The Johnson years 1963-1967

1. 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?

2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5TNwVIhcQk • 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?

3. Johnson: 6 points you want to know • 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.

4. Johnson being sworn in as President November 22nd 1963

5. Overview of US policy 63-68 • 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

6. 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

7. What were Johnsons policy options in 1964?Was it inevitable that he would continue American involvement in Vietnam?

8. Factors pointing to him scaling down American involvement • 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 .

9. 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.

10. 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.

11. 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.

12. 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

13. Why was Johnson going to escalate US involvement in the war? Not important reason Very important reason

14. 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

15. 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.

16. The Gulf of Tonkin incident August 1964 – What happened? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx8-ffiYyzA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AaGVAipGp0&feature=related USS Maddox USS Turner Joy

17. The Gulf of Tonkin resolution June 1964 • 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 42-72% 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

18. Why did Johnson escalate involvement after the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution? • 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=relatedcircumstances 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/

19. Why and How did Johnson escalate involvement after the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution? Why? Incompetence of Saigon government Why? Advisors Why? Vietcong attack on Pleiku – Operation Rolling Thunder Why? Increasing strength of DRV (North Vietnam) Why Ground Troops?

20. 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

21. 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=KkQk50qtTwo