Dissatisfaction with the Great Society came to be more than
matched by unhappiness with the situation in Vietnam. A series
of South Vietnamese strong men proved little more successful
than Diem in mobilizing their country. The Viet Cong, insurgents
supplied and coordinated from North Vietnam, gained ground in
the countryside.
Determined to halt Communist advances in South Vietnam, Johnson
made the Vietnam War his own. After a North Vietnamese naval
attack on two American destroyers, Johnson won from Congress on
August 7, 1964, passage of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which
allowed the president to "take all necessary measures to repel
any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to
prevent further aggression." After his re-election in November
1964, he embarked on a policy of escalation. From 25,000 troops
at the start of 1965, the number of soldiers – both volunteers
and draftees – rose to 500,000 by 1968. A bombing campaign
wrought havoc in both North and South Vietnam.
Grisly television coverage with a critical edge dampened support
for the war. Some Americans thought it immoral; others watched
in dismay as the massive military campaign seemed to be
ineffective. Large protests, especially among the young, and a
mounting general public dissatisfaction pressured Johnson to
begin negotiating for peace. |
