Discuss Dalleck's account of Johnson's handling of the Vietnam War from 1964 to 1968.
             What were his reasons for fighting the war? What was his reasoning behind key decisions?
             In taking over the mantle of President of the United States from John F. Kennedy, Lyndon Baines Johnson appeared to inherit a number of loose ends both domestically and internationally. On the international front the most prominent concern was the situation in Vietnam and the continued presence of American involvement in the region. Dalleck's text 'Flawed Giant', discusses and questions Johnson's handling of the war throughout his presidency.
             Dalleck characterizes Johnson's presidency and rhetoric as possessing "a substantial gap between what he said in public and what he worked toward privately". (P59) Thus we can suggest that contradictions and hidden agendas played their part in Johnson's handling of the war. For example, Dalleck states that Johnson had no intention of escalating the conflict in Vietnam at the time he took office. Yet, according to Dalleck, Johnson was intent on the US being able to control the factors of any future confrontation thus allowing "maximum results with minimum danger" (P238). (This is perhaps reminiscent of JFK's desire to control events surrounding the ousting of Diem in 1963) However, as Dalleck states, Johnson wanted no specific changes made to America's foreign policy concerning Vietnam at this time because of forthcoming Presidential elections.
             However, increased Viet-Cong activity along with coups and counter-coups in the south indicates that Johnson's desire for control was beyond reach. However, Dalleck claims that Johnson "anguished over what to do" (P239) in light of the suggested steps put forward by the State Department. In the end, Johnson sided with McCone and Rusk, who argued that the Government should not sanction any more than the minimum actions that had been recommended (ie, more navel patrols in inte...