Lyndon Johnson, Vietnam, and the Presidency The Speech of March 31, 1968 / David Zarefsky.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Zarefsky, David, author.

Series:

Kenneth E. Montague presidential rhetoric series.

Kenneth E. Montague presidential rhetoric series

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Johnson, Lyndon B. (Lyndon Baines), 1908-1973.

Presidents--United States--Election--1968.

Presidents.

Tet Offensive, 1968.

Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Participation, American--Political aspects.

Vietnam War, 1961-1975.

United States--Politics and government--1963-1969.

United States.

Genre:

Electronic books.

Physical Description:

1 online resource

Edition:

First edition.

Place of Publication:

College Station : Texas A&M University Press, [2021]

Summary:

"Even those who remember hearing those words may not remember that they came at the very end of a 45-minute speech primarily concerning Vietnam. Three months into an already tumultuous year, in the aftermath of the Tet offensive and facing a deeply divided country, President Lyndon Baines Johnson addressed the nation to announce new initiatives and appeal for public support. The speech of March 31, 1968 announced a bombing halt over much of North Vietnam, a limited troop increase rather than a major escalation, and his own decision to withdraw from the presidential race. Each of these decisions was unexpected, a major surprise that stunned the nation. In Lyndon Johnson, Vietnam, and the Presidency, political rhetoric scholar David Zarefsky examines the three key announcements and how they fit together in the speech. In particular, LBJ's announcement that he would not run for re-election gave the de-escalation measures more credibility because they could not be seen as political ploys. Zarefsky traces the development of the speech through eleven drafts, reflecting disagreements and doubts among the writers and advisers. In turn, he sets these efforts in the larger context of the Cold War and the impact of the Tet offensive. Drawing on archival sources and reflecting rhetorical insights, this book illuminates one of the most consequential speeches of the 1960s. Even though the fighting in Vietnam would continue for several more years, the course of America's conduct in Vietnam was changed permanently by this speech"-- Provided by publisher.

Contents:

Lyndon B. Johnson, "Radio and Television Address to the America People from the Oval Office"

The United States and Vietnam, 1945-67

The Tet Offensive and After

Designing the Speech

The Bombing Halt

The Troop Commitment

Withdrawal from the Race

The Afterlife of March 31.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

Description based on publisher supplied metadata and other sources.

ISBN:

9781623499372

1623499372

OCLC:

1269099240