Lyndon Johnson's War: America's Cold War Crusade in Vietnam, 1945-1968

Critical Issue

by Michael H. Hunt

The Hill and Wang Critical Issues Series: concise, affordable works on pivotal topics in American history, society, and politics.

Using newly available documents from both American and Vietnamese archives, Michael H. Hunt's Lyndon Johnson's War reinterprets the values, choices, misconceptions, and miscalculations that shaped the long process of American intervention in Southeast Asia, and renders more comprehensible--if no less troubling--the tangled origins of the war.

Genres: History, Politics, Nonfiction, Academic, Political Science

160 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1996

Reviews

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent primer on the (mis)steps that led to and sustained US involvement in what should have been a much shorter and clearly less costly civil war in Vietnam. Hunt does not dispense blame so much as dispassionately outline (130 pages do not allow for detailed analysis) how successive administrations, but primarily the Johnson Administration, piled misjudgment atop misunderstanding, all wrapped up in arrogance, to create a costly lesson for the ages from Southeast Asia that subsequent adminstrations failed to apply in the Middle East.

[Mike Glaser · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good, short overview of the decisions taken to involve US forces directly in the Vietnam war. Fairly balanced, it ignores the opportunities presented by the defeat of the Viet Cong during the Tet offensive and downplays the significance of the Congress’s refusal to honor the US commitments to South Vietnam following the Paris Peace Accords. A good starting point for those seeking to learn more about this war.

[Sailor · Rating 4 out of 5]

A interesting dive into how LBJ was set up for Vietnam by JFK and Eisenhower. However, the book makes it clear that at the end of the day the escalation of troops from 1965-1968 was entirely LBJ’s decision. It also talks a lot of Robert McNamara, how he came up and how that influenced his decisions on Vietnam. Good read for those interested in the policy decisions that lead to the American war in Vietnam.

[A L]

Very concise, though the title led me to believe it would focus more strictly on the Johnson administration rather than the whole sequence of the war.

[Brian · Rating 5 out of 5]

readable, concise, engaging and thoughtful analysis of the decisions, history and actions leading up to the vietnam war. i was particularly struck by the sections describing lbj's thinking. typically he's skewered on vietnam, and this book doesn't let him off the hook, but does provide much context that lbj wasn't acting in a vacuum, the history leading up to vietnam, the public support or indifference at the beginning of the war, the recommendations from most of his staff/advisers to pursue war, etc. this book also provides some context with respect to lbj's oft criticized decisions to not attack north vietnam more vigorously, which it is here argued lbj was doing prudently (even if it materially contributed to defeat) in order to avoid a possible widened war with china/russia or a nuclear exchange.

another interest tidbit i gleaned from this is that the u.s. was successful post world war 2 in helping to put down insurgencies in greece, malaya and the phillipines, so what we were attempting to do (though presumably on a much larger scale in vietnam) had a precdent of sorts.

french colonialism and american financial support

roosevelt paternalistic attitudes

the ugly american book

failed policies and attempts to help anti communist vietnamese by lansdale

truman/eisenhower policies of containing communism

ho chi minh's communistic background and support by moscow, creation of viet minh

Indochina communist party, declaration of independence in 1945, no support from U.S.and first Indochina war against french

Partition in 1954 after defeat of french at dien bien phu

Formation in late fifties of viet cong nlf to oppose in the south the govt of diem

1963 victory in south of viet cong (nlf) over superior south Vietnamese at ap bac

american intellectual support for war leading to disastrous involvement, with individuals like mcnamara, rusk, bundy, rostow

Kennedy support for diem and then grudging support for coup, diem toppled and then murdered by fellow vietnamese

second coup deposing van mienh and installing army khanh

lbj lens of war and ratcheting up committment through troop increases, operation rolling thunder to bomb north vietnam, increased troops, tonkin incidents (second one unsure if ever happened) vs drv, ultimate war and introduction of major numbers of ground troops

tet offensive ultimately being u.s and south vietnamese victory but giving truth to lie that viet cong and nva were defeated or demolarized

lbj not running for second term, trying for vietnamization by reducing u.s. troops

nixon continuing vietnamization but bombing cambodia, christmas bombings, ultimately peace accords at paris in 1973 and collapse of south vietnam in 1975

[MerryMeerkat · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 Stars

 

Netgalley review.

 

First Impression: Groan. I hate it when the copy is an advance, uncorrected digital copy and the images are all messed up. But I’m dying to read this as a book for my son so I will give it a chance.

 

Plot/Storyline:  Based on a Creek Indian Story

 

I’m not going to rate the art work as it was obvious it was a work in progress and still needed a lot of work.  But the story is really cute and is a nice story. I just wish I could have seen a better copy to review.

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[Patrick · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was assigned reading for my college undergraduate class on Cold War History. Active participation in a study group made reading it unnecessary then (didn't have time). Taking a second look at this monograph now.

Recent history, but incredibly interesting for 20th Century junkies like myself. First half of the book is the lead up to LBJ taking the reins. Second half describes that slippery slope into the quagmire. Should be read in conjunction with other historical works on the subject as it really concentrates on the politics of the Vietnam conflict and glosses over other issues. It really was LBJ's war as it destroyed all hopes for his domestic policies of the Great Society and eventually caused him severe health problems. Died in his beloved Texas Hill Country weeks before the Paris Peace Accords formally ended the U.S. involvement in the conflict.

[Tonya · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is my second read of this book. The first was back in 2004. I like it slightly less this time because I have questions about some of the footnoting and some of the facts seem somewhat skewed based on my other reading.

But, overall, I like the book. I enjoyed Karnow's much more but I realize this is a more scholarly work that looks to illustrate the war as the fault of LBJ. While it could be construed as mildly biased, Hunt does acknowledge many of the problems that LBJ faced. And, he is right; the ultimate burden of Vietnam does rest with LBJ. LBJ chose to escalate the war and therefore gets a lion's share of the blame.

Now, I need a book on how much worse and evil Nixon was....

[Mindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

yep, I was that person who went to Vietnam and read a book about the war so I knew why there were so many Communist flags flying high. Great book to give you the tale of this unfortunate war. Written before 2001, it sounds surprisingly familiar for those of us who watched other politicians go down the wrong path for the sake of saving face and American confidence.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Growing up in the NC public schools, I never learned anything about Vietnam at all. What I knew I learned from The Wonder Years and Forrest Gump. This book is a well written, clear and concise primer of the conflict for those who aren't in the know.

[Anne-marie Coonan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great overview of the Vietnam war.

[Paul Medici]

Informative. This war destroyed him.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good overview of the stamp LBJ put on Vietnam, and its corresponding effects on him and his Presidency. Recommended to read in conjunction with other works on the broader conflict.

[Amber · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is a great monograph for the college beginner. The authors argument is easily found throughout the book however it one can easily argue against him.

[Nat · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good and detailed account of the Vietnam war and Lyndon Johnson's participation and motives.