The conservative voice of a liberal president: An analysis of Lyndon B. Johnson's Vietnam rhetoric
Abstract
Lyndon Johnson wanted to be remembered as the president who tried to end poverty and disease. Instead, he is remembered for social unrest, student protests, a divided nation, and the deaths of American soldiers on Asia soil. By 1968, the majority of Americans began to doubt Johnson's ability to manage the war in Vietnam and deemed his policies "unreasonable." One explanation for this may have been the type of arguments Johnson used to sell his policies to the American publIc. The intent of this study is to trace the evolution of Johnson's Vietnam War rhetoric in order to illumine his use of the liberal and conservative ideological presumptions. It shows that Johnson balanced the liberal and conservative presumptions during 1965 and 1966. This enabled him to gain and maintain public and congressional support for his Vietnam policies. As United States involvement in Southeast Asia increased, so did Johnson's use of conservative appeals. Johnson abandoned his grandiose cornucopia-like liberal rhetoric. Instead, during 1967-1968, Johnson spoke of stability and the status quo, the moral imperative of keeping America's commitments, and a complete and total victory against the communists--all conservative ideals. This use of overly conservative arguments may have encouraged Americans to find his rhetoric, and ultimately his policies in Vietnam unreasonable.
Degree
Ph.D.
Advisors
Stewart, Purdue University.
Subject Area
Communication|History|American history
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