 On 9 June , President Johnson replaced Westmoreland as commander of MACV with General Creighton W. Abrams . Although the decision had been made in December 1967 and Westmoreland was made Army Chief of Staff , many saw his relief as punishment for the entire Tet debacle . Abrams ' new strategy was quickly demonstrated by the closure of the " strategic " Khe Sanh base and the ending of multi @-@ division " search and destroy " operations . Also gone were discussions of victory over North Vietnam . Abrams ' new " One War " policy centered the American effort on the takeover of the fighting by the South Vietnamese ( through Vietnamization ) , the pacification of the countryside , and the destruction of communist logistics . The new administration of President Richard M. Nixon would oversee the withdrawal of U.S. forces and the continuation of negotiations . 
