Hear How President Johnson Called 50,000 Men To Vietnam Combat

In 1967 President Lyndon B. Johnson gave this speech addressing the situation in Vietnam and the United States' military commitment there. This speech was part of a broader effort by Johnson's administration to justify and intensify American involvement in the Vietnam War.
The speech included the announcement of an increase in U.S. troop levels by an additional 50,000 soldiers. This decision brought the total number of U.S. military personnel in Vietnam to approximately 525,000. Johnson framed this escalation as necessary to counter the aggression from the North Vietnamese and the Viet Cong, reflecting his administration's commitment to the containment of communism, a cornerstone of U.S. foreign policy during the Cold War.
The speech was part of Johnson's policy of gradual escalation, aiming to increase military pressure on North Vietnam to bring about a favorable negotiation of peace.
The reaction among the American public to Johnson's announcement and the ongoing war effort was mixed and increasingly polarized. Initially, a substantial portion of the American populace supported Johnson's policies under the broad anti-communist sentiment of the Cold War era.
However, as the war dragged on, public opinion shifted significantly. By 1967, the growing number of casualties, the draft's impact on American families, and the visible lack of progress in achieving military and political goals in Vietnam led to mounting opposition. This shift was reflected in widespread protests, particularly among younger Americans and the academic community, who became vocal critics of the war.
In Congress, Johnson's decision to escalate the war initially received substantial support, especially given the broad bipartisan consensus on containing communism. However, as the war's costs in terms of lives, economic impact, and its divisive effect on the American public became clearer, skepticism in Congress grew. This skepticism was not immediate and took several more years to fully develop into the widespread congressional opposition that characterized the latter stages of the Vietnam War. The turning point in Congressional support generally came after the Tet Offensive in 1968, which significantly altered perceptions of the war's winnability and legitimacy.
Thus, the 1967 announcement by President Johnson marked a critical point in the Vietnam War, leading to increased military commitment on the part of the United States but also sowing seeds of widespread discontent and opposition that would profoundly affect domestic politics and the overall direction of U.S. foreign policy.

[@wauliepalnuts6134]

The more I learn about this LBJ fella, the more I don't care for him.

[@kyriethika]

LBJ was trying to remain true to JFK's plans and the American foreign policy started by Eisenhower to fight against the spread of Communism. Don't forget that it was LBJ that was the president who had done as much as he had for social justice and equality. Maybe look those facts up of all the good he did, as well. LJB make have asked for people to sign up, but it was Nixon who extended the war - and then acted like the hero when he pulled the troops out with worse chaos than when we pulled out of modern Afghanistan.

[@Sean-nj3hx]

Ha, norm said that

[@ditto1958]

No, he was evil to the bone. He’s known for his failed presidency for miring us in the Viet Nam war, but prior to that he was a ruthless, ambitious, corrupt to the bone politician whose socialist policies have done more harm to America than any other president in our history.

[@chadthundercock4806]

Passed many civil rights bills that destroyed the country

[@wauliepalnuts6134]

@@Sean-nj3hx More of a comment, really.

[@alanarakelian5021]

The hick who sent 58,000 American men to their deaths for absolutely no reason.

[@michaelmcardle4662]

Population control

[@KCCardCo]

He was nothing but a stupid hillbilly.

[@idolhanz9842]

He was heavily invested in Bell Textron as he provoked Vietnam into war..

[@andrewmurray3139]

I understand the reason was something called the Domino theory. The Soviet had a philosophy of world domination implemented by taking over one country at a time. They believed communism was the humane answer to exploitative capitalism and the logical outcome of the human condition so not totally evil. As I believe was said at the time it is better to fight the communists in Vietnam, then Kentucky. Of course the inefficiencies of a communist run economy may well have caused them to collapse long before world domination so whether Vietnam was a necessary conflict can never be said with certainty. Nonetheless, it seems to me it was a rational response to a threat at the time.

[@michaelharrison8036]

​@@andrewmurray3139 Yes you are correct in trying to out-spend them (the communists) but it didn't really become a successful plan until the Soviets occupied Afghanistan. Ronald Reagan funnelled money thru Pakistan to the "Freedom Fighters' successfully, putting a strain on the Soviet economy, to the point they withdrew and ultimately collapsed. Quite frankly, I was astonished they left so quickly, I remember driving home from work and hearing it on the radio.

[@louissartor6294]

My father served in Danang in the mid 1960s as a LtCol in the USMC. Before he departed he told his oldest son, 9 years old, me, that he was leaving my family in San Clemente to fight on behalf of our country. When he returned he was a changed man. Years later he told me that was a war we should have never entered. By then he was a McGovern voter. I now wonder how our world would be today if JFK had been allowed to serve a second term. I never believed what the Warren Commission had to say about his death. Just saying. Same with the 9/11 Commission Report. The trust between citizens and our government has been broken in my lifetime. Truly unfortunate and tragic.

[@MicahScottPnD]

Loud and clear, fellow citizen💙

[@santoshpal6747]

Sir, l want to clarify that US young generation army men went to war against Vietnam only for capitalism,died for capitalism and later their lives ruined for capitalism.They didn't fight for US and Vietnam was not threat for US. Many innocent Vietnamese people died in this US capitalism led war. Young generation americans were also brainwashed by capitalism of US. Today US needs communism, Socialism and humanism for social Justice, peace and equality in US. Love from lndia.🙏🙏🇮🇳🇱🇷

[@Tummysticks315]

their first attempt was the business plot in 1933 they failed but didnt with jfk and the towers. crazy world out there stay safe yall

[@MicahScottPnD]

@@santoshpal6747 In India, is there a prevailing thought on what happened to JFK? I often wonder, too, what things would be like had he been with us through those years.

[@jrobbin24]

@santoshpal please don't take this as disrespect but you couldn't be any more wrong about communism. Nobody hates communism more than communists they just aren't allowed to tell you and the people on top who do the propaganda I have in the time of their lives but you will not be included in that when it all goes down

[@RichardCosci]

I was a senior in high school in 67, mostly partying, didn’t know squat about politics. But I knew there was a full draft. No lottery system. Upper classmen were getting killed. I thought only doctors and lawyers went to college. So my buddy and I joined the Marines. I arrived in country a week after Tet. In my mind I was helping stop Communism. After witnessing so much death and destruction, I decided the people there should make their own decisions about their own lives and government. What the hell was I doing there. I was lucky, after 9 months I was shot in the leg while on patrol, had surgery and was medivacked to Japan & a. month later to the states.. I became a pacifist & spoke against the war.whenever I had an opportunity. In my mind, the only just war is a defensive war where someone is attacking our land or an ally’s land.

[@MicahScottPnD]

Thanks for sharing that💙

[@GeneRogers-di6cl]

I was 18 years old in 1967 and was in the Draft. There was no lottery then. I got my Draft notification after I had enlisted. I was a Combat Engineer in I Corp in Vietnam building fire bases, building fire bases and setting up mines, defusing booby traps , being shot at and caught in fire fights. I sh*t in my pants . Being a teenager I had no clue nor idea what was going on. My Dad had fought in the Pacific in world war two and his older brother fought in Europe in World War Two. I was lucky to come home , but I came home a shattered young man and I was the enemy. After returning from Vietnam I still had time to serve being an enlistee. I still served as support Battalion with the 11th Battalion Combat Engineers across the Potomac River from Washington DC. I had to pull riot duty for President Nixon. On any given weekend Washington DC had two to three hundred thousand protesters. I suffered from PTSD which was not known about then. I was still a young man with an old man’s mentality. I was one of the lucky ones. I was not allowed to wear my uniform in our Nations Capital. I lost several friends from high school in Vietnam . I was the lucky one. I still have PTSD from my experiences in Vietnam and other problems . We should have never been sent to Vietnam. No war is a good war. God Bless my buddies who died there and those who went. We were not the enemy. I still think of my brothers who died there. I usually never post.

[@MicahScottPnD]

@@GeneRogers-di6cl Hearing all that, it really makes me wonder what you would think of some of the songs I make. When I make songs, I try to take into account experiences like yours, that just don't fit squarely into the boxes that people often have. It's incredible hearing all of that. I wish you well and hope there are some very good times ahead for you.

[@Sol-Cutta]

That was Ur allies land.

[@Sol-Cutta]

​@@MicahScottPnDnice times ahead ??? Do u not understand the age he is ? His good times are long behind..now its just surviving old age for as long as poss. 😊

[@shelleykistner4642]

What a waste of lives lost

[@Steve-Richter]

Was the Korean War a waste also?

[@gregoryhenderson2640]

Yes. Vietnam definitely was. ​@@Steve-Richter

[@yeedbottomtext7563]

@@Steve-Richteryes

[@SamBlitz]

Yes. Vietnam definitely was. ​ @Steve-Richter

[@xxminecraftproxx1668]

@@Steve-Richter Yes. Vietnam definitely was. ​ @Steve-Richter

[@seoceancrosser]

A draft to fight communism sponsored by the war making machine looks awfully similar to the present day war on terrorism sponsored by the war machine. “A war is when the government tells you who the boogeyman is, a revolution is when you figure out who the boogeyman is” said by someone smarter than I. We Americans have exercised our freedom to be dumb.

[@poireauer6517]

👍👍

[@danielfallon3363]

Complex man. War criminal, civil rights beacon, proponent of Medicare. So, so many lives destroyed.

[@user-hr3tx6uu9o]

A war that should never have been! To this day, I have zero respect for LBJ.

[@DeezN1892]

They’ll do this again for Russia

[@DeniseLopez-gt9wg]

He never wanted to be interviewed because he knew he would be asked tough questions and asked why and what is the purpose entering Vietnam and he knew majority of Americans would not approve of that so called war

[@user-hr3tx6uu9o]

@@DeniseLopez-gt9wg Seriously I doubt if he could have answered that question without infuriating everyone. Power grab?

[@chris4321das]

War criminal calling his minions 👎

[@butch843]

Among many other crimes.

[@gregoryhenderson2640]

@@butch843 Sadly, when u mention Vietnam in front of a liberal, idiot, very ignorant individual, the first thing that comes out their mouth is hate speech towards Nixon. While not having a clue of what lbj did and the crimes he was guilty of. The bar on stupid is being raised everyday.

[@lovelygargantua]

*victims

[@NmaM-it5yk]

We were not the aggressors, the north and their minions were invading the south when the country was already split in two. America responded at the time the communist threat was real. And now look how divided we are from Marxism today.

[@OZzo1]

​@@butch843had there been the laws situated back then he would be charged for sexual misconduct as an offender

[@clownpaint20]

Hey hey LBJ how many kids did you kill today?

[@musicmike1960]

And after all the battles and all the deaths over 65 thousand, America just left and the North walked right in, case closed...So please explain to me the need to participate in this war or conflict or whatever you want to call it...All those lives for nothing, sad.

[@mumbles215]

We were all lied to. Just like today. That’s the way of the devil. Destruction. Lies. Chaos and deception. Where there is confusion, we know that is his work

[@maryheiman4091]

Makes me sick to think about it

[@johnq.public4252]

A year or so earlier, LBJ said he would not send American troops to do the fighting that South Vietnamese troops should be doing.

[@5150Rockstar]

We had no business in Vietnam and the blood is mainly on Johnson’s hands for not pulling out after knowing it was not winable

[@stephenbastasch7893]

How does a big ole Texan pull out? Why, he don't!

[@mumbles215]

Just like today, we have no business in the Ukraine

[@stephenbastasch7893]

@@mumbles215 Yep!

[@laurieconklin9765]

And history repeats itself ☹️

[@alexandarvoncarsteinzarovi3723]

Bush 9.11

[@drewpall2598]

It's easy to look back in hindsight and pass judgement on the mistakes made in the past. To those who served our country during the Vietnam conflict I thanks you for your service and sacrifice and welcome home. Rest in Peace to the 58,220 military personal KIA and those who died from Agent Orange or from (PTSD) to those who are still fighting that War in flashback and nightmares I pray for the day that peace will come to you. 🙏

[@chris4321das]

Were the soldiers in the Wehrmacht serving their country? Are the soldiers in Russia's army serving their country in Ukraine?

[@gbates2955]

Wow

[@TheESMAT07]

​@@chris4321das Also the north vietnamese.

[@MicahScottPnD]

Hindsight, all kinds of people chime in. Present? Very few have anything to say. Very nicely said, Drew.💙

[@yagruumbagaarn]

No word about the 3 million Vietnamese who died?

[@greensombrero3641]

be careful people with your votes - the USA is dangerously close to this x100

[@poireauer6517]

👍👍

[@reneburger4317]

Fighting to enrich the military industrial complex. Hurray!

[@poireauer6517]

👍👍

[@fasilharer1291]

Different Drum player the same tune.

[@carolkroll9902]

Sending good men to the slaughter…so so sad

[@yeedbottomtext7563]

This reminds me of Putin’s “special military operation” speech

[@jonathanm9436]

Sarah Paine of the Naval War College is fascinating on the true purpose of the American War (as the Vietnamese call it).

[@John-cr2tn]

This is the same guy who said asian wars should be fought by asian boys

[@OZzo1]

he was a pervert and sexual harasser, who wouldnt have seen it coming

[@Mo-yd8xc]

What, exactly, was he fighting for?

[@jdee3421]

"Hey, Hey, LBJ..."

[@johnchristiancanda3320]

"How many kids did you kill today?"

[@gracelandone]

Good lord.

[@TheDevice9]

I'll never forgive him.

[@Steve-Richter]

Do those who say the US should not have fought in Vietnam also make the claim for Korea?

[@LL-cz5ql]

Yes

[@Steve-Richter]

@@LL-cz5qlbut the US is more secure having South Korea on the side of freedom.

[@butch843]

Ah. A nuclear armed north Korea.

[@poorman2457]

US troops were directly attacked in Korea. Look into it there were US soldiers stationed in South Korea at the start of the war. Thousands of Americans were pushed back to the Busan Perimeter. It was an insane move by the North Koreans to attack Americans directly.

[@OZzo1]

the same war that killed 20% of it's population, mostly citizens, excercised by 2 corrupt superpowers? yes, we do

[@WilliamAlanPhoto]

Shameful.

[@Will-dn9dq]

Those declare combat should be forced to be on point

[@nicklausbrain]

There is no room for “draft” in a free society. But lbj was for a ‘great’ society - not free.

[@nicklausbrain]

I should note that as a ‘commander in chief’ - lbj was highly incompetent - doing micromanagement and having no strategy.

[@quietspark8703]

The Soviet Union would have collapsed in on itself even if the US didn't enter Vietnam. Vietnam was a decision based purely on fear and that is what made it a poor decision.

[@coomodus2592]

50k plebs

[@santoshpal6747]

It was a big mistake for US to fight against Vietnam for capitalism and prevent Communism in this region. Many common Vietnamese people died in this war. Many US young soldiers died in pre-mature deaths and Many middle class families lost their dear ones in this unnecessary and unwanted Vietnam war.Finally US badly defeated in this years long war against Vietnam and lost it's global reputation in the genocide and the mass distruction in Vietnam. US government lost many things in this war. Today in Capitalist US many people have no Jobs,no food security,no homes,no money for their treatment and crime is increasing day by day. Only 1% people is enjoying wealth in US.lt's a great injustice to the common people in US. US is now like a war zone, violence of gun crimes and police brutality are increasing day by day. US army should needed in the streets, schools, shopping malls etc in US for defend their Common citizen rather than they should fight against terrorism abord to bring global peace.😊😊 Finally, after the collapse of Soviet Union in 1990 Vietnam switch to capitalism.Now, Vietnam is flourishing in its capitalist economy and lt is a good tourist destination in South Eastern Asian countries.😊😊 Today,per capita income in Vietnam is higher than lndia's per capita income. Vietnamese people are happier than US people in present time. The overall moral story of US-Vietnam war is-"lf you want to change something in human society, first you bring some changes in your own life and then you have to wait for the right time for this kind of change in society otherwise all your efforts will be doom in wrong time".🤣🤣 I know you like my comments and please share my views to your fellow americans in this topic. You may follow my x social media-Santosh Kumar Pal.l have no WhatsApp number for security reasons as of now. Love from lndia.🇮🇳🇺🇸

[@arthurdalton517]

We all know that L B J WAS IN BED WITH THE Industrial military complex

[@ryanmichael1298]

Goldwater in '64

[@L_Qu]

Loony Bin Jim

[@nolarocks]

Disgusting

[@christophercarlone9945]

Waste of human life.

[@wwrk25]

All the way with LBJ!

[@estanblue1980]

Not a good man at all

[@canonicalcritic]

In his defense, Vietnam was not the actual threat but the spread of communism was. People see Vietnam as useless because it was a war of political strategy. We therefore assume the entire purpose was the profiteering of the military-industrial complex. I just don’t think it’s going that simple. Yea, we entered a sovereign nation to impose upon a growing political ideology that we deemed an existential threat generally speaking. We didn’t go to stop a particular person, leader, or terrorist group. That is much different than the idea of invading a country because we have an active threat against us - IE they weren’t actively attacking us. To avoid fighting the communists where they were most powerful we halted their ability to gain even more traction and expand their influential turf globally. The communists were and still are very powerful but would have grown more powerful than us if we did not go to Vietnam. Yes, resources were involved with regard to what could weaken our interests economically over time so there are both ethical and moral questions that we ought to raise as citizens of the nation responsible for the war itself but my question to those who disagree is, “What would have happened if we didn’t go to Vietnam?” It’s easy for us to judge that war in hindsight because we don’t see the goal of it as clearly as our leaders did at the time. My argument isn’t to justify useless or wasteful wars but to suggest there may be benefits to our contemporary quality of life as a result that is hard for us to understand today simple BECAUSE Vietnam happened and we grew up in a world that was arguably a lot safer as a result of it happening.

[@wauliepalnuts6134]

If the spread of communism was the actual threat, then they should've started in our own universities first and let Sen. Joe McCarthy do his thing.

[@davidmicalizio824]

How many civilians did we slaughter over there?

[@canonicalcritic]

@@davidmicalizio824 Pinochet in Chile was supported by US intel in the slaughter of Marxist activists as well in the 80’s. The US is trying actively to stop this ideology everywhere whether directly or indirectly involved. Arguably more were identified and killed there than Vietnam. Just saying this to provide context over whataboutism. Every death is a tragedy but my counter to you is where do we then draw that line of morality and contextualize this kind of act? In other words, what would you suggest?

[@chris4321das]

@@canonicalcritic More people were killed in Chile than in Vietnam? Are you serious? And do you know what the US did in Cambodia? Do you know how many civilians the US killed in the Korean war? Iraq 1 and 2? Afghanistan? Where do you draw the line on supporting your evil, war criminal government?

[@davidmicalizio824]

@@canonicalcritic wow, that was a great deflection. We shouldn't have been there in the first place.

[@NmaM-it5yk]

Everyone seems to forget. The North Vietnamese were the invaders, the country was spilt in 2 before the war in 1954. Communist north and capitalist US backed south. America responded to back their south allies because we were in a Cold War and saved South Korea from being taken over ten years earlier. Of course we were confident we could do it again in Vietnam. Yet of course we are always looked at as the bad guys, what about the North Vietnamese they could have just stayed in the north and never would have been a war. But yet like any Marxist economy it loses tons of money and needs to take over richer economies. Thus they invaded to take over the south. Now after all, Marxism is winning today and we are now more divided from it and its ideas today so yeah we lost in the end. Thank you to the baby boomer generation 👌our country is so much better now. Note: I don’t like war period. There are no winners in war.

[@OZzo1]

thank you to the baby boomer generation... aka you 😂 thank you for creating an insufferable capitalist system where over 80% of americans are in debt, which average 36k excluding mortages

[@NmaM-it5yk]

@@OZzo1 Lmao thanks didn’t know a boomer was born in the 80s 😂 Besides yeah you’re so right it’s so insufferable living under capitalism with its plumbing system that flushes your dumps away with the flip a handle, unlimited supply of fresh clean water to drink and bathe in, climate controlled rooms, unlimited supply of electricity to power these climate controlling machines and lights to provide light in the dark with the press of a button or flick of the switch, being able to ride in machines that travel faster than any animal in the planet and any bird in the sky (cars, planes, trains) and get us from one destination to another that used to take all humans months or even years to endure, many many choices of what food we want to eat whenever we feel the hunger and this food being so much to chose from in stores and drive thru’s from the comfort of our climate controlled cars, food that has been processed from years of perfected technologies and processes, and so much more thanks to this insufferable capitalism. Yeah we have it so rough here under capitalism. Don’t really know why so many millions of people want to even immigrate here every year it’s insufferable living here due to capitalism. We need to let them know to not come here immediately! 🤔

[@DavidThomas-vj3eu]

Biden has them ALL beat Mr. Hoffman.

[@davidmicalizio824]

Bullshit

[@idolhanz9842]

Johnson the lying warmonger makes me want to revolt...

[@fuckkatuas2837]

Aged like spoiled milk.

[@carlo6230]

EVIL DEMORAT ...JUST LIKE THE REST OF THEM....WARMONGERS

[@Badger8200]

Another example of male disposability

[@runningbaum9430]

Lyndon Johnson a typical full of shit democrat. People cannot smell the same thing come out of their mouths today.