This week we will use the first half of Logevall’s book to examine the circumstances and decisions facing Presidents Kennedy and Johnson between August 1963 and July 1964. We will look at how the international and domestic context affected how decisions were made regarding Vietnam.
Read Logevall according to the syllabus and answer one of the questions below.
2. How did Johnson’s experiences as a politician affect his views on Vietnam? Did his views hinder or help him?
3. How did anti-war activists at home (not just students but those inside government as well) and abroad (this includes foreign governments who were allies yet against American intervention in Vietnam) affect decision making for Johnson? Did it affect his decision making?
Answer preview
Alternatively, the views of president Johnson differed from JFK’s opinions because he was more involved in the war. First of all, President Johnson focused much more on the domestic support of the American congress and the public in this involvement. As a result, it influenced the escalation of US military troops and the war. This perception deceived the president, which heightened the war, and it was too late for him to back away from his failures. LBJ had a tough talk and view against the communist and thought it was the only way to protect the US. Again, LBJ was against pessimist advisory, such as David Nes, on the Vietnam War despite its escalation. Finally, despite the warning from the analysis carried down by the CIA and the Pentagon of the war neutralization, LBJ leaned on the military advisory of not giving up.
