It sounds absurd because Nixon was paranoid but he wasn't completely stupid. There would be no benefit to nuking North Vietnam. You'd enrage already pissed off citizenry, turn the world against you, maybe bring the Soviet Union into the war, and all for what, nuking Hanoi when the real problem was guerrilla warfare? It makes no sense.
we will be compelled – with great reluctance – to take measures of the greatest consequences
It seems like the author is interpreting this as "nuclear weapons", but it could very easily be political posturing, or an increase in conventional conflict. Disappointing if
it's exaggerated to make the author look better, and to see that statement made and accepted so uncritically.
Just googling, can't find any good sources suggesting nukes were seriously considered (as you said). Is there something more concrete than a favorable interpretation of that quote?
edit: this seems to be Duck Hook
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duck_Hook
we will be compelled – with great reluctance – to take measures of the greatest consequences
It seems like the author is interpreting this as "nuclear weapons", but it could very easily be political posturing, or an increase in conventional conflict. Disappointing if it's exaggerated to make the author look better, and to see that statement made and accepted so uncritically.
Just googling, can't find any good sources suggesting nukes were seriously considered (as you said). Is there something more concrete than a favorable interpretation of that quote?
edit: this seems to be Duck Hook
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duck_Hook