At 12:16 AM 1/18/2002 -0500, you wrote: > >Not to get into the argument, but I actually think that Woodrow Wilson was > >the second-worst President in American history, after only the pathetic > >James Buchanan... > >I think LBJ belongs below Wilson somewheres...... > >JDG > >Not even close. For the Civil Rights Act of 1968 _alone_ LBJ gets into my >"near-great" Presidents list. Screw Vietnam. Yes, he botched it. He >wasn't alone in that. His efforts on behalf of racial justice - that is, >the eternal attempt of the United States to redeem itself from its original >sin - are so much more important that Vietnam shrinks into insignificance in >comparison. > >Gautam
Unfortunately, LBJ, as the Commander in Chief, must bear the final responsibility for our course in the Vietnam War during his presidency, just as each President must bear the same during his administration. Thus each President, from Truman to Ford is ultimately responsible for our involvement. However, LBJ does not deserve the approbations and blame that many in the anti-war movement heaped upon him. He was very ill-served by his top advisors on the war. In the recent publications of LBJs taped meetings and conversations with his advisors, Johnson continually worries about the war, and wishes to be done with it. He demanded continual updates on the siege at Khe Sahn, not because he wanted to micromanage the war as his detractors claim, but because he was genuinely concerned about the Marines fighting that battle. Johnson did make his own mistakes during his term, in both the domestic, foreign and war fronts. but he had his success too. It will always be his misfortune to be seen as somewhat of a failure because of Vietnam and his detractor's dismissal of his great successes. john
