The Johnson years 1963-1967
1) What were Johnsons
policy options and why
did he continue US
involvement in the war?
2) Why was US
involvement increased
so markedly?
3) What was achieved by
the end of 1967?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q
5TNwVIhcQk
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Vietnam Television history episode 3
LBJ Years 1964-65
Episode 4 and 5 very useful too.
What legacy does Johnson pick up from
Kennedy?
• What pressures is he under within the US?
• What was happening in Vietnam that was
putting pressure on Johnson to act?
Johnson: 6 points you want to know
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Johnson had stood for and lost the
Democrat presidential nomination in 1960
(to JFK) and was initially reluctant to
accept the position of Vice President.
Two hours after Kennedys death in
November 1963 Lyndon B. Johnson was
sworn in aboard Air Force One.
He was 55 and 6ft 3inches tall.
‘His brilliant leadership of the Civil rights
Act of 1964 and the Voting Rights Act of
1965 has earned him a place in the history
of the civil rights alongside Abraham
Lincoln’. Edward Kennedy
In the November 1964 elections he was
elected President with an unprecedented
majority.
In the context of Vietnam Johnson is
usually considered to be the most important
President. It was Johnson who sent in
thousands of ground troops, for which he
became (and remains) exceptionally
unpopular.
Johnson being sworn in as President
November 22nd 1963
Overview of US policy 63-68
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Johnsons administration was a period of escalation that transformed a relatively quiet
counter insurgency into a fierce war
Johnson inherited a rapidly declining situation following Diems assassination
Afraid that large scale involvement might jeopardise his chances in the presidential
elections of November 1964 (threatening his political and social welfare programme) he
cautiously expanded US assistance to Vietnam from Jan 1964 – August 65
He increased the number of military advisors and the amount of economic assistance in
the hope that that an improved version of Kennedys Vietnam policy might prevent an
escalation of the insurgency in South Vietnam.
In August 1965 the Gulf of Tonkin resolution passed unanimously by the US Congress
provided Johnson with a solid foundation on which to construct future policy in Vietnam.
Public support for Johnson rose as he took firm and decisive action against the North
Vietnamese in response to their ‘provocative’ attacks on the USS Maddox in August 1964.
In early 1965 the US began an intensive bombing campaign Operation Rolling Thunder
designed to weaken the military potential of the PAVN before they could fight against the
South
In June 1965 the first combat troops were sent in . By 1967 there were 500,000. At the
same time the PAVN matched this escalation with help from the Chinese and the Soviets.
The combined air and land campaigns had led a considerable escalation of US military
involvement. Despite this increased military commitment there was little sign of an
American victory against the Vietcong and its PAVN supporters
TASK: What was Johnson’s
predicament?
• Read the handout on Johnson’s predicament
• Identify the factors (reasons) why Johnson
was going to be forced to intervene in South
Vietnam with more men and resources
• Identify reasons why it would be difficult to
conduct all-out war
What were Johnsons policy
options in 1964?
Was it inevitable
that he would continue
American involvement in Vietnam?
Factors pointing to him scaling down
American involvement
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Johnson as Vice President has opposed American
support of the coup against Diem fearing it dramatically
increased Americas obligation to subsequent Saigon
regimes.
He knew that a long war would probably lose the
support of Congress and the public.
He knew the weaknesses of the Saigon government.
In 1964 he said that Diem must reform and fight his own
war.
He knew that only China and Russia would benefit if
America got ’bogged down chasing guerrillas' over Asiatic
rice fields and jungles.
There were warning voices – such as Mike Mansfield who suggested a united and neutralised Vietnam. Others
talked of a negotiated settlement .
Factors pointing to Johnson continuing
American involvement
Johnsons background .
A cold War warrior. He was a typical American - anti communist , very
patriotic and very mistrustful of foreigners.
Patriotism. Johnson was intensely patriotic and proud of US prowess. As
a senator he had always voted to build up armed forces. Defeat by
what he called ‘that damn little pissant country ‘, ‘that raggedy ass
little forth-rate’ Vietnam was inconceivable
Ideology and national honour. Genuinely believed that his country fought
for world freedom as well as American security in two world wars, in
Korea and in Vietnam. He abhorred the idea of appeasing an enemy,
“If you let a bully into your front yard one day, the next day he’ll be
up on your porch, and the day after he’ll rape your wife in your bed”.
Like Kennedy and Eisenhower he believed that Vietnam was a domino.
If it fell other countries would follow suit. He felt it was a case of
national honour for the US to continue its commitment to its South
Vietnamese ally.
Misunderstanding foreigners. Found it difficult to understand foreign
affairs and foreigners. The trouble with foreigners is that they’re not
like the folks you were reared with’, he said only half jokingly.
Factors pointing to Johnson continuing
American involvement
Kennedy’s assassination
• Impact of Kennedys assassination - the Kennedy legacy.
Johnson resented the younger and less experienced man being
President. Amidst the sorrow at Kennedys death there was also
joy at attaining presidency. Guilt feelings contributed to his
determination to stand by all Kennedy had done and those who
had helped Kennedy to do it. ‘I swore to myself that I would
carry on. I would continue for my partner who had gone down
ahead of me. When I took over I often felt as if President
Kennedy were sitting there in a room looking at me’.
• Two days after Kennedy’s assassination he said he was ‘not going
to lose Vietnam’.
• Tragic circumstances of his accession to power caused him to
make a vital decision with little apparent debate and discussion.
Emotionally and constitutionally Johnson felt he had to continue
the policies of his properly elected predecessor. Kennedys death
ensured Johnson would not repudiate his Vietnam policy.
Factors pointing to Johnson continuing
American involvement
Kennedys advisors
• Knowing he had no real popular mandate. He hesitated to
abandon any of Kennedys officials. Retention of advisors helped
ensure continued commitment to Vietnam. Johnsons retention of
McNamara and Rusk meant no new ideas Searching and relevant
questions were simply not asked (Why does a democracy support
a military dictatorship? What US interest was at stake in
Vietnam?) Administration lacked historical knowledge and
understanding of Sino Vietnamese relations. Warning voices
largely ignored.
• The military were influential too - Air Force Chief Curtis Le May
wanted to ‘bomb Vietnam back into the Stone Age’
• Johnsons personal ambition reinforced what the generals were
saying. He did not want to be the first president to lose a war
especially one to ‘a bunch of Asiatic commies’. Any sort of
negotiated settlement would make him look weak.
Factors pointing to Johnson continuing
American involvement
Deteriorating situation in Vietnam
Series of coups after Diem removed until Thieu emerged as undisputed
leader in 1967. Viet Cong stepped up their pressure helped by North
Vietnams decision to supply them with men and hardware. From late 1964
actual regiments of North Vietnamese soldiers (PAVN) began operating in
south Vietnam particularly near the demilitarised zone and the Laos and
Cambodian borders. The South Vietnamese were generally apathetic and
unwilling to fight. They begged for more US aid.
Johnson wanted to avoid a direct confrontation with the USSR and China.
The Cold war still hot.
In conclusion Johnsons own beliefs and ambitions (a combative personality),
the ‘debt’ he felt he owed to Kennedy and the advice of his civilian and
military advisors guided him towards the continuation of the commitment to
Vietnam. The situation in Vietnam was deteriorating and he wanted to
avoid direct confrontation with the USSR and China . An all out assault
might bring a third World War. The question that came to be asked was
not whether American involvement should continue but how it should
continue
Why was Johnson going to escalate
US involvement in the war?
Not
important
reason
Very
important
reason
How did Johnson legalise escalation
in Vietnam?
• 1964 – gloomy news from South Vietnam
• Johnson under pressure from advisors to put more
pressure on the North
• MAAG want US to halt supply route on Ho hi Minh trail
• McNamara urging intervention with greater supplies/
advisors
• To launch an open attack would need support from
Congressional approval – Johnson conscious of
upcoming election
• Comes up with idea of Congressional declaration to
legitimise actions by President against specific
enemies
How was US involvement increased so
markedly?
By July 1964 200 Americans had died in Vietnam
and Johnson had added 25,000 men to the US
forces there. The debate continued to be how the
US was going to help Saigon to win not how to get
out. Most of Johnsons advisors urged escalation. If
it were necessary for success they argued America
should even strike at North Vietnam itself.
Johnson thought the time had come for escalation
of American involvement in Vietnam and he would
need congressional and public support. He believed
that he obtained the former with the Gulf of
Tonkin resolution and the latter in the presidential
election of November 1963.
The Gulf of Tonkin incident
August 1964 – What happened?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AaGVAipGp0&feature=related
https://www.youtube.com
/watch?v=Dx8-ffiYyzA
USS Maddox
USS Turner Joy
The Gulf of Tonkin resolution June 1964
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In 1964 the administration had drawn up a resolution. The aim was to raise Saigon's
morale; but the administration had hesitated to introduce it into Congress. The Gulf
of Tonkin incident now gave Johnson the opportunity. In believing the lives of
innocent American sailors had been jeopardised by the North Vietnamese ,Congress
willingly passed the Gulf of Tonkin resolution.
The resolution gave the president power to wage war in Vietnam. As Johnson said “it
was like grandmas night-shirt – it covered everything”. The Senate was two thirds
empty for the debate on the resolution, which it passed 88 to 2.
Should Congress be blamed for giving Johnson the power to escalate the war?
Johnson and McNamara were not totally honest with them. For years there had been
covert raids - American ships had been going on espionage missions in the North’s
coastal waters. Neither was Johnson honest about the incident “Hell”, he admitted
some years later “for all I know our navy was shooting whales out there”, nor the
implementation of the resolution.
Significance of the resolution
Johnson appeared to have Congress behind him. Now the war could really be taken to
the North. American aircraft bombed North Vietnam for the first time. This
escalation made Johnson look tough . His presidential approval rating rose from 4272% helping him to win the presidential election. The resolution and the election
suggested the nation was behind its president in its Vietnam policy.
To conclude - How was Johnson able to escalate?
1. Had the resolution ready 2. North Vietnamese attack on US boats 3. Congress
passes resolution 4. Landslide victory for Johnson 5. Therefore he has a popular
mandate and able to escalate
Why did Johnson escalate involvement after the Gulf
of Tonkin Resolution?
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Despite Johnsons insistence in the 64 election race that he was a moderate who
was not going ‘to send American boys 9 or 1000 miles from home to do what
Asian boys ought to be doing for themselves’
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdE6VVcH_0g&feature=related circumstances drove the US
into greater action.
There was no planned escalation but a series of responses to the deteriorating
situation.
Why does involvement escalate to bombing and
ground troops by March 1965?
http://cts.networkrail.co.uk/
Why? Incompetence of
Saigon government
Why? Increasing
strength of DRV
(North Vietnam)
Why? Advisors
Why and How did Johnson
escalate involvement after the
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution?
Why Ground Troops?
Why? Vietcong
attack on Pleiku –
Operation Rolling
Thunder
How successful was increased
involvement up to 1967?
La Drang:
When?
What was ‘Search and Destroy’?
How successful was La Drang for the US?
Identify evidence of SUCCESS and FAILURE for
Johnson’s increased escalation by end of 1967
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iLyBazkpUFQ
Homework: Timeline Task!
• Page 73
• Complete thoroughly to consolidate your
understanding
• Watch the 2003 film ‘The Fog of War’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KkQk50q
tTwo