Micheal Hunt's Lyndon Johnson's War.

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HIST 1112: United States History II

Study Guide for Michael Hunt's Lyndon Johnson's War

General Questions

What is the significance of the book's title? Was Vietnam really "Lyndon

Johnson's War"? What's the "crusade" in the subtitle? Whom or what does

Hunt blame for the war?

While looking at the history of the French and previous United States Presidents involvement with Vietnam, President Johnson decisions to escalated this war with troop involvement and the idea to "win the war." He blames idealism in the sense it was the miscalculations of the Vietnamese people could endure.

What was the most important factor in the Vietnam War, nationalism or communism (or perhaps something else entirely)?

I believe nationalism was key to the success of the NLF to succeed. Why other communist countries assisted the North Vietnamese, years of outside oppression lead to the peasant Vietnamese wiliness to wait out another outside oppressing country.

Why did the U.S. lose the war in Vietnam?

A turn in the sediment of the U.S. citizens who question the government. There was no clear progress, objective, the length of the war and supporting a people did not have the desire to defeat the north.

Are there any lessons from Vietnam that are relevant to the United States in the post-Cold War era?

My opinion is that there must be an understanding of history and culture of the country you are looking to occupy. In addition, there was must be a wiliness of Americans to understand the reasons why troops are sent, and realization of the cost of human life is important enough to accept the risk.


What is Hunt's personal connection to the Vietnam War? How did he describe himself during the war years?

He spent two summers in Saigon (1962-3) with his...