LBJ and The Vietnam WarLBJ and The Vietnam War

ProloguePrologue JFK accepted Eisenhower’s

“Domino Theory:” if South Vietnam fell, the rest of Southeast Asia would become Communist

JFK dramatically increased military aid to South Vietnam and increased the number of military advisors to 16,000 (training and support)

“Strategic hamlet” program: forced relocation of South Vietnamese to protect them from Communist influence

Prologue, cont.Prologue, cont.

The government of South Vietnam under Ngo Dinh Diem was increasingly unpopular; Buddhist monks set themselves on fire in protest

JFK began to issue orders to pull out military advisors

November 2, 1963: Diem was overthrown and assassinated by South Vietnamese generals

LBJ’s dilemma: intervene decisively or LBJ’s dilemma: intervene decisively or withdraw?withdraw?

LBJ became President right when South Vietnam fell into chaos: 7 different governments in 1964

An all-out American military effort could provoke China and the Soviet Union and lead to WWIII.

However, LBJ did not want to appear weak on Communism; a pull-out would leave him vulnerable to attacks from conservatives in the 1964 election.

“I’m not going to lose Vietnam. I am not going to be the President who saw Southeast Asia go the way China went.”

LBJ chooses to widen our limited war, hoping to force Ho Chi Minh to the bargaining table; the North Vietnamese and NLF believed that they would gain more by outlasting the U.S.

LBJ’s dilemma, cont.LBJ’s dilemma, cont. LBJ sought to demonstrate

American strength and to block his opponent, Barry Goldwater, from capitalizing on the Vietnam situation

In February, he ordered the Pentagon to begin preparing for air strikes, in May, he drafted a congressional resolution authorizing an escalation of military action, and in June appointed Maxwell Taylor, a hawk, as ambassador to South Vietnam.

 

Gulf of TonkinGulf of Tonkin

Early 1965Early 1965

February 1965:February 1965:

Troops arrive in Troops arrive in ‘‘6565

9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, arrive in 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade, arrive in Vietnam to defend the U.S. airfield at Danang.Vietnam to defend the U.S. airfield at Danang.

LBJLBJ’’s deception begins:s deception begins:

American SoldiersAmerican Soldiers

Average Age: 19Average Age: 19

The impact on South VietnamThe impact on South Vietnam

U.S. U.S. ““search and destroysearch and destroy”” missions, attacking missions, attacking villages in search of villages in search of Vietcong: 4 million Vietcong: 4 million refugees created!refugees created!

Operation Ranch Hand:Operation Ranch Hand:

The war on TVThe war on TV

The Tet OffensiveThe Tet Offensive

January 30, 1968:January 30, 1968:

Images of TetImages of Tet

The end of LBJThe end of LBJ

LBJLBJ’’s popularity plummets after Tet; barely wins s popularity plummets after Tet; barely wins the first Democratic primary in New Hampshire; the first Democratic primary in New Hampshire; anti-war candidate Eugene McCarthy finishes a anti-war candidate Eugene McCarthy finishes a close secondclose second

LBJ Speech, Mar. 31, 1968LBJ Speech, Mar. 31, 1968