, whileFrank Moss of Utah said he would have voted in favor.

On the Republican side of the aisle,Robert Packwood of Oregon was recorded as being against the amendment, as well asKarl Mundt of South Dakota.

Not voting on the amendment but announced as opposed wereKarl Mundt of South Dakota, andWilliam Spong of Virginia. Not voting but announced in favor wasWilliam Fulbright of Arkansas.

• "Military Appropriations Authorization Bill of 1970 - P.L. 91-441"(PDF).84 Stat. 905 ~ House Bill 17123. Legis★Works. October 7, 1970.
• "Military Appropriations Authorization Bill of 1971 - P.L. 92-156"(PDF).85 Stat. 423 ~ House Bill 8687. Legis★Works. November 17, 1971.
• Peters, Gerhard; Woolley, John T."Richard Nixon: "Statement on Signing the Military Appropriations Authorization Bill.," November 17, 1971".The American Presidency Project. University of California - Santa Barbara.^{[permanent dead link]}

• United States foreign relations legislation
• Congressional opposition to the Vietnam War
• United States proposed federal legislation
• United States–Vietnam relations
• Vietnam War
• 1970 in American law
• George McGovern

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