“You send the best of this country off to be shot and maimed. They rebel in the streets. They will take pot, and they will get high. They don't want to go to school, 'cause they're going to be snatched off from their mothers to be shot in Vietnam." - Eartha Kitt
In Vietnam, 1968 marked the Tet Offensive—a massive, coordinated assault by North Vietnamese and Viet Cong forces that shocked the world and exposed the brutal reality of the war.
It shattered any lingering illusion of US dominance and turned public opinion sharply against the conflict.
Half a world away, the American people were watching, questioning, and protesting. The anti-war movement gained momentum, and the country was further shaken by a series of tragic assassinations.
As much as this whole series is about the Vietnam War, it's important to explore all facets of the year that weren't just about the war. It was about civil rights, political unrest, and a new generation demanding change.
From college campuses to the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, where police and protesters clashed, the US was in a state of upheaval.
Meanwhile, the war dragged on, and the draft sent thousands more young Americans to fight in a conflict that many no longer believed in.
Join The Hungry Historian as he dishes up a serving on one of the most important years in both American history and the history of the 20th century—1968.
A year that changed the course of the Vietnam War, and a year that saw American society torn apart and transformed in ways that still resonate today.
As a featured recipe, Chef Money is stopping by to bring you a dish inspired by an item that is synonymous with the war in Southeast Asia - Agent Orange Chicken.
Cheers!
Agent Orange Chicken
Ingredients:
•4 Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
•3 Eggs
•⅓ cup Cornstarch
•⅓ cup Flour
•Salt, to taste
•Oil, for frying
•1 cup Orange Juice
•½ cup Sugar
•2 Tablespoons Rice Vinegar or White Vinegar
•2 Tablespoons Soy Sauce use tamari for a gluten-free dish
•¼ teaspoon Ginger
•2 garlic cloves
•½ teaspoon Red Chili Flakes
•Orange Zest from 1 orange
•1 Tablespoon Cornstarch
*featured recipe directions and chef tips available within the show