I wasn't born when then-Vice President Lyndon Johnson unexpectedly assumed the mantle of the Presidency, and I was only an infant and toddler during his final years in office.
Yet with the situation in Iraq being what it is and with public opinion steadily turning against the Iraq efforts, I felt compelled to familiarize myself with LBJ's statements to Congress and to the American people on the US' involvement with Vietnam.
What I found was haunting. As we approach what is called a "major address" by President Bush on the siuation today in Iraq I think Johnson's words should serve as a reminder of where we have been and road we seem determined to follow.
More below the fold.
In 1966, the US suffered 3,373 casualties in the Vietnam War (
Source: Comptroller, Secretary of Defense). The month-by-month breakdown of casualties was even more alarming, starting in January 1966 with 196 casualties and rising
every month to 385 in December 1966.
Excerpts from President Johnson's January 10, 1967 State of the Union speech show the then-President's effort to shore up support for Vietnam:
We are in Vietnam because the United States of America and our allies are committed by the SEATO Treaty to "act to meet the common danger" of aggression in Southeast Asia.
We are in Vietnam because an international agreement signed by the United States, North Vietnam, and others in 1962 is being systematically violated by the Communists. That violation threatens the independence of all the small nations in Southeast Asia, and threatens the peace of the entire region and perhaps the world.
We are there because the people of South Vietnam have as much right to remain non-Communist--if that is what they choose--as North Vietnam has to remain Communist.
We are there because the Congress has pledged by solemn vote to take all necessary measures to prevent further aggression.
<------snip------>
I think I reveal no secret when I tell you that we are dealing with a stubborn adversary who is committed to the use of force and terror to settle political questions.
<------snip------>
Our hope that all of this [peace in Eastern Asia] will someday happen rests on the conviction that we, the American people and our allies, will and are going to see Vietnam through to an honorable peace.
<------snip------>
A time of testing--yes. And a time of transition. The transition is sometimes slow; sometimes unpopular; almost always very painful; and often quite dangerous.
(Full text of the address can be found here.)
1967 saw 5,373 US casualties. With one exception, the increasing trend in US casualties on a month-by-month basis held. January 1967 saw 403 US casualties. This figure increased until August 1967, which saw 466 US casualties. A brief drop to 460 casualties in September 1967 and the figures rose again to 486 in December 1967.
President Johnson's January 17, 1968 State of the Union speech continues to try to keep public opinion behind the efforts in Vietnam:
I report to you that our country is challenged, at home and abroad:
--that it is our will that is being tried, not our strength; our sense of purpose, not our ability to achieve a better America;
--that we have the strength to meet our every challenge; the physical strength to hold the course of decency and compassion at home; and the moral strength to support the cause of peace in the world.
And I report to you that I believe, with abiding conviction, that this people--nurtured by their deep faith, tutored by their hard lessons, moved by their high aspirations--have the will to meet the trials that these times impose.
Since I reported to you last January:
--Three elections have been held in Vietnam--in the midst of war and under the constant threat of violence.
--A President, a Vice President, a House and Senate, and village officials have been chosen by popular, contested ballot.
--The enemy has been defeated in battle after battle.
--The number of South Vietnamese living in areas under Government protection tonight has grown by more than a million since January of last year.
These are all marks of progress. Yet:
--The enemy continues to pour men and material across frontiers and into battle,despite his continuous heavy losses.
--He continues to hope that America's will to persevere can be broken. Well--he is wrong. America will persevere. Our patience and our perseverance will match our power. Aggression will never prevail.
(Full text of the address can be found here.)
Casualties in Vietnam continued to rise in 1968 and beyond. The support of the American people continued to erode.
Tomorrow night, as you listen, doubtlessly outraged, to the President address the nation and implore you to "stand strong", as he references the "hard work" required to keep "freedom on the march", as he echoes and touts all the so-called successes we have accomplished and acknowledges the tragedy of US lives lost, think of LBJ and his words - think about how hauntingly familiar they sound, the difference being only the context.
As history repeats itself, as Iraq looms not only similar in practice to Vietnam but also hauntingly parallel in rhetoric, ask yourself why you aren't hearing these words, delivered by LBJ on March 31, 1968:
What we won when all of our people united just must not now be lost in suspicion, distrust, selfishness, and politics among any of our people.
Believing this as I do, I have concluded that I should not permit the Presidency to become involved in the partisan divisions that are developing in this political year.
With America's sons in the fields far away, with America's future under challenge right here at home, with our hopes and the world's hopes for peace in the balance every day, I do not believe that I should devote an hour or a day of my time to any personal partisan causes or to any duties other than the awesome duties of this office--the Presidency of your country.
With that, President Johnson informed the American people that he would not seek re-election.
We must hold our President, his Administration, and his supporters accountable for this egregious case of history repeating.