Final answer:
Nixon's personal protest against the anti war movement involved intensifying the Vietnam conflict with increased bombings, including secret campaigns in Cambodia, and ending the draft, which was a concessive strategy meant to mitigate the protests. He also utilized a 'madman strategy' to change the narrative and project resolve.
Step-by-step explanation:
In response to the protests against Vietnam, President Richard Nixon adopted several strategies that can be seen as forms of protest against the anti war movement itself.
Nixon escalated the conflict through increased bombing campaigns, such as the secret bombing in Cambodia, in hopes of breaking the will of North Vietnamese and convincing them to accept US demands regarding American withdrawal.
This escalation of the war effort was in stark contrast to the passionate anti war sentiment sweeping across the United States. Furthermore, Nixon took steps domestically to address the unrest caused by the war.
He ended the draft, which had been a major point of contention for the protest movement, though he first denied the decision was related to the protests. It was only later revealed in his memoirs that this was indeed a strategy to alleviate some of the pressure caused by the widespread antiwar sentiment.
Lastly, Nixon employed a 'madman strategy' - intensifying the bombing and mining ports, projecting an image that he was willing to do anything to end the conflict.
This also served to change the conversation within the United States, shifting focus from the protests to his extreme efforts to end the war. However, these actions often had the unintended consequence of galvanizing the antiwar movement further rather than diminishing it.