Changes

But Johnson's own arrogance, manipulation and intimidating tactics became his undoing.  In the fall of 1964, Johnson was up for reelection and, like many presidents before him, he became paranoid about the possibility of defeat.  The Republican Party nominated the conservative Barry Goldwater, and he was delivering tough, uncompromising speeches against Johnson.  Johnson, who was completely self-centered, watched public opinion polls closely.

But Johnson's own arrogance, manipulation and intimidating tactics became his undoing.  In the fall of 1964, Johnson was up for reelection and, like many presidents before him, he became paranoid about the possibility of defeat.  The Republican Party nominated the conservative Barry Goldwater, and he was delivering tough, uncompromising speeches against Johnson.  Johnson, who was completely self-centered, watched public opinion polls closely.

Johnson then sparked and exaggerated a conflict in Vietnam in order to increase public support for his leadership.  The popularity of a president always increases when America is attacked.  The problem was the facts:  the American destroyer USS Maddox attacked three North Vietnamese P-4 torpedo boats before they could attack us.  Days later a completely false report of an attack on the Maddox by the North Vietnamese was publicized.  Johnson presented this false information to Congress in order to obtain passage of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which granted Johnson the power to assist South Vietnam against communist aggression.  Based on Truman Doctrine, this was not a declaration of war, but Johnson used it to support injecting the United States into the Vietnam War and to win reelection in 1964 in a landslide.

Johnson then sparked and exaggerated a conflict in Vietnam in order to increase public support for his leadership.  The popularity of a president always increases when America is attacked.  The problem was the facts:  the American destroyer USS Maddox attacked three North Vietnamese P-4 torpedo boats before they could attack us.  Days later a completely false report of an attack on the Maddox by the North Vietnamese was publicized.  Johnson presented this false information to Congress in order to obtain passage of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which granted Johnson the power to assist South Vietnam against communist aggression.  Based on the Truman Doctrine, this was not a declaration of war, but Johnson used it to support injecting the United States into the Vietnam War and to win reelection in 1964 in a landslide.

Vietnam is a huge country:  81 million people, more than North and South Korea combined.  Vietnam is also a jungle.  The Communists had planted land mines everywhere.  A substantial percentage of our casualties in the Vietnam War were from stepping on land mines.  Between 1964 and 1975, when our last troops left, 58,000 American soldiers lost their lives and hundreds of thousands were severely injured.  Unlike today, the mandatory draft was used to compel these young men to fight in this war.

Vietnam is a huge country:  81 million people, more than North and South Korea combined.  Vietnam is also a jungle.  The Communists had planted land mines everywhere.  A substantial percentage of our casualties in the Vietnam War were from stepping on land mines.  Between 1964 and 1975, when our last troops left, 58,000 American soldiers lost their lives and hundreds of thousands were severely injured.  Unlike today, the mandatory draft was used to compel these young men to fight in this war.