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John F. Kennedy

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Escalated American involvement thinking that the war would be quick and easy ... After an alleged attack by Viet Cong forces on American patrol boats in the Gulf ... – PowerPoint PPT presentation

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Title: John F. Kennedy


1
John F. Kennedy
  • Kennedy graduated from Harvard in 1940 and
    entered the navy
  • In 1943, despite injuries, led survivors to
    safety after his PT boat was sunk by a Japanese
    destroyer
  • After the war, he became a Democratic Congressman
    and advanced to the Senate in 1953
  • In 1955, he wrote a book called Profiles in
    Courage and won the Pulitzer Prize
  • In 1956, he almost gained democratic nomination
    for vice president, and 4 years later got the
    first ballot nomination for president

http//images.google.com/images?hlenqjohnfken
nedy
2
JFKs Role in the Vietnam War
  • JFK believed that the U.S. could shape the
    destiny of worlds developing countries
  • In Vietnam, he wanted to protect the South from
    communism as well as help them through stages of
    economic growth
  • Kennedy wasnt sure about a solution did not
    want communism to stand in Vietnam
  • Vietnam was a test of U.S. resolve he hated the
    idea of failure always had to win
  • Escalated American involvement thinking that the
    war would be quick and easy

http//www.vietnamwar.com/johnkennedyrole.htm
3
Involvement in the War
  • Both sides of Kennedys administration clashed
    about sending troops to Vietnam
  • In 1963, Kennedy was told that the war would be
    fast and that he could start taking out troops by
    the end of the year by then he had sent in about
    11,000 troops
  • Kennedy agreed for the CIA mission to assassinate
    Diem
  • Even after the assassination, Kennedy was still
    unsure about what to do, and had already spoken
    to advisors about pulling out of Vietnam
  • Kennedy was assassinated in November of 1963

http//media.historynet.com/images/vietnam-war-cat
egory.jpg
4
Lyndon B. Johnson
  • Born and raised in Johnson City, Texas
  • Taught at a poor High School for several years
  • Began his political career in the House in 1937
    as a New Deal Democrat
  • Joined the U.S. Navy in1941, until coming back
    in 1948 to win a seat in the Senate with a more
    conservative approach
  • Established himself in the Senate, became
    Minority Leader in 1951 and Majority Leader in
    1957
  • Used his influence to help pass civil rights
    bills and gain favor with the Eisenhower
    administration
  • After failing to get the Democratic Presidential
    Nomination Johnson took an offer to be Vice
    President under Kennedy in 1960

http//search.eb.com/eb/art72230?articleTypeId1
5
Vice Presidency
  • Johnson campaigned in the South to help Kennedy
    beat Nixon in 1960
  • Johnson did not like his role as Vice President
    under Kennedy because he liked to be at the
    center of power
  • Johnson, who had worked from poverty to success,
    did not get along well with the aristocratic
    Kennedy
  • Johnson took roles such as Head of the Space
    Program and President's Committee on Equal
    Employment Opportunity, but felt that Kennedy did
    not respect him enough to take more serious roles
  • Kennedy was assassinated in November of 1963 and
    Johnson became President

http//www.usconstitution.com/johnkennedy_lyndonjo
hnson.jpg
6
Role in the Vietnam War
  • Johnson inherited conflict in Vietnam from
    Kennedy along with his Presidency
  • Campaigned and pledged not to get more involved
    in Vietnam and won re-election in 1964 in a
    landslide
  • After an alleged attack by Viet Cong forces on
    American patrol boats in the Gulf of Tonkin,
    Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution,
    giving Johnson power to take all necessary
    measures
  • Johnson greatly increased the number of troops
    and ordered various bombing campaigns
  • As the war in Vietnam went on and became a
    stalemete, it became unpopular and a large
    anti-war movement formed
  • Suffering from depression from the Vietnam
    conflict, Johnson decided not to run for
    re-election in 1968

http//www.vietnamwar.com/lyndonjohnsongreetsameri
cantroopsinvietnam1966.jpg
7
Works Cited
  • John Kennedy. John Kennedy. http//www.whitehous
    e.gov/history/presidents/jk35.html (2 Feb 2007)
  • President John F Kennedys Role in the Vietnam
    War. The Vietnam War President John F Kennedys
    Role in the Vietnam War. 2005. http//www.vietnamw
    ar.com/johnkennedyrole.htm (2 Feb 2007)
  • Johnson, Lyndon B. Lyndon B. Johnson.
    http//search.eb.com/eb/article-214020 (2 Feb
    2007)
  • Lyndon Baines Johnson Facts on File.
    http//www.fofweb.com/ActiveLink2.asp?SKIPBID6
    ItemIDWE53 (2 Feb 2007)
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