LBJ, Vietnam, and the Great Society

Lyndon Johnson (LBJ) President Nov. 1963; elected 1964 President Nov. 1963; elected 1964 Democrat – continued JFK’s “New Frontier” Democrat – continued JFK’s “New Frontier” Domestic policy: The Great Society Domestic policy: The Great Society Medicare – health care for elderly Medicare – health care for elderly Medicaid – health care for the poor Medicaid – health care for the poor Civil Rights Act of 1964 Civil Rights Act of 1964 War on Poverty: goal to eliminate poverty War on Poverty: goal to eliminate poverty Economic Opportunity Act (1964) – federal antipoverty programs Economic Opportunity Act (1964) – federal antipoverty programs

The Great Society Job Corps Job Corps VISTA (modeled on Peace Corps): volunteers help Americans VISTA (modeled on Peace Corps): volunteers help Americans Education: Elementary and Secondary Education Act and Higher Education Act – federal funding of public schools Education: Elementary and Secondary Education Act and Higher Education Act – federal funding of public schools Head Start program; scholarships to kids in poverty Head Start program; scholarships to kids in poverty

The Great Society Arts and Culture: Arts and Culture: Public Broadcasting Public Broadcasting National Endowment for the Arts National Endowment for the Arts National Endowment for the Humanities National Endowment for the Humanities

Vietnam French colony of Indochina French colony of Indochina Ho Chi Minh leads rebel movement after WWII Ho Chi Minh leads rebel movement after WWII French leave, 1954 French leave, 1954 Vietnam divided at 17th parallel Vietnam divided at 17th parallel South Vietnam requests help from U.S. to fight rebel movement – the Viet Cong; Eisenhower and JFK send ‘advisers’ South Vietnam requests help from U.S. to fight rebel movement – the Viet Cong; Eisenhower and JFK send ‘advisers’

Vietnam Johnson fears fall of government – the “domino effect” Johnson fears fall of government – the “domino effect” Incident in the Tonkin Gulf Incident in the Tonkin Gulf Tonkin Gulf Resolution authorizes president to use “all necessary measures” Tonkin Gulf Resolution authorizes president to use “all necessary measures” Sends U.S. troops in 1964; steady escalation to 1968 Sends U.S. troops in 1964; steady escalation to 1968 Guerilla warfare Guerilla warfare Tet Offensive, 1968 – Americans realize that the war will last for a long time Tet Offensive, 1968 – Americans realize that the war will last for a long time

Vietnam Anti-war protests on college campuses and in cities Anti-war protests on college campuses and in cities Draft evasion – draft dodging Draft evasion – draft dodging

Political Polarization Hawks: those favoring the war Hawks: those favoring the war Pledge of help to Vietnam Pledge of help to Vietnam U.S. commitment to region at stake U.S. commitment to region at stake Fear of the Domino effect in Southeast Asia Fear of the Domino effect in Southeast Asia Doves: those opposed to war Doves: those opposed to war North Vietnam was fighting for nationalist reasons North Vietnam was fighting for nationalist reasons Vietnam not vital for U.S. interests or security Vietnam not vital for U.S. interests or security War is unjust War is unjust

Election of 1968 LBJ does not run – very unusual LBJ does not run – very unusual Nixon vs. Hubert Humphrey Nixon vs. Hubert Humphrey George Wallace – third party George Wallace – third party Nixon considered the “hawk” Nixon considered the “hawk” Nixon promises “law and order” and continuation of Great Society Nixon promises “law and order” and continuation of Great Society

Election of 1968 – realigning election Post Civil War: Republican Presidency to 1932 Post Civil War: Republican Presidency to Democratic Presidency Democratic Presidency (7 out of 9 times except Eisenhower) (7 out of 9 times except Eisenhower) Republican Presidency (7 out of 10 times except Carter and Clinton) Republican Presidency (7 out of 10 times except Carter and Clinton)

Party Realignment Democratic party lost white Southerners in the ’s Democratic party lost white Southerners in the ’s Reaction to Civil Rights, Vietnam War, and the “culture wars” Reaction to Civil Rights, Vietnam War, and the “culture wars” Today’s Democratic Party: urban, minorities, liberal, union workers Today’s Democratic Party: urban, minorities, liberal, union workers Today’s Republican Party: rural, conservative voters Today’s Republican Party: rural, conservative voters

Presidents Nixon, Ford, and Carter

Richard Nixon Re-elected 1972 Re-elected 1972 Gradually draws troops out of Vietnam – “Vietnamization” of the war Gradually draws troops out of Vietnam – “Vietnamization” of the war “Détente” period in US-USSR relations, a de-escalation of tension (SALT I) “Détente” period in US-USSR relations, a de-escalation of tension (SALT I) Recognizes communist China makes first visit to that country Recognizes communist China makes first visit to that country Disgraced and resigns as a result of Watergate - not impeached Disgraced and resigns as a result of Watergate - not impeached

Richard Nixon First Oil Crisis, 1973 First Oil Crisis, 1973 OPEC embargos sale of oil to America for its support of Israel in the Yom Kippur War OPEC embargos sale of oil to America for its support of Israel in the Yom Kippur War Leads to rationing, shortages of fuel oil and gasoline Leads to rationing, shortages of fuel oil and gasoline

Gerald Ford Speaker of the House, becomes president after Nixon’s resignation Speaker of the House, becomes president after Nixon’s resignation : Democrats in Congress pressure Ford to withdraw from Vietnam 1975: Democrats in Congress pressure Ford to withdraw from Vietnam Saigon falls, Vietnam under control of communists Saigon falls, Vietnam under control of communists

Jimmy Carter ( ) Iranian Revolution – Ayatollah Khomeini Iranian Revolution – Ayatollah Khomeini Hostage Crisis – Americans held in Tehran embassy for > 400 days Hostage Crisis – Americans held in Tehran embassy for > 400 days Second Oil Crisis – long lines, rationing (panic as a result of Second Oil Crisis – long lines, rationing (panic as a result of

Jimmy Carter ( ) Soviet invasion of Afghanistan Soviet invasion of Afghanistan Middle East – Camp David Accords Middle East – Camp David Accords Peace between Egypt and Israel Peace between Egypt and Israel US takes lead as mediator in Mid East US takes lead as mediator in Mid East Economy: “stagflation” – slow growth, high interest rates and inflation Economy: “stagflation” – slow growth, high interest rates and inflation

Soviet invasion of Afghanistan USSR invades Afghanistan, 1979 USSR invades Afghanistan, 1979 WHY? Influence in Persian Gulf Region WHY? Influence in Persian Gulf Region American CIA supplies arms and intelligence to the resistance American CIA supplies arms and intelligence to the resistance USSR installs puppet government USSR installs puppet government Afghan people resist; Soviets withdraw in 1989 – Taliban gain control; rule until 2002 Afghan people resist; Soviets withdraw in 1989 – Taliban gain control; rule until 2002