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America looked for ways to promote democracy around the world but it was et with opposition. The Soviet Union was not willing to conform to America’s way of life and this battle was the basis for the Cold War. The Sixties was an era in which the Freedom Movement gained momentum and Americans began to question whether or not the government was honest with the public (Schultz, 2012). Meanwhile, foreign policy would dominate as President Lyndon Johnson inherited the U. S. Involvement in Vietnam. To better understand President Johnny’s ideals, this paper will summarize the situation that required IS .
S. Diplomatic efforts during President Johnny’s time in office. Furthermore, President Johnny’s diplomatic doctrine will be analyzed with reference to specific actions and events. Finally, the effects of these diplomatic efforts for the U. S. And other countries will be described to assess its impact. Summarize a Situation that Required U. S. Diplomatic Efforts during Prestidigitation’s time in office During President Johnny’s time in office, managing the Vietnam conflict required diplomatic efforts by the United States. President Johnson inherited the U.
S. Involvement in Vietnam immediately after taking office. Initially, President John Kennedy decided to eight communism by agreeing to allocate resources and American troops in Vietnam. Unfortunately, President Kennedy was assassinated and this catapulted then Vice President Lyndon Johnson into the commander in chief. Moreover, one of the major decisions President Johnson had to make upon being sworn in was the level of U. S. Involvement he wanted in Vietnam (Rossini & Berry, 2010) At first, President Johnson decided to be conservative with U.
S. Military involvement in Vietnam. However, the pressure to act was becoming more intense because the Viet Congo regime was gaining momentum and communist rule was within reach for them. Moreover, President Johnson wanted to keep this information hidden from the American people until he could figure out whether or not to send additional troops. All told, President Johnny’s concern for re-election was one of the reasons he mislead the American people of his true intentions of escalating the Vietnam War.
Also, Presidents Johnson belief that the United States should prevent communist rule in the North and his ambition to continue the established policy of containment guided his diplomatic efforts (PBS, 2009). A short time eater, the U. S. S. Maddox, an American destroyer was attacked on the Gulf of Tontine. Still unclear on how to proceed, President Johnson sought diplomatic resolution by sending a message to Hanoi warning against further attacks (Naval History and Heritage, 2014).
However, the next day more attacks on American naval ships Were initiated and President Johnson approved retaliation. The additional attacks gave President Johnson a reason to complete his plan to send more troops to Vietnam to battle against communist rule and prevent the Republican Party from gaining ammunition for the upcoming election. Explicate the Diplomatic Doctrine President Johnson followed with Reference to Specific Actions or Events that Occurred The Johnson Doctrine gave the United States credence to the intervention in Latin America and Vietnam.
President Johnson made it clear in his address to the American people that he did not want the war to spread outside Vietnam but the United States could not stand by idly and allow communism to spread. Moreover, President Johnson announced his Johnson Doctrine that proclaimed the United States will never allow a Communist regime to takeover any territory in the Western Hemisphere. For this purpose, President Johnson reached out to congress to pass the Gulf of Tontine Resolution which allowed him free reign to use American forces as needed (Davis, 2009).
In the past, congress passed similar bills giving authority to the president to make war decision because they believed it would deter war. However, they were unaware that President Johnny’s intentions were just the opposite. Later, the Pentagon Papers revealed the truth about President Johnny’s intentions and this intensified the feelings of distrust towards the government by the American people. Describe the Effects of these Diplomatic Efforts for the U. S. And Other Countries The effects of President Johnny’s diplomatic efforts for the U. S. And other countries can be summarized as having a mostly negative impact.
Many Americans grew to distrust the government because of the lies told to the public and international community to wage a full military effort in Vietnam. Additionally, many questioned the flawed intelligence provided by the CIA that resulted in the retaliation attacks in Vietnam. Amazingly enough, a similar scenario played out before America went to war with Iraq and again it yielded the same outcome as Vietnam (Davis, 2009). In an effort to spread necromancy by containing communism, it is easy to understand why other countries would begin to hate the United States for their involvement in foreign affairs.
In contrast, countries that fear an authoritarian regime could hold out hope that the United States would intervene. Additionally, the United States was able to show its military might and better position them as a world leader and spread democracy to regions with authoritarian governments. However, evidence support that overwhelmingly, “America’s policies have molded perceptions that America means war… ” (Huffing Post, 2012, Para. 4). For this reason, one can argue that Vietnam was one of many events that forever changed how the United States was viewed by the international community.
Conclusion To be brief, similarities can be found in foreign policy today when looking back at diplomatic efforts during Vietnam. With this in mind, one can see how difficult it must have been to try to find a medium when dealing in foreign affairs. President Johnny’s diplomatic doctrine during his time in office supported containment, the prevention of communism spreading. The Gulf of Tontine Resolution passed by congress in 1964, allowed President Johnson o escalate the Vietnam War in efforts to contain communism (Davis, 2009).
The advantages of the Johnson Doctrine include containing communism and promoting democracy throughout the world. Conversely, the disadvantages of Johnson Doctrine exposed the lies of the United States government and fueled feelings of distrust domestically and abroad. Although the United States built meaningful relationships around the world, we are hated by many more. It is clear, the United States must build trust with other nations to take the coveted spot as world leader but it must Start first with building trust at mom. References Davis, K. C. (2009).