TAHP Spring 2011 Dr. Thomas E. Smith Vietnam and the Media TAHP Spring 2011 Dr. Thomas E. Smith

The “Cronkite Moment”: Media, Public Opinion and the State “Report from Vietnam by Walter Cronkite” 9:30 PM CST February 27, 1968 “Cronkite Moment” to Journalists The Power of the Anchorman Journalist Standard ‘Editorializing’ Responsible Journalism Showing Courage and Influence Especially, in War-Reporting Affect on Policy Makers Lyndon Johnson: “If I’ve lost Cronkite – I’ve lost Middle America.” March 31st – Johnson Not Seeking Re-election and New Position on Vietnam: Negotiated Settlement

“There will be blood, sweat and tears shed.” David Halberstam, The Powers that Be (New York: Dell Publishing, 1979) “The first time in American history a war had been declared over by an anchorman.” Page 716 Media Driven Myths Reductive, unambiguous, easily remembered explanations of complex historical events The Cronkite Moment and the Connections to the State and Decision Making Johnson’s Approach Speech at the Convention of National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (28 February 1968)  “There will be blood, sweat and tears shed.” “I believe that every American will answer now for his future and for his children’s future.” “Persevere in Vietnam we will, and we must.”  New York Times, 28 February 1968

March 3rd:  “We will not be Quislings.” “We will not be appeasers”  Washington Post, 3 March 1968 March 31st, Johnson: “Peace through negotiation” “Not Seek Re-election” Johnson and his Advisors General William Westmoreland and Troop Levels Bureaucratic Crippling Robert McNamara – Secretary of Defense Moderation in Strategy Left officially on February 29th 1968

Eugene McCarty and the New Hampshire Democratic Primary March 12, 1968 “Council of Wise Men” Dean Acheson, George Bundy, George Ball, Omar Bradley In November 1967 Endorsed Johnson’s Policy Late March 1968 Softening of Johnson’s War Stance “Mandarins” Eugene McCarty and the New Hampshire Democratic Primary March 12, 1968 McCarty as Symbolic of the Unraveling of the Liberal Consensus Robert Kennedy entry into the Democratic Primary INSERT SOME TEXT FROM MCCARTY

On the Ground Realities Tet Offensive: January 1968 Repelled with little evidence of NV-inspired revolution 1,700 US Deaths 40,000 NVA and Viet Cong Public Opinion Gallup Poll: “Do you think it was a mistake to send US troops to Vietnam” August-September 1965 60% No, 24% Yes October 1967 (three months before Tet) 44% No, 47% Yes Multi-Causality, not Simple Statements

“Vietnam Moment” and Iraq Document from USA Today – 13 April 2004