Summary
In depth summary of Johnsons foreign policy
- Module
- The Johnson Presidency
- Institution
- AQA
A* notes on LBJ's foreign policy, consolidating all content for exam success
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Viet Minh – National Independence Coalition, led by Ho Chi Minh, eventually turning into the armyGeneral Gap – leader of N.V army
Dien Bien Phu – City in the region in North-west Vietnam, French battle (asked for US assistance)
North Vietnam – Communist part of Vietnam
DRV – Technical name for Vietnam- Democratic Republic of Vietnam (North)
Hanoi – Capital of North Vietnam
South Vietnam – Non-Communist part of Vietnam
RVN – Technical name for South Vietnam
Saigon – Capital of South Vietnam
President Ngo Dinh Diem – President of South Vietnam
ARVN – Army of the Republic of Vietnam, S.V army
NLF – National Liberation Front, N.V army
Vietcong – (basically the NLF but referred to this in S.V)
Averell Harriman – The special ambassador to East Asia
Robert McNamara – Secretary of Defence under JFK and LBJ
McGeorge Bundy – National Security Advisor under JFK and LBJ
Who should bear responsibility for US difficulties in Vietnam during the Johnson Era?
Pre-WWII administration?
Ho Chi Minh at Versailles
Birth of the Vietminh
Context of other events
France v Vietminh
Chinese Revolution
South Vietnam:
Ngo Dinh Diem and Ngo Dinh Nhu
- Diem lead South Vietnam and his brother had ran his own political party similar to that of the
communist party; alongside a secret police force who ‘dealt’ with those who objected his brother’s
regime.
Buddhists & Students (inc. Diem’s response)
- Diem alienated the religious community in particular the Buddhist community which lead to protests
by monks as well as high school and university students, who were eventually arrested- inc. children in
Diem’s administration.
Madame Nhu
- “Vietnam has no use for your crazy freedoms” – US reporters
, - Openly said that she would clap at the burning monk’s protests, even going further to say that she’d
give them more gasoline
ARVN
- Army of the Republic of Vietnam
- Supported by American forces during the war
- Were a reluctant army, e.g. AP BAC took two hours for reinforcements to arrive
- Didn’t want to fight for something they’re against
Kennedy Administration
JFK’s election
- In his inauguration speech he mentions that the US will “bear any burden” and has already signed up to
help Vietnam without knowing. If he didn’t live up to that promise then he would be going back on his
word.
De Gaulle
- Warned Kennedy not to get stuck in Vietnam
Washington Hawks and JFK
- JFK has very aggressive and overly confident people in his administration. If Kennedy had chosen
more subtle advisors then Vietnam involvement might not have been as deepened as it had been.
Bay of Pigs/Vienna/Laos
- Failed in early foreign policy goals and needed to prove himself with firm action against the
communists. Kennedy doesn’t look like he is fully committed- Kennedy couldn’t have another defeat
then hope to be re-elected
JFK and military advisors
- Listened to his ‘hawk’ advisors and sent in US advisors as well as the Special Forces to Vietnam. By
the time Johnson comes into his presidency; US troops were already embedded in ARVN- so Johnson
had no choice but to continue sending troops into Vietnam, on top of the 17,000 already in there.
Strategic Hamlet Programme
- American forces built Hamlets to try and protect southern farmers from the NLF. However it is
unpopular and the NLF end up recruiting members from these hamlets.
Support for Diem
- People are against US support of Diem.
Analysis by McNamara & Harkins – MACV
- McNamara and Harkins are analysing the success of the S.H programmes. They end up analysing the
wrong information and they can’t factor in the resentment of the Vietnamese.
Coup of 1963
- Diem and his brother were paid to leave S.V. but both were later assassinated by his own army. There
is nobody there to lead Vietnam; making the US the leading force in South Vietnam.
Line of Argument:
Eisenhower administration
Dien Bien Phu
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