"This could be a quagmire. It could turn into an open-ended commitment on our part that would take more and more ground troops without a realistic hop"This could be a quagmire. It could turn into an open-ended commitment on our part that would take more and more ground troops without a realistic hope of ultimate victory." pg 121
I was actively engaged throughout this entire narrative. In 155-pages Professor Larry Berman explained the intricacies, escalations, and discussions that led to America's involvement in Vietnam and the 28 July 1965 press conference to expand forces in Vietnam. The inevitable decision to go to & stay in Vietnam was explained with LBJ's personality, military advisors, and political climate of the time.
Berman gave a detailed history of Inchochina starting from the French and our inheritance from economic aid under Truman, commitment to containment under Eisenhower, increased military presence under JFK, and LBJ's elevation of anticommunist principle to military doctrine (pg 132) to result in full-scale ownership of the war: General Westmoreland stated
were it not for our interference in political affairs [President Diem's overthrow] of South Vietnam and based on pragmatic consideration, we could in my opinion have justifiably withdrawn our support at a time that demonstrated lack of leadership and unity in South Vietnam." (pg 29)
Each year that progressed showed the internal deterioration of South Vietnam; as economic aid & military advisors increased, the options of withdrawal or press the issue were at stake of America's showing face to the world and her promise of commitment to its Allies. The narrative gave evidence, written accounts, conversations, and planning leading up to LBJ's 28 July 1965 press conference that announced the increase of military troops & expanding military command and control into South Vietnam. The ripple effect of the decision to expand the military was the national tragedy of 1965 that would conclude with LBJ's personal tragedy of no seeking reelection in 1968.
Overall this was an excellent overview of the escalation into combat roles in Vietnam. I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in the Vietnam War and our history there. Thanks! ...more
"LBJ's determination, however understandable, nonetheless led him deliberately and seriously to obscure the nature and cost of America's deepening inv"LBJ's determination, however understandable, nonetheless led him deliberately and seriously to obscure the nature and cost of America's deepening involvement in the war during 1964-1965. This decision bought Johnson the short-term political maneuverability he wanted, but at a costly long-term political price. As LBJ's credibility on the war eroded, public confidence in his leadership slowly but irretrievably evaporated." pg 217
This was an informative narrative on LBJ's dilemma on the rising issues leading to the Vietnam War. Brian VanDeMark wrote this encompassing specifically the events and decision- & policy-making within the scope of 1964-5. He wrote from the political and military aspects of the escalation of war.
The escalation into Vietnam was a tricky situation and I don't think most historians (other than telling the events leading up to) can articulate other courses of action. Lyndon Johnson and his advisors were dealing with lessons learned from Korea, tip-toeing with public discretion, trying to manage and run a country, and keeping voter approval while dealing with Vietnam.
VanDeMark articulated the surmounting decision-making, the deteriorating political platform of South Vietnam, and the increased threat to US service members and installations inside South Vietnam (Gulf of Tonkin, Camp Holloway, Pleiku, Bienhoa, Quinhon, the Brink Hotel car bombing) that led to Operation Rolling Thunder and the deployment of US Marines in March 1965.
Johnson's reluctant decision to commit additional soldiers and the change their mission only deepened his anxiety about Vietnam's domestic repercussions. With American troops involved in the fighting, U.S. casualties and costs would surely rise, straining the political consensus and economic resources sustaining the Great Society. pg 109
Overall I likes this book but for me the flow of the narrative at times seemed choppy and bumpy at times. Ultimately this is not a bad book: the information was great and I learned things from a different perspective. I would recommend this or Larry Berman's books Planning a Tragedy and Lyndon Johnson's War as additional sources for this topic. Thanks!...more
"If it hadn't been for Vietnam—how many times this phrase has been spoken in conversations assessing Johnson's place in history...Indeed, from the beg"If it hadn't been for Vietnam—how many times this phrase has been spoken in conversations assessing Johnson's place in history...Indeed, from the beginning, Johnson later claimed, he himself foresaw and weighed the devastating consequences of war on domestic reform, but in the end, felt he had no choice but to escalate the war. pg 251"
This was a shorter yet thorough account of the life and times of LBJ. I know there are other longer biographical accounts like Robert Caro (four volumes) and Robert Dallek (two volumes) but I can say I learned a lot from this one. Goodwin gave a smoothly written narrative that I wanted to keep reading. She began with his childhood, progressed through adolescence and college, and eventually into politics. Interesting there was some foreshadowing of cognitive-behavioral traits he developed as a child that would carry over into his adult life and as President.
Johnson naturally work his way from student body campus politics, eventually to a Congressman to Senator to Majority Leader to Vice President and finally to President. Goodwin explained his outlook and ambitions were steered from his childhood, molded by nurture, and reinforced in the life of politics.
Throughout his life Johnson had most successfully attained power in one of two situations: under conditions that allowed him to play apprentice to a master, whose power, by careful deference and emulation, he would use to increase his own authority until he had surpassed the other man's accomplishments or position; or under conditions that allowed him to assume the role of the caretaker, the strong protecting the weak. pgs 172-3
"Johnson was simply ill-suited, because of his legislative background, for the administrative aspects of the Presidency." (pg 291) The Great Society was a leap towards improving the quality of life for the average American: Civil Rights, voting rights, Medicare, education, housing, transportation, and more.
I do not want to be the President who built empires, or sought granduer, or extended dominion. I want to be the President who educated young children...who helped feed the hungry...who helped the poor to find to find their own way and who protected the rights of every citizen to vote in every election... pg 230
The escalation of the use of force and continued commitment to the conflict in Vietnam was fueled LBJ's own character flaws that he used since his days as Majority Leader in the Senate: his insistence on face-to-face relations, his secrecy and private negotiations, the intentional lack of communication, sycophantic expectations, and Johnson's lack of ability to effectively lead brought about the downfall that germinated from Vietnam.
By pretending there was no major conflict, by minimizing the level of spending, and by refusing to call up reserves or ask Congress for an acknowledgement or acceptance of the war, Johnson believed he could keep the levers of control in his hands. pg 282
The Vietnam War, unpopular polls, inflation, and unfulfilled early administration promises of a "painless war and profitable peace" (pg 302) led to LBJ not accepting the 1968 reelection as President.
Overall in my opinion this was a very informative introduction to the life of LBJ. I would highly recommend this as a good starting point for anyone interested in American history of that era. Also I would recommend Dereliction of Duty: Lyndon Johnson, Robert McNamara, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the Lies That Led to Vietnam by H.R. McMaster. Thanks!!...more
"The story of Lyndon Johnson's Presidency is a story of tragedy in the ancient haunting sense of the word, the strong man overwhelmed by forces, from "The story of Lyndon Johnson's Presidency is a story of tragedy in the ancient haunting sense of the word, the strong man overwhelmed by forces, from within and without." pg 281
Kyle Longley did an excellent job of dissecting the last year of the LBJ and his administration. The narrative began in January and each chapter was dedicated to a particular event (or crisis) as the year progressed. The State of The Union (the corrosive topic of Vietnam, domestic matters, pending roll-outs of the Great Society) was the opening stage of 1968. [image] [image] The next two chapters addressed military and diplomatic affairs. On January 23 the U.S.S. Pueblo, a US Navy intelligence ship working off the North Korean coast was seized and taken into North Koreancustody. Retaliatory or diplomacy were disputed for the safe return of the ship and her crew that were overshadowed by "You remember how much trouble we got into on the Tonkin Gulf incident...( pg 39). Then the Tet Offensive shattered hopes and proved a lose of military objectives in Vietnam.
[Vietnam] brought out the worst in him...soon, he would give people whiplash as his swings between despondency and optimism exceeded normal standards, partly a reflection on the split between his closest advisors on the outcome of the offensive. pg 57
Division grew even further out of Tet as General Westmoreland and Pentagon reports conflicted with media reports, another $2.5 billion of military expenditures mounted, and highlighted how isolated the President had become because of Vietnam. (pg 83)
The next chapters were dedicated to his As a result, I will not seek Reelection speech on March 31, 1968. Longley addressed the civil unrest as a result of Dr. Martin Luther King's assassination, RFK's assassination, the questionable ethical dilemma of Fortas and Thornberry for Supreme Court, how to respond to the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia, and the then riots in Chicago at the Democratic National Convention.
Overall the narrative did a great job of showing the behind the scenes of 1968 to January 1969 with the entrance of the Nixon administration. I enjoyed this and I would recommend Lyndon Johnson and the American Dream by Doris Kearns Goodwin. Thanks!...more
This was a great fourth volume to the LBJ biography series. This volume continued from the last two years of his Senate career, 1958, to his assumptioThis was a great fourth volume to the LBJ biography series. This volume continued from the last two years of his Senate career, 1958, to his assumption of the Presidency and into 1964. Caro examined his accomplishments and troubled take on the many changes that America (and the rest of the world) saw during the 1960s.
The presidency of Lyndon Johnson would be a presidency marked by victories: his great personal victory in the 1964 election, and his great victories for legislation that are legislative embodiment of the liberal spirit in all it nobility. The Civil Rights Act of 1964. The Voting Rights Act of 1965. Medicare and Medicaid; Head Start; Model Cities. pg 604
Overall this was a great continuation of the LBJ saga written with attention to detail and research. I read online the final fifth volume is still in the works and will address his last term in office, Vietnam, and the later years of his life. I am curious to see how these compare to the two-volume LBJ biography by Robert Dallek, titled Lone Star Rising: Vol. 1: Lyndon Johnson and His Times, 1908-1960 and Flawed Giant: Lyndon B. Johnson and His Times, 1961-1973, respectively. In the meantime, these works are remarkable and for the serious reader of LBJ and American politics of the last century. Highly recommended! Thanks! ...more
This was another addition to Robert Caro's award-winning series on Lyndon Baines Johnson. This third volume covered his time as US Senator to Vice PreThis was another addition to Robert Caro's award-winning series on Lyndon Baines Johnson. This third volume covered his time as US Senator to Vice President, spanning twelve years of monumentous leadership from 1948 to 1960. LBJ's climb through calculated moves led to his Majority Leader in the Senate.
But although during the final three years of his Senate career, Lyndon Johnson's power over the Senate was as great as ever, the legislative achievements of this last stage of his Senate career were in many ways no more than a reprise of his early years in the Senate. pg 1020
Eventually he was chosen as the Vice President nomination by the Democratic Party and was elected alongside JFK. But Caro wrote how LBJ was put into a position that was not meant for him: transitioning from a legislative leader to the executive branch of government.
During his early weeks as Vice President, when he was presiding over the Senate while a Senator was delivering a lengthy speech, he would walk over to one of the few senators on the floor and begin to chat. The senators he approached were always courteous to him, but often they had to break off the conversation. They had other things to do. When he had had power, they had been anxious to talk to him, eager for a few minutes of his time. They weren't anxious now. After a while, he stopped coming...
...for eight years he had been the center of attention. When he came in now, several senators were there, sitting in the armchairs. He said hello to them. They said hello to him. He stood there for several minutes, apparently waiting for someone to stand up or talk to him, or to invite him to sit down. No one did... pg 1040
Overall this was a great read. Caro again wrote a detailed yet not boring narrative like the previous volumes. I would highly recommend this to anyone interested in LBJ and American politics of the 20th century....more
This was a solid continuation from the first volume. Here was presented LBJ's time from 1941 to him becoming a US Senator in 1948. Basically the narraThis was a solid continuation from the first volume. Here was presented LBJ's time from 1941 to him becoming a US Senator in 1948. Basically the narrative covered two main points (his time in service in WWII and his running for Senator) and explained a lot of the workings and "inner circle" mindset of Congress, the Senate, and the Democratic Party of the time. As with the last volume, Caro setting the stage for LBJ's path to come
Within just two years, in January 1951, Lyndon Johnsonwouldbe a leader, his party's whip...Just two years later, in January 1953, he would become the Leader of his pary. And within weeks of his election as Leader, he would begin to revolutionize some of the Senate's most sacrosanct traditions in order to concentrate the barons' prerogativesin his own hands. By 1955, with the barons' power broken and the Democrats back in the majority, Lyndon Johnson was the most powerful Majority Leader in history. pg 412
Robert Caro did a great job of telling the narrative with good detail without being boring. One thing I learned was LBJ's peculiar behavior of repetitive presentation of his Silver Star (pg 51-2) and over embellishing his role during WWII in the Pacific Theater.
Overall having read the first two volumes I am enjoying them and I feel I'm learning a tremendous deal of detailed information. I would recommend this series of books to anyone interested in LBJ and US politics of the 20th century. Thanks!...more
This was a very thorough biography on former President LBJ. This is one of four volumes (the fifth is still in the works according to the author). It This was a very thorough biography on former President LBJ. This is one of four volumes (the fifth is still in the works according to the author). It gave extensive history on his family, central Texas, his childhood & adolescence, his times as a teacher, local government, Texas state government, and becoming a US Congressman. This narrative finished with 1941 in his failed attempt to make into the Senate.
This was extensively researched and written with careful detail to paint the early life of LBJ. Robert Caro gave countless interview summaries, pictures I haven't seen in other of his biographies, and lots of evidence foreshadowing LBJ's time in Congress and eventually the Presidency.
Overall this was a very thorough and highly informative opener to the biography of LBJ. I would highly recommend this series to anyone interested in learning more about him and US politics of the time. Thanks! ...more
"[By July 1965] LBJ had misrepresented the mission of U.S. ground forces in Vietnam, distorted the views of the Chiefs to lend credibility to his deci"[By July 1965] LBJ had misrepresented the mission of U.S. ground forces in Vietnam, distorted the views of the Chiefs to lend credibility to his decision against mobilization, grossly understated the numbers of troops General Westmoreland had requested, and lied to Congress about the monetary cost of actions already approved and of those waiting final decision." pg 330
Wow, this was mind-blowing. After reading this, my first thought was: we never should have gone to Vietnam. McMaster wrote a clear and linear narrative that kept me thoroughly engaged the whole time. There wasn't information overload and detail-driven accounts. Instead it was well-written, well-researched, and written smoothly.
On November 23, 1963 LBJ inherited the Vietnam ordeal from president JFK by default. With that he also took on JFK's mentality of inner-circle advisement, only trusting his closest civilian advisors, and viewing the Joint Chiefs of Staff with suspicion. The narrative examined LBJ's lack of clear direction by "taking the middle course" (pg 256), Gulf of Tonkin Resolution that bloomed into higher levels of intervention, and the preoccupation with his domestic agenda lead to confusion in his effective decision-making about Vietnam. Secretary of Defense McNamara's views "that intelligence and analytical methods would compensate for lack of military experience" (pg 328), his JFK-era thinking of carefully controlled and sharply limited military actions were reversible, and the use of "graduated pressure"starting in March 1964 would bring North Vietnam to negotiate and cease Viet Cong support. The Joint Chiefs of Staff continued to recommend an escalation of military effort without presenting a strategy aimed at focusing on an outcome consistent with U.S. interests (pg 264), went along with ongoing deception to Congress, placated LBJ and McNamara due to inconsistent communication, and remained loyal "five silent men" as the team to Coach Johnson.
Overall this was an excellent account on the lead-up to war in Vietnam. These actions took place in the 196os and it was published in 1997. I wouldn't be surprised if a book of this shock-and-awe about Iraq and Afghanistan came out within the next 20-30 years. Anyway, highly recommended book about the LBJ administration and the early days of Vietnam. Thanks! ...more
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