Johnson FP Flashcards
Vietnam troops
March 1965 3,500
Dec 1965 200,000
Dec 1966 385,000
Dec 1967 535,000
deaths
by 1967 20,000 americans dead
election claims
says he didn’t want to send anymore troops in Vietnam
First bombing approval
summer 1964 42% to 72%
Gulf of Tonkin
2nd August 1964
US destroyer Maddox exchanged shots with North Vietnamese torpedo boats in Gulf of Tonkin.
2 days later, Maddox and another destroyer reported coming under fire again
By end of day, Johnson ordered retaliatory air strikes, by late 1965 180,000 American troops on ground
legitimacy of Gulf of Tonkin
single concluded second attack never occurred
Johnson told it was probable not definite
Gulf of Tonkin resolution
passed by Congress
gave Johnson the power to ‘take all necessary steps’
Napalm
used from 1965-72, jelly-like substance that can burn for up to 10 mins. Unbearably painful effects that almost always cause death.
Use of Napalm
first used as flamethrowers for US troops to burn down sections of forest, hoping to eliminate any guerrilla fighters.
Later in war, B-52 bombers dropped napalm bombs, one could destroy up to 2,500 square yards
Agent Orange
Toxic chemical herbicide that’s 50x more concentrated than normal
Used 1965-70
20 mil gallons of herbicides and defoliants sprayed over forest and fields
Operation ranch hand
used agent orange
intended to deprive farmers and guerrilla fighters of clean water and food in hopes they’d relocate to US areas
effect of agent orange and other chemicals
devastating effect on agriculture to this day. Killed 4.8 million people and caused 400,000 children to be born with birth defects
media
images made it seem like America was losing. Saw Communist forces in US embassy. Newspaper readers saw images of a captive man being shot. Turned public against war by showing the reality
Walter Cronkite
nationally trusted journalist
Feb 1968 flew home from Vietnam and made a broadcast saying ‘Vietnam is to end in a stalemate’
McNamara
resigned autumn 1967
McNamara successor
Clark Clifford
doubted domino theory and Tet confirmed the US had to get out
Reasons for continued involvement
Cold war- containment + domino
Failings of Saigon- General Minh even less capable than Diem
Kennedy legacy- assassination of Diem morally locked US in, kept Secretary of State + Defense
The Working Group
The Working Group
1964 Johnson ordered reps of the state dept, defense dept, CIA, JCS study Vietnam
In Nov, said an independent anti-communist SV was vital to America, reiterated domino theory.
American ‘national prestige, credibility and honour’ were at stake. Emphasised escalation necessary, suggested heavy bombing
Operation Rolling to Thunder aims
demonstrate near total American air supremacy, demoralise NV, stop their capacity to govern
Operation rolling thunder dates
approved 24th Feb 1965
First attack 2nd March 1965
lasted under Oct 1968
Only meant to last 8 weeks
Change in strategy rolling thunder
end of 1965, raids used against supply lines
Hanoi and Haiphong remained targets
Rolling Thunder stats
643,000 tonnes of bombs dropped
nearly 900 US aircraft lost
damage to NV $300 mil
cost from US $900 mil
First ground troops in Vietnam
Vietcong forces attacked US air bases. General Westmoreland said he couldn’t defend them with the 23,000 men he had.
Johnson sent 3,500 US marines- first official troops sent
Why did Operation end?
Johnson offered its termination as persuasion for negotiation
Peace talks began 2 months after operation stopped in Jan 1969
