Vietnam: Into the Abyss (The Johnson Years)

Lesson Objectives Understand the timeline of events that led to the decision for major U.S. troop deployments to Southeast Asia in Be able to articulate the issues and discussions surrounding the 1965 decision to escalate the war in Vietnam. Understand the evolution of U.S. objectives and strategy for the Vietnam War.

Timeline Buddhist unrest, repression in South Vietnam Kennedy Administration discusses options for Diem CIA-supported ARVN coup overthrows Diem May- Aug 63 Aug-Oct 63 1 Nov 63 Diem and this brother killed by ARVN 22 Nov 63President Kennedy assassinated in Dallas

Situation 1964 White House concerned about the 1964 election Staffers realized current advising strategy was not succeeding Predicted North Vietnamese takeover that year Hoped to stave off collapse until after election Link Fredrik Logevall “Lyndon Johnson and Vietnam” Presidential Studies Quarterly, March 2004

Timeline Mar 64Secret CIA bombing of Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos began Civilian pilots (Air America) flying old U.S. aircraft May 64LBJ staff begins drafting Congressional support resolution Temporarily shelved due to lack of support in Senate Summer 64Guerilla warfare spreading throughout South Vietnam Now supported by NVA regulars 2-4 Aug 64Gulf of Tonkin Incident 7 Aug 64Gulf of Tonkin Resolution passed by Congress Authorizes president to use force to protect U.S. forces President orders retaliatory strikes against North Vietnam 14 Dec 64 US military begins secret bombing of HCMT in Laos

Tonkin Gulf Incident August 2-4, 1964

Tonkin Gulf Incident Background US Navy supporting ARVN special forces raids on North Two islands off coast of North Vietnam Destroyer USS Maddox also on ELINT* mission in area * Electronic Intelligence

Tonkin Gulf Incident August 2, 1964

Tonkin Gulf Incident August 2, 1964

Tonkin Gulf Incident August 2, 1964 USS Maddox engaging North Vietnamese PT boats

Tonkin Gulf Incident August 4, 1964

Tonkin Gulf Incident Did an attack actually happen?

Tonkin Gulf Incident Robert McNamara (2002) Players: Admiral Sharp: Ulysses Simpson Grant Sharp, Jr., - CINCPAC. General Burchinal: David A. Burchinal - Director, Joint Staff, JCS August 2, 1964

Gulf of Tonkin Incident ( 5:47 ) Robert McNamara, Fog of War (2003) August 2-4, 1964 ( 8:39 ) Fog of War: LBJ Conversations:

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution August 7, 1964 Passed by House Passed by House

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Key Passages Joint Resolution To promote the maintenance of international peace and security in southeast Asia … Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled. That the Congress approves and supports the determination of the President, as Commander in Chief, to take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression. … The United States regards as vital to its national interest and to world peace the maintenance of international peace and security in Southeast Asia.

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution What was the significance of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution?

Timeline 16 Oct 64China explodes its first nuclear weapon I Nov 64VC attack Bien Hoa Air Base First attack on Americans; five Gis killed 3 Nov 64Lyndon Johnson elected to presidency by landslide

Attacks on US Airfields I Nov 64VC attack Bien Hoa Air Base near Saigom First attack on Americans; five Gis killed 6 Feb 65VC attack US base at Pleiku (central Highlands) Eight Americans killed, ten aircraft destroyed 7 Feb 65 President orders air strikes against North Vietnam Operation Flaming Dart continues to 24 Feb 65 7 Mar 65President authorizes Operation Rolling Thunder Progressively escalating air attack against North Vietnam Dual military and political objectives Ran until 2 Nov 68

Operation Rolling Thunder Battlefield Vietnam – Part 10 ( 58:16) ( Introduction )

Operation Rolling Thunder Battlefield Vietnam – Part 10 ( 58:16) ( Full Video )

Attacks on US Airfields I Nov 64VC attack Bien Hoa Air Base near Saigom First attack on Americans; five Gis killed 6 Feb 65VC attack US base at Pleiku (central Highlands) Eight Americans killed, ten aircraft destroyed 7 Feb 65 President orders air strikes against North Vietnam Operation Flaming Dart continues to 24 Feb 65 7 Mar 65President authorizes Operation Rolling Thunder 8 Mar 65Marines land to protect air base at Da Nang

US Marines Land at Da Nang March 8, 1965

US Marines Land at Da Nang March 8, 1965

US Marines Land at Da Nang March 8, 1965 ( 2:02 )

Support for Buildup “Even in the aftermath of the Gulf of Tonkin incident, as the Johnson administration began increasing troop levels in Southeast Asia, Source Joshua Zeitz " The Year the Sixties Began" American Heritage, October 2006 … 45 percent of Americans wanted to stay the course in Vietnam,” … 36 percent wanted to 'step up the war by carrying the fight to North Vietnam,' for example, through more air strikes against communist territory, … while only 19 percent supported pulling out. In short, by a large margin, Americans demanded victory of their leaders... Lyndon Johnson, then, was acting with the full faith and support of his electorate. A

LBJ’s Dilemma “In later years [Johnson] lamented: Source... But if I left that war and let the communists take over South Vietnam, then I would be seen as a coward and my nation would be seen as an appeaser, and we would both find it impossible to accomplish anything for anybody anywhere on the entire globe.’” Joshua Zeitz " The Year the Sixties Began" American Heritage, October 2006 If I left the woman I really loved, the Great Society, in order to get involved in that bitch of a war on the other side of the world, I would lose everything at home. All my programs. 'I knew from the start that I was bound to be crucified either way I moved.

The Great Society

LBJ’s Dilemma “In later years [Johnson] lamented: 'I knew from the start that I was bound to be crucified either way I moved. If I left the woman I really loved, the Great Society, in order to get involved in that bitch of a war on the other side of the world, I would lose everything at home. All my programs. Source... But if I left that war and let the communists take over South Vietnam, then I would be seen as a coward and my nation would be seen as an appeaser, and we would both find it impossible to accomplish anything for anybody anywhere on the entire globe.'" Joshua Zeitz " The Year the Sixties Began" American Heritage, October 2006

LBJ’s Dilemma Escalate or Withdraw

Discussions on Escalation Feb 65 – Jul 65 Part 1 Feb-Mar 64 Part 2 May64 Part 3 Jun-Aug64 Part 4 Feb-Jun65 Part 5 Jun-Jul65

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