Johnson’s War Essay, Research Paper

JOHNSON S WAR

In the 1950 s, the People s Republic of China was becoming a growing concern for the United States. China s expansion of power and influence was potentially leading to the spread of communism in the world, especially in Asia. The United States wanted to keep their position in Asia, so they decided to take a lead role in the containment of China. The United States new containment policy focused on South Vietnam. It was here that the revolutionary Vietcong were trying to overthrow the South Vietnamese government, which America supported. The Vietcong, supported by Communist North Vietnam, had ties to China. After the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, Lyndon B. Johnson inherited the conflict in Vietnam. Johnson came to office convinced that the United States had to respect its commitment to South Vietnam and resist communist control. The President felt that the United States could only encourage and support the development of the political and military programs in South Vietnam. He was convinced that success depended predominantly on the South Vietnamese. As the war dragged on the South Vietnamese became weaker, and the war became increasingly controlled by the United States. Johnson s dilemma was whether he should Americanize the war or not; his resolution was to become involved in the conflict; and his decision crippled his plans to improve the nation.

The Johnson Administration s approach to Foreign Policy was that we would not tolerate aggression, and we would honor are commitment to South Vietnam. The United States learned in World War II, that aggression could not be tolerated because it can lead to such atrocities as World War or a Holocaust. In addition, the United States had a policy that we would limit the spread of communism, because in the eyes of America, democracy should prevail. To prevent communist control of South Vietnam, which already had American presence, the United States was committed to support the South Vietnamese defense. This approach to Foreign Policy by the Johnson Administration was the main reason why Johnson was faced with the decision to enter the war.

President Johnson had three choices of action concerning the Vietnam conflict. One course of action was to leave South Vietnam and let them fight their own war. This was not an option for the United States because it would permit aggression, allow the spread of Communism, and it would go against the United States commitment to the South Vietnamese. A second possible course of action was to take a middle position and act as an advisor to South Vietnam. The middle position had already been taken before Johnson came to office, as there were already 16,000 military personnel acting as advisors to South Vietnam. The middle position was Johnson s act of Stalemate . He did not want to lose South Vietnam, but on the other hand, he did not want the headline of war, which would ruin his election. He wanted to give just enough help to support the South Vietnamese, but well knowing, that he was not improving the situation. Johnson had to decide whether to continue this middle position or pursue the third course of action, which was to take over the war with American troops.

The third course of action was taken by Johnson in early February 1965, when Operation Rolling Thunder, a series of massive bombing raids on North Vietnam, was put into effect. By the end of that year, nearly 180,000 military personnel were in South Vietnam, and in 1968, it peaked at 550,000 military personnel. Johnson was trying to use a strategy of attrition, which would cut off all support from North Vietnam to the guerrilla fighters in South Vietnam. Operation Rolling Thunder only slowed the support of North Vietnam and did not stop the fighting. Johnson was in Quagmire, or quicksand regarding the situation. We were entangled in the war because the South Vietnamese were only becoming weaker and were becoming less able to fight on their own. As sight of victory started to fade and public opinion started to fall, Johnson had to pull out of the war and let the South Vietnamese fight for two more years until their surrender in 1975. The lose of the Vietnam war resulted in Lyndon B. Johnson s decline in popularity and political status.

President Johnson suffered enormous consequences from the Vietnam War. He was severely criticized by many countries including Russia and China for his handling of the war. Even prominent Americans, such as J. William Fulbright, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee disapproved of the handling of the Vietnamese conflict. Public demonstrations against the war started in protest of President Johnson s actions. The public turned it s back on Johnson; only 44% of the people showed approval of his term in office. Johnson did not ignore his critics, but he questioned their patriotism. He denounced the protester s methods, and suggested that they harmed the nation and its army by encouraging the enemy to persist in hope of obtaining a more satisfactory settlement.

To Johnson, the Vietnam War was not a civil war but a war of aggression. It was a conflict that at the time needed the attention of the United States. The United States insisted that they needed to fight to limit communist expansion. Johnson also wanted to show that aggression was by no means an acceptable way of political change. The Vietnam War crippled the plans of President Johnson, a man who quite possibly could have been one of the finest presidents of our nation.

Outline

+ Introduction

o People s Republic of China is becoming a concern

o Potential spread of communism

o US wanted to contain China s influence

o US new containment policy

o LBJ inherits Vietnam conflict after JFK s death

o Thesis: Johnson s dilemma was whether he should Americanize the war or not; his resolution was to become involved in the conflict; and his decision crippled his plans to improve the nation.

+ Johnson Administration approach to Foreign Policy

o Will not tolerate aggression

o Honor US commitment to South Vietnam

o Limit spread of communism

o Foreign Policy was one reason why Johnson had to choose to enter the war

+ Three choices of action

o Leave

Was not an option to the United States

Would allow aggression

Would allow spread of communism

Would go against US commitment to South Vietnam

o Middle Position (an act of Stalemate)

Act as advisors

Already was in effect before Johnson became President

16,000 military personnel already in country

o Take Over

Eventually happened in February 1965

+ Americanization of the war

o Operation Rolling Thunder

o Troops sent in to fight

End of 1965 there was 180,000 military personnel in Vietnam

Peaked at 550,000 military personnel in 1968

o Strategy of attrition

o Johnson was in Quagmire

o Johnson had to pull out of the war due to loss of public opinion

+ Consequences of Johnson s decision

o Criticized by many countries

o Criticized by many prominent Americans

o Public protested his actions

o 44% approved of his actions

+ Conclusion

o Johnson had to enter the war

o Johnson needed to show that aggression and communism would not be tolerated

o Vietnam War crippled the plans of President Johnson, a man who quite possibly could have been one of the finest presidents of our nation