Transcript 38: Vietnam : Into the Abyss

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 1965.
• 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
May- Aug 63
Aug-Oct 63
1 Nov 63
Buddhist unrest, repression in South Vietnam
Kennedy Administration discusses options for Diem
CIA-supported ARVN coup overthrows Diem
• Diem and this brother killed by ARVN
22 Nov 63
President 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
Fredrik Logevall
“Lyndon Johnson and Vietnam”
Presidential Studies Quarterly, March 2004
Link
Timeline
Mar 64
Secret CIA bombing of Ho Chi Minh Trail in Laos began
• Civilian pilots (Air America) flying old U.S. aircraft
May 64
LBJ staff begins drafting Congressional support resolution
• Temporarily shelved due to lack of support in Senate
Summer 64
Guerilla warfare spreading throughout South Vietnam
• Now supported by NVA regulars
2-4 Aug 64
7 Aug 64
Gulf of Tonkin Incident
Gulf 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
August 2, 1964
Robert McNamara (2002)
Players: Admiral Sharp: Ulysses Simpson Grant Sharp, Jr., - CINCPAC.
General Burchinal: David A. Burchinal - Director, Joint Staff, JCS
Gulf of Tonkin Incident
August 2-4, 1964
Robert McNamara, Fog of War (2003)
Fog of War:
LBJ Conversations:
( 5:47 )
( 8:39 )
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
August 7, 1964
Passed by House 416 - 0
Passed by House 88 - 2
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 64
I Nov 64
China explodes its first nuclear weapon
VC attack Bien Hoa Air Base
• First attack on Americans; five Gis killed
3 Nov 64
Lyndon Johnson elected to presidency by landslide
Attacks on US Airfields
I Nov 64
VC attack Bien Hoa Air Base near Saigom
• First attack on Americans; five Gis killed
6 Feb 65
VC 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 65
President authorizes Operation Rolling Thunder
• Progressively escalating air attack against North Vietnam
• Dual military and political objectives
• Ran until 2 Nov 68
Operation Rolling Thunder
( Introduction )
Battlefield Vietnam – Part 10
( 58:16)
Operation Rolling Thunder
( Full Video )
Battlefield Vietnam – Part 10
( 58:16)
Attacks on US Airfields
I Nov 64
VC attack Bien Hoa Air Base near Saigom
• First attack on Americans; five Gis killed
6 Feb 65
VC 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 65
President authorizes Operation Rolling Thunder
8 Mar 65
Marines 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,
… 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.
Joshua Zeitz
"1964 - The Year the Sixties Began"
American Heritage, October 2006
Source
A
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.
... 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
"1964 - The Year the Sixties Began"
American Heritage, October 2006
Source
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. ... 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
"1964 - The Year the Sixties Began"
American Heritage, October 2006
Source
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
Part 5
Feb-Jun65
Jun-Jul65
End