Final answer:
President Nixon's approach to the Vietnam War saw the implementation of Vietnamization, aimed at the gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops and an increased role for South Vietnamese forces. Alongside this, he intensified bombing campaigns and sought to end the war on terms that appeared favorable to the U.S., leading to a complex strategy in an effort to 'exit with honor'.
Step-by-step explanation:
Differences in Vietnam War Approach Between Nixon and Johnson Administrations:
The Nixon administration differed from the Johnson administration in its approach to the Vietnam War by implementing a policy of Vietnamization, which entailed a gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops and shifting the combat burden to South Vietnamese forces. While President Johnson had initiated peace talks and set the stage for troop withdrawal, Nixon derailed these talks and sought a victory in the war through increased bombings and secret attacks in neighboring countries, which he hoped would force the North Vietnamese to negotiate from a position of weakness. Nixon's policy of Vietnamization also reflected a strategic turn to train and equip the South Vietnamese army while extracting US ground forces.
Although Nixon increased bombings, he also began negotiations for peace and ended the draft, creating a complex and sometimes contradictory policy. Under Nixon's directives, significant bombing campaigns in Laos and Cambodia were conducted, more so than in Johnson's time. The contentious and eventual peace talks led to the Paris Peace Accords, which recognized the territories held by North Vietnam and effectively ended US involvement, though the conditions didn't prevent the North's eventual victory over South Vietnam.