1. How did Johnson respond to the Vietnam War Protests? The Vietnam War would be the event that dominated Lyndon Johnson's presidency and dictated his public view at the time and his place in American history. The Johnson administration's actions in Vietnam greatly soured Johnson's public image and would take much pride out of Johnson. As public support of the war declined rapidly, Johnson was puzzled at how he should respond to the growing opposition of his foreign policies. While Johnson coveted support of the people, he wished to please the war hawks in his administration in government, and these pressures would outweigh the overwhelming wish of the American people. As opposition to Johnson rose, Johnson became increasingly distressed and overwhelmed, and this opposition would be so great to Johnson that he would abandon the presidency and politics to his ranch in Texas, free of the constant coverage of those opposing him. The most adamant protestors of Vietnam were undoubtedly from college campuses, where teachers would often practice teach-ins on campuses such as the University of Michigan, in which open discussion of the war would take place. Colleges across the United States fostered fervent opposition to Johnson's war, developing phrases such as "Hey! Hey! LBJ, how many kids did you kill today" (Graff, Henry), to show their moral opposition to the war and fighting in Vietnam. This fostering of hatred toward the war would cause Johnson to despise the liberal institutions that were a breeding more ground for 'doves' going against the war to espouse their ideas. Many anti-war protesters corresponded to the youth movement in the U.S., and Johnson categorized these protesters as unruly kids that were not informed eno... ... middle of paper ... ...yndon Johnson’s War: America’s Cold War Crusade in Vietnam 1945-1968 / Where the Domino Fell: America and Vietnam, 1945 to 1995. Second Edition.” The Journal of American History 84.4 (1998): 1464-7. ProQuest. Web. 11 Sep. 2013. “Lyndon Baines Johnson, 37th Vice President (1961-1963).” United States Senate. www.senate.gov, n.d. Web. 16 Mar. 2014. . Schlesinger, Arthur, Jr. “The New Deal: A Middle Way.” The 1900s. Ed. Bonnie Szumski. San Diego: Greenhaven Press, Inc., 2001. 137-42. Print. Simkin, John. “Vietnam Protest Movement.” Schoolnet. Spartacus Education, n.d. Web. 2 Mar. 2014. . Vanden Heuvel, William. “Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Lyndon Baines Johnson: Architects of a Nation.” LBJ Presidential Library 14 Mar. 2000: 1-7. Print.
The Vietnam War, which lasted for two decades (1955-1975), was probably the most problematic of all American wars. US involvement in Vietnam occurred within the larger context of the Cold War between the US and the USSR. It was, and remains, morally ambiguous and controversial. The Vietnam War was slated as both a war against Communism and a war aimed at suppressing dangerous nationalist self-determination. Christian G. Appy's book, Working-Class War: American Combat Soldiers and Vietnam, is a graphic and perceptive portrayal of soldiers' experiences and the lasting effects the Vietnam War has had on the American culture and people. Working-Class War: American Combat Soldiers and Vietnam, is an analytical work that has three major purposes: 1. to show that those who fought in Vietnam were predominantly from the working class 2. to convey the experiences of the soldiers who served in Vietnam and 3. to offer his own scathing commentary of American actions in Vietnam.
United States Senate. “Lyndon Baines Johnson.” U.S. & Senate: Art and History. https://www.senate.gov/artandhistory/history/common/generic/Lyndon_Johnson.htm (accessed May 2, 2014).
Jerold Auerbach, New Deal, Old Deal, or Raw Deal; Some thoughts on left Historiography, The Journal of Southern History, Vol 35, no.1, (feb 1969) p.22
Before I read this book, I knew almost nothing about LBJ. I had no opinion of him, good or bad. I can't even really remember hearing much about him. So I was given the rare opportunity to formulate an opinion without any personal bias, and despite popular opinion, I really like Lyndon Johnson. Despite his shady political methods (which is actually nothing unusual in politics), he was a man who knew how to get things done. I think people criticize Johnson too quickly. Although the distrust Johnson received from Americans may have been well deserved (when he with-held the truth about the escalating situation in Vietnam), how can one man be held responsible for Vietnam. Johnson didn't start the war, he simply inherited it from Kennedy. Sure, he could have withdrew from Vietnam, but when he started sending troops, he did so at the discretion of his advisors and with the support of the American people. But when Vietnam turned into the horrible "unnecessary" disaster it is remembered as, everyone backed off and Johnson was left to blame. I think the book did an excellent job showing the awesome pressure a president (who people often forget, is just another human being), is put under during a war.
As part of his campaign, Linden B. Johnson directed his efforts toward the improvement of life of those in poverty, focusing little attention to the Vietnam War. Yet once elected, he brought upon “the escalation of the Vietnam war to an intensity that few Americans expected when they cast their ballots for him” (Walsh). Johnson’s increased interest and support for the war created a major issue of misrepresentation, his election came from his ideas aimed at the “Great Society,” yet he authorized the increase of the original “20,000 U.S. troops to more than a half million” to serve in Vietnam (Walsh). The policies that the former president was elected under was what the general public hoped would come from his stay in office, yet his legacy would go on to be almost entirely regarding his involvement in the war. Not only did he bring the United States deeper into the war, he also failed “to honestly discuss how badly the war was going and to reveal the true costs of the conflict” (Walsh). This duplicity on the part of the former president, forged for a severe difference in preference and policy between him and the majority of United States public that had elected him into office for his first official presidential term in
Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th president of the United States, is not one of the most well-known presidents to have ever served in office though he did do some good things during his presidency. The vice president’s journey to the presidency began after the assassination of the beloved president, John F. Kennedy. Before serving as president, he was the youngest Senator to ever serve as a majority leader and he sat in the House of Representatives. Although Johnson served two terms as president, he only ran in one election because of the death of Kennedy. However, the one election he ran in, he won in by a landslide (Ridings & Melver 231). Lyndon B Johnson, the Democratic president, who served from 1963-1969, might have been infamous for the decisions he made during the Vietnam War, but his Great Society and Civil Rights Act helped shape the nation in a good way.
During the great depression, then President, Herbert Hoover disappointed Americans. America was therefore ready for a change. In 1932, Franklin Delano Roosevelt was elected as President. He pledged a “New Deal” for the country. According to Exploring American Histories, this New Deal would eventually “provide relief, put millions of people to work, raise price for farmers, extend conservation projects, revitalize America’s financial system and restore capitalism.”
President John F. Kennedy, Letter to Bobbie Lou Pendergrass, March 6, 1963" Reading the American Past, Volume II: From 1865: Selected Historical Documents. 4 ed. Stuttgart, Germany: Bedford/St. Martin's, 2009. 273-275. Print.
It is understandable that some Americans strongly opposed the United States getting involved in the Vietnam War. It had not been a long time since the end of World War II and simply put, most Americans were tired of fighting. Mark Atwood Lawrence is one of the people who opposed our involvement in the Vietnam War. In his essay, “Vietnam: A Mistake of Western Alliance”, Lawrence argues that the Vietnam War was unnecessary and that it went against our democratic policies, but that there were a lot of things that influenced our involvement.
Lyndon B. Johnson's, a man who was raised from humble beginnings was able to rise up in politics from a Representative, to a Senator, to Vice President, and finally becoming our nation’s 36th President. Starting off his presidency with tragedy due to John F. Kennedy’s assassination, he took the position of extending the legacy of JFK’s visions and making them his own during his time in office. Although Lyndon B. Johnson is not viewed as one of our greatest presidents due to his foreign policies and involvement in the Vietnam War, his achievements in domestic policies in my opinion has had the greatest developmental impact on politics in the US since 1945.
The Vietnam War brought many tears and casualties to both the United States and Vietnam. Millions of soldiers lost their lives in the time consuming battle. On February 8, 1967 President Lyndon B. Johnson wrote a letter to Ho Chi Minh, Dictator of Vietnam at the time. President Johnson’s letter expresses his hopes of ending this conflict that has gone on so long in Vietnam. President Ho Chi Minh replied back on February 15, 1967 stating that it had been the United States that prolonged the wicked war. President Ho Chi Minh’s reply to President Johnson was the more persuasive of the two letters, because he appealed more to pathos, used stronger and bolder diction, and asked an important rhetorical question.
The 1932 presidential election came in the midst of the greatest economic depression experienced by the American people. Never before in the history of the United States has pessimism been so universal. The descent from the height of prosperity of the late 1920s had been rapid, bringing fear and uncertainty. By March 1932 approximately 12 million men and women were unemployed. By March 1933 unemployment had reached 13.5 million. In the hard-hit cities, long lines of hungry people waited before charity soup kitchens for something to eat, and thousands unable to pay rent, huddled in empty lots. Homeless people made shelters out of old packing cartons. More than one million Americans wandered through the country aimlessly looking for work.
Johnson faced a number of defining moments during the tumultuous 1960s: he advanced the Kennedy legacy, presided over the Great Society, but started the Vietnam War. Johnson’s legacy was very controversial. He achieved a vast expansion in domestic policies through his efforts in constructing the Great Society, and is essentially considered as one of the most successful domestic policy presidents in U.S. history. Nevertheless, his tragic handling in foreign affairs ruined his reputation. The Vietnam War not only dragged his approval rating from “78 percent in December 1963 down to 49 percent in Jan 1969,” but also switched his legacy from a triumph to a tragedy. Nowadays, he is, in fact, most remembered for his failure in the Vietnam War. Admittedly, Johnson’s mistakes in the Vietnam War harmed American deeply. Many claim that his administration has been the worst in the modern-age presidency. Nevertheless, while acknowledging his tremendous accomplishments in domestic affairs, Johnson’s legacy still deserves more respect.
After the unprecedented assassination of President John F. Kennedy, our nation was overcome with shock and grief. Vice President Lyndon Baines Johnson was sworn in as the next president within hours after this tragic event. Because of his leadership, he was the building block to bring the nation back together and get through the death of our beloved deceased President. Lyndon Johnson, the 36th president, also known as “LBJ”, became one of the most outspoken and controversial leaders of America.
Due to the volatile conditions of the Vietnam War, the protestors believed that they should not be involved in a war that they cared so little about. Public opinion heavily swayed during the war as only one senator dissented from the overwhelming opinion to fight the war (Amter 45). However, as President Johnson escalated the war and the Draft increased by 25% in 1968, those youths being conscripted were infuriated (Dougan 118). Not only this, the North Vietnamese began a ruthless offensive on American soldiers by merciless attacking our bases. This resulted in US victories, but also US casualties (Dougan 116). Also, the marines stationed at the bases began to use offensive attacks to deter Viet Cong assault against the wishes of General Taylor (Karnov 443). With these new less defensive strategy, Nixon announced plans to start operations in Cambodia, and to increase the bombings overall in Southeast Asia (Dougan 180). Some missions even began t...