The Nixon Administration
Mike Mansfield maintained his vigorous opposition to the war during the Nixon years. He worked closely with President Nixon and went on more fact-finding tours to Vietnam and Laos. He applauded Nixon's troop withdrawals and sponsored bills to prohibit sending troops to Laos and Thailand.
During this time, Mansfield's Senate colleagues commended him for his respectful treatment of Nixon and for his tireless efforts to maintain bi-partisanship in the Senate.
Senator Mike Mansfield and the 37th President of the United States Richard Nixon, circa 1970. Mss 065, Photo Number: 97.0009
In an interview, California Senator Alan Cranston noted: "Mike Mansfield was a very effective leader in the effort to get us out of Vietnam. I ran for the Senate in 1968 on a platform that had a key component of getting out of Vietnam, so I was glad to join the troops that were working for that under Mike's leadership when I arrived in the Senate. And after a while, we did help force the people in the executive branch, that wanted to stay there, out by cutting off the money for the war." (Alan Cranston, 1989, OH 458-005)