Lyndon B. Johnson - Foreign policy Flashcards
Kennedy’s assassination - Reasons for Johnsons continued involvement in Vietnam
Guilt feelings contributed to Johnson’s determination to stand by all Kennedy had done; “I swore to myself that I would carry on” and to not “lose Vietnam”.”as if President Kennedy were in the room looking at me”.
His tragic claim to power made him feel as if he had to carry on the Kennedy legacy.
Although LBJ opposed American support for a coup against Diem, he had no real popular mandate so was hesitant to get rid of JFK’s policies.
Patriotism - Reasons for Johnsons continued involvement in Vietnam
Johnson was very patriotic and proud of US military prowess - would aways vote to build up armed forces as a senator.
Wanted american security in the Korean and Vietnam wars. Thus wanted to fight communist ‘aggressors’ to prevent a ‘Domino’.
Felt that continuing the commitment to a south Vietnamese ally Cao Ky was an act of national honour.
Misunderstanding foreigners - Reasons for Johnsons continued involvement in Vietnam
LBJ found it difficult to understand foreign affairs and foreigners. ‘they’re not like the folks you were reared with”
On a Vice presidential trip to Thailand, he was furious when an american advised him against shaking hands with the Thai’s, who disliked physical contact.
LBJ was ignorant to culture and Geurilla tactics.
He compared Ho Chi Minh to Hitler, so had to be dealt with .
The Gulf of Tonkin Crisis - escalating the war
Brief fighting between US destroyer Maddox and North Vietnamese torpedo boats took place. LBJ sent a second destroyer to support Maddox (August 1964).
LBJ announced enemies had fired on 2 destroyers, reacting by 5 hours of US air attacks on naval bases.
Convinced congress to authorise him as commander-in-chief to use ‘all necessary measures’ to prevent attacks on US forces-won 416 to 0 votes in the House.
- LBJ exaggerated as no men wounded or killed.
1964 Election - escalating the war
Goldwater claimed he was ready to use all of America’s strength (nuclear weapons) to win Vietnam.
- seen as a trigger-happy hawk.
The left accused LBJ of being a war monger, and the right accused him of being too soft on Vietnam.
LBJ told the left he didn’t intend to have a major war and send the ‘American Boys Away’. He told the right ‘America keeps her word’.
He told JC’s to let him get elected and then they can have their war in Christmas 1963
Operation Rolling Thunder
The first escalating step was ORT, the US bombing of North Vietnam from March to November 1965 .
Johnson wanted to secure American positions in Vietnam after Vietcong attacked an American camp near Pleiku - 67% approval rate from Americans.
Described by the New York Times as an “undeclared & unexplained war”. But, LBJ didn’t want to declare war as it would cut funding to the Great Society.
Ground troops in Danang
The second escalating step was sending in ground troops to defend US bombers in Danang, Spring 1965.
In a speech Johnson’s reasoning for the escalation was….
- North Vietnam was a puppet of expansionist communist powers.
- US needed to fight to live securely in a free world.
70% of the nation were behind Johnson, and 80% favoured sending troops to South Vietnam.
Tet offensive
January 1968, North Vietnam launched an offensive. Tens of thousands attacked southern cities and American military bases during the Tet festival.
Took over the American embassy, and the American Ambassador fled in pyjamas.
4000 US, 5000 SV military, and 60,000 Vietcong killed.
Scenes in Saigon made US headlines, challenging the government’s position and turning the public against the war.
Walter Cronkite said “I thought we were winning the war!”LBJ said “if I’ve lost Cronkite, I’ve lost America”.
The role of the media in the Vietnam War
The Vietnam war was the first ‘Television War’. In the first years, the media portrayed US victory in sight.
But the Tet offensive changed perceptions on the war.
Although regaining control, the media made it seem like they’d lost: TV viewers saw communist forces in the American Embassy, and a newspaper photo of a Saigon General shooting a captive in the head lost faith in the US being the ‘good guys’.
Anti-war TV reporter repeated a soldiers words when saving a south Vietnamese village. “We had to destroy a town to save it!”.
The Vietnam War on US foreign relations
Of 40 nations allied to the US, only Australia, NZ, Thailand and South Korea sent troops to Vietnam.
- Thailand and South Korea were bribed to do so.
Japan criticised the escalation, providing supplies to both sides. Canadian PM Pearson made a speech in Philadelphia, criticising the escalation.
President Charles De Gaulles
A 1963 State Department memorandum considered Gaulle not a major problem. But as escalation in Vietnam increased, he greatly damaged the USA.
- Told representatives of nations the US couldn’t be trusted if Soviets invaded Europe due to Vietnam
- Criticised the bombing of ‘very small people by a. very large one’ - unjust war.
-Withdrew France from NATO in 1966 removing NATO Headquarters and 26000 American troops.
