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Modern War Studies
Uncertain Warriors: Lyndon Johnson and His Vietnam Advisors
Lyndon Johnson, when it comes to his role in the Vietnam War, is popularly portrayed as an irrational "hawkish" leader who bullied his advisers and refused to solicit a wide range of opinions. that depiction, David Barrett argues, is simplistic and far from accurate.
In this book, Barrett contends that Johnson's insistence on secrecy, plus his colorful personality, have overshadowed his approach to policymaking and his consideration of a wide spectrum of opinion from a variety of formal and informal advisers. Following a paper trail of memoranda, letters, diaries, and notes, Barrett not only examines how Johnson dealt with his advisers and developed a complex system of consultation but delves into Johnson's personality and style to show their impact on his decisions.
Despite Johnson's willingness to consider opposing viewpoints, Barrett concedes, his rational advisory system nevertheless produced a flawed and fatal set of policies because they were based on an increasingly outdated world view.
In this book, Barrett contends that Johnson's insistence on secrecy, plus his colorful personality, have overshadowed his approach to policymaking and his consideration of a wide spectrum of opinion from a variety of formal and informal advisers. Following a paper trail of memoranda, letters, diaries, and notes, Barrett not only examines how Johnson dealt with his advisers and developed a complex system of consultation but delves into Johnson's personality and style to show their impact on his decisions.
Despite Johnson's willingness to consider opposing viewpoints, Barrett concedes, his rational advisory system nevertheless produced a flawed and fatal set of policies because they were based on an increasingly outdated world view.
- GenresHistoryNonfiction
296 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 1993
36 people want to read
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
April 20, 2026
An interesting and clearly written work.
Barrett looks at the advice Johnson’s advisers gave him when it came to Vietnam decisions, focusing on the period of 1965-1968. He mainly focuses on the escalation of 1965, Westmoreland’s troop requests in 1967, and the aftermath of the Tet offensive. Barrett argues that he carefully listened and seriously considered the advice of “doves,” and that he was always attuned to public opinion and the views of the press and Congress.
Barrett also tries to analyze Johnson’s “system” of advisers, but this part of the book is a bit underwhelming, and perhaps Barrett should have focused more on the merits for and against the advice Johnson received, or on how well-informed (or not) his advisers were on Vietnam issues. Sometimes it seems like Barrett assumes certain people had a lot of influence with Johnson simply because he gave them access. In the text, Barrett italicizes the name of each “adviser” as he introduces them in the narrative, which is a little annoying. Occasionally he also writes of himself in first person.
An interesting and well-researched work.
Barrett looks at the advice Johnson’s advisers gave him when it came to Vietnam decisions, focusing on the period of 1965-1968. He mainly focuses on the escalation of 1965, Westmoreland’s troop requests in 1967, and the aftermath of the Tet offensive. Barrett argues that he carefully listened and seriously considered the advice of “doves,” and that he was always attuned to public opinion and the views of the press and Congress.
Barrett also tries to analyze Johnson’s “system” of advisers, but this part of the book is a bit underwhelming, and perhaps Barrett should have focused more on the merits for and against the advice Johnson received, or on how well-informed (or not) his advisers were on Vietnam issues. Sometimes it seems like Barrett assumes certain people had a lot of influence with Johnson simply because he gave them access. In the text, Barrett italicizes the name of each “adviser” as he introduces them in the narrative, which is a little annoying. Occasionally he also writes of himself in first person.
An interesting and well-researched work.
Displaying 1 of 1 review