‘Johnson had no alternative but to escalate the war in
Vietnam.’ Assess the validity of this view’
PARA 1- COLD WAR CONVICTIONS
- containment theory and domino theory: maintain the commitment to South Vietnam
and to SEATO
- Truman accused of losing China by the Democrats, Johnson didn’t want to be accused
of losing Vietnam
- believed communists nations were aggressors ‘if you let a bully come into your front
yard one day, the next day he’ll come into your porch, and the day after that he’ll rape
your wife in your own bed.’
- Small however point… perhaps shouldn’t have escalated as it resulted in at least
$150billion being spent which went against Great Society policies
PARA 2 - KENNEDY’S LEGACY
- Diem’s assassination morally locked the US into Vietnam
- felt obliged to continue Kennedy’s policies: ‘My rst major decision on Vietnam had
been to rea rm President Kennedy’s policies’
- Kennedy’s team retained (e.g., McNamara and Rusk) so no new idea emerged
- Small however point… by retaining Kennedy’s team Johnson faced some opposition as
McNamara said Johnson’s advisors were ignorant of Vietnam
PARA 3 - SAIGON REGIME
- successive South Vietnamese governments were unpopular and incapable of winning
the war
- Ho Chi Min very popular and had introduced popular land reforms and received
Chinese and Soviet aid
- Small however point… the Soviets were now able to engage in a signi cant naval and
nuclear build up
PARA 4 - WORKING GROUP
- 1964 set up a working party to investigate Vietnam which included Joint Chiefs of Sta ,
the CIA and representatives from the state dept. and defence dept. They
recommended:
- an independent non- communist South Vietnam was vital to America
- reiterated the domino theory
- said American prestige, honour, and credibility were at stake
- emphasised escalation was necessary due to the weak Saigon gov
- suggested heavy bombing should only be halted if North Vietnam accept a non-
communist South Vietnam
- shows the in uence Johnson had from his advisors, had to listen to them and their
advice
- Small however point… led to many protest movements such as the SDS in 1965 who
organised a ‘teach in’ with 20,000 attendees. Norman Morrison burnt himself to death
outside McNamara’s o ce window
ffifl ffi fi fi ff
Vietnam.’ Assess the validity of this view’
PARA 1- COLD WAR CONVICTIONS
- containment theory and domino theory: maintain the commitment to South Vietnam
and to SEATO
- Truman accused of losing China by the Democrats, Johnson didn’t want to be accused
of losing Vietnam
- believed communists nations were aggressors ‘if you let a bully come into your front
yard one day, the next day he’ll come into your porch, and the day after that he’ll rape
your wife in your own bed.’
- Small however point… perhaps shouldn’t have escalated as it resulted in at least
$150billion being spent which went against Great Society policies
PARA 2 - KENNEDY’S LEGACY
- Diem’s assassination morally locked the US into Vietnam
- felt obliged to continue Kennedy’s policies: ‘My rst major decision on Vietnam had
been to rea rm President Kennedy’s policies’
- Kennedy’s team retained (e.g., McNamara and Rusk) so no new idea emerged
- Small however point… by retaining Kennedy’s team Johnson faced some opposition as
McNamara said Johnson’s advisors were ignorant of Vietnam
PARA 3 - SAIGON REGIME
- successive South Vietnamese governments were unpopular and incapable of winning
the war
- Ho Chi Min very popular and had introduced popular land reforms and received
Chinese and Soviet aid
- Small however point… the Soviets were now able to engage in a signi cant naval and
nuclear build up
PARA 4 - WORKING GROUP
- 1964 set up a working party to investigate Vietnam which included Joint Chiefs of Sta ,
the CIA and representatives from the state dept. and defence dept. They
recommended:
- an independent non- communist South Vietnam was vital to America
- reiterated the domino theory
- said American prestige, honour, and credibility were at stake
- emphasised escalation was necessary due to the weak Saigon gov
- suggested heavy bombing should only be halted if North Vietnam accept a non-
communist South Vietnam
- shows the in uence Johnson had from his advisors, had to listen to them and their
advice
- Small however point… led to many protest movements such as the SDS in 1965 who
organised a ‘teach in’ with 20,000 attendees. Norman Morrison burnt himself to death
outside McNamara’s o ce window
ffifl ffi fi fi ff
