By Staff
Title: American government and politics, 1960-1966
Predominant Dates:1960s
ID: RG-64/RG-64
Primary Creator: American politicians and journalists (1960s)
Extent: 1.0 Boxes
Subjects: American humanitarian responsibilities, American national interests, American politics, 1960s, Combat operations in Vietnam, 1962 -- 1975, Decision to apply military forces in Vietnam, Lyndon B. Johnson, 1965, Disasters of the Vietnam War, Division in the American society over the Vietnam War, Documents in English language, Global security, 1960s, Implementation of military decision, negative results, Implementation of military decisions, International Affairs, 1960s, Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th President of the United States, Military support of North Vietnam by the USSR and China, Missile systems, defensive, Missile systems, offensive, Narratives in English language, Negotiations in the Vietnam War, Peace efforts in the Vietnam war, Presidential campaign of 1964, Lyndon B. Johnson, Presidential campaigns, intrigues and hypocrisies, United States, Presidential campaigns, United States, Reform in medical sphere, Great Society, United States, Reforms in civil rights, Great Society, United States, Reforms in Education, Great Society, United States, Reforms in public sphere, Great Society, United States, Reforms in Social sphere, Great Society, United States, Robert F. Kennedy, US Senator and official, public and political figure, Search for peace settlement in the Vietnam war, Social issues of American society, 1960s, The Great Society, American politics, The Great Society, American politics, Lyndon B. Johnson, The role of the USSR in the Vietnam War, United States (1950 -- 1978), US Armed forces, 1960s, US soldiers in Vietnam, 1962 -- 1975, Vietnam War, 1962 -- 1973, War between North Vietnam and South Vietnam
Languages: English
The issues of the Vietnam War and global security are discussed in the public discourse.
RG-64.01, Look Magazine Articles 28 November 1967
RG-64.01.01, “The Case Against an Antiballistic Missile System” by Dr. Jerome Wiesner: Special assistant to the President for Science and technology during the years 1961-64
Summary: The article essentially discusses President Johnson’s decision to build a defense against the nuclear weapons of the Soviet Union and China.
RG-64.01.02, “A Draftee is Sent to Fight” Produced by Christopher S. Wren and Photographed by Thomas R. Koeniges
Summary: It is testimony from soldiers in Vietnam who were drafted about their experiences there, the type of combat, and what they think they are fighting for.
RG-64.01.03, “What We Can Do to End the Agony of Vietnam” by Robert F. Kennedy
Summary: It is Senator Bobby Kennedy’s arguments towards ending the American commitment in Vietnam.
RG-64.02, Saturday Evening Post Article 22 October 1966 Issue No. 22
RG-64.02.01, “Lyndon B. Johnson: The Exercise of Power” by Rowland Evans and Robert Novak
Summary: The article is written after LBJ was actually voted to be president for another four years after taking the office after JFK’s assassination. It gives an overview of his previous policies and speculates as to what he will do in his next term. There are positive statements as well as criticisms.
American humanitarian responsibilities
American national interests
American politics, 1960s
Combat operations in Vietnam, 1962 -- 1975
Decision to apply military forces in Vietnam, Lyndon B. Johnson, 1965
Disasters of the Vietnam War
Division in the American society over the Vietnam War
Documents in English language
Global security, 1960s
Implementation of military decision, negative results
Implementation of military decisions
International Affairs, 1960s
Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th President of the United States
Military support of North Vietnam by the USSR and China
Missile systems, defensive
Missile systems, offensive
Narratives in English language
Negotiations in the Vietnam War
Peace efforts in the Vietnam war
Presidential campaign of 1964, Lyndon B. Johnson
Presidential campaigns, intrigues and hypocrisies, United States
Presidential campaigns, United States
Reform in medical sphere, Great Society, United States
Reforms in civil rights, Great Society, United States
Reforms in Education, Great Society, United States
Reforms in public sphere, Great Society, United States
Reforms in Social sphere, Great Society, United States
Robert F. Kennedy, US Senator and official, public and political figure
Search for peace settlement in the Vietnam war
Social issues of American society, 1960s
The Great Society, American politics
The Great Society, American politics, Lyndon B. Johnson
The role of the USSR in the Vietnam War
United States (1950 -- 1978)
US Armed forces, 1960s
US soldiers in Vietnam, 1962 -- 1975
Vietnam War, 1962 -- 1973
War between North Vietnam and South Vietnam
This document is a scholarly article written by Dr. Jerome B. Wiesner; Wiesner was titled Science Advisor to the President for Presidents' Eisenhower, Johnson, and Kennedy. Wiesner's article, "The Case Against an Antiballistic Missile System", criticizes the construction of antiballistic defense systems in the United States during the Cold War era.
Wiesner introduces that since the Chinese tested a hydrogen bomb and negotiations faltering between the USSR and USA to limit missile defenses, an American panic has come over the White House to construct an antiballistic missile system. Dr. Wiesner criticizes President Lyndon B. Johnson's decision to build an ABM defense system that would cost "between $3 to $6 billion, that would provide a reasonably effective defense..." in the short term, only 10-15 years. Dr. Wiesner also criticizes the "disastrous" handling of the Vietnam conflict in 1961.
On antiballistic systems, Dr. Wiesner is against because he believes there is safety on offense; "offense has all of the advantages; any defense system can be overpowered." Wiesner biggest criticism is the exponential cost of ABM systems and short-term effectiveness. In conclusion, Dr. Wiesner calls for peace, "the best defens is to prevent nuclear war."
Look Magazine, 28 November, 1967.
This document is an article written in Look Magazine, an American publication. Written/Produced by Christopher S. Wren, the article titled, "Vietnam: A Draftee is Sent to Fight," depicts in photographs and written narrative the American draftee's experience fighting in Vietnam.
The article highlights a newly drafted infantryman from California named Steve Stone, as the narrative discusses the rising amount of American casualties in Vietnam, leading to the United States' leaning evermore on Conscription. In a seemingly antiwar light, the article continues to discuss the war as a "volunteer war [where] seventy percent of the U.S. Army has less than two years' service."
Photographs that are included show infantrymen and their interaction with the landscape of Vietnam.
Look Magazine, 28 November, 1967.
This document is an article published by the editorial board and contributors of Look Magazine, an American publication. Specifically, the article is an excerpt taken from liberal U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy's book entitled, "To Seek a Newer World."
RFK calls for negotiations as the only possible way out of the agony of Vietnam.... "successive governments of South Vietnam have failed..Instead of a government responsive to the needs and aspirations of the people, there is corruption and cronyism."
Kennedy focuses on the irony of President Johnson's offer to negotiate despite bombing Hanoi. Also, with an increasing VietCong strength, Kennedy believes that President Johnson will counter with sending more American troops. Kennedy follows with noting that America's allies are not supportive of the Vietnam conflict, continue to trade with the belligerent Vietnam and China, and on the American home front, "the war has divided Americans in ways whose effects we may feel for years to come."
Look Magazine, 28 November, 1967, part 1.
This document is an article published by the editorial board and contributors of Look Magazine, an American publication. Specifically, the article is an excerpt taken from liberal U.S. Senator Robert F. Kennedy's book entitled, "To Seek a Newer World."
Robert F. Kennedy criticizes the lack of peace negotiations between the Johnson Administration and the North Vietnamese. Kennedy stresses the North Vietnamese willingness to allow for peace negotiations as long as the Americans stopped bombing Hanoi, but the Americans did not cease bombing the North Vietnamese capital.
In short, Kennedy calls for the halt of bombing North Vietnam, negotiating peace between North and South Vietnam, and gradual extraction of foreign troops from Vietnam.
Look Magazine, 28 November, 1967, part 2.
This document is an article written by Rowland Evans and Robert Novak, writers for an American magazine, Saturday Evening Post.
The article entitled, "Lyndon B. Johnson: The Exercise of Power," discusses Lyndon B. Johnson's 1964 Presidential campaign and tactics that allowed LBJ to win a landslide victory against Republican Senator Barry Goldwater.
Specifically, the article discusses the feud between Democratic representatives Robert F. Kennedy and Lyndon B. Johnson, and Johnson's eventual exclusion of Robert F. Kennedy from the Vice Presidency.
The article also discusses the hypocricy between Lyndon B. Johnson's ideas of opening a two-front war; a war against poverty in America through ideas of "Great Society," and a war against Communism in Vietnam and the continued strategic bombing of North Vietnam and LBJ's extension of the war in Vietnam.
Saturday Evening Post, 22 October, 1966. Pt. 1
This document is an article written by Rowland Evans and Robert Novak, writers for an American magazine, Saturday Evening Post.
The article entitled, "Lyndon B. Johnson: The Exercise of Power," discusses Lyndon B. Johnson's 1964 Presidential campaign and tactics that allowed LBJ to win a landslide victory against Republican Senator Barry Goldwater.
The article explains that during the 1964 Presidential campaign, the Johnson camp initiated in "black politics" or "black propaganda," which smeared or overexaggerated the campaign of Repbulican Senatory Barry Goldwater, Johnson's political rival.
The Johnson camp played on Goldwater's seemingly warmongering focus in Vietnam over social progression in the United States. Johnson's campaign focused on the social progression, or 'War on Poverty, in the United States, to please American voters. However, once Johnson was elected, he strayed from the 'War on Poverty' to extend the war in Vietnam.
The article reveals that Johnson's weak point was 'Foreign Policy', in which he relied heavily on advisors. This led to the nervous handling of the situation in the Dominican Republic, and in Vietnam.
Saturday Evening Post, 22 October, 1966. Pt. 2
This document is an article written by Rowland Evans and Robert Novak, writers for Saturday Evening Post, an American magazine.
The article discusses the hypocrisy of Lyndon B. Johnson's presidential campaign (War on Poverty), and the way he utilized Presidential powers in switching from the War on Poverty to an extended War on Communism in Vietnam.
Aggressive shows of military force by the North Vietnamese led to Johnson's swift retaliation of military firepower in an operation called "Rolling Thunder," which extended the war in Vietnam and made the conflict "personal."
The reaction to extending the war in Vietnam through Operation Rolling Thunder was met with much criticism in Congress as well as in American universities, where "teach-ins" protested Vietnam and called for "unconditional negotiations" with North Vietnam.
Writers of the article conclude with an understanding of President Johnson's utilization of political power and flexibility of ideology. These powers have done good in the public sphere (Civil Rights Act, censuring Joe McCarthy, etc.), but the writers emphasize that Johnson's decision to extend war in Vietnam will remain an impactful smear on his presidency.
Saturday Evening Post, 22 October, 1966
