Inside the Vault: Dwight D. Eisenhower's Views on Vietnam in 1967 and 1968
by Gilder Lehrman Staff
On October 6, 2022, our curators discussed documents pertaining to Dwight D. Eisenhower’s views on Vietnam in 1967 and 1968. They were joined by Professor Michael J. Birkner of Gettysburg College, who described Eisenhower’s evolving perspective and influence on US foreign policy in the years after his presidency.
Click here to download the slides from the presentation.
Featured Documents
- “A Balance Sheet on Bombing: Statement of the Special Committee on Bombing Policy of the Citizens Committee for Peace with Freedom in Vietnam”
- “Negotiations: Hopes and Realities”
USE THE TIMESTAMPS BELOW TO JUMP TO THE TOPICS YOU WANT TO VIEW
- 4:23–5:08: Today’s documents
- 5:09–12:20: What Dwight D. Eisenhower thought of Vietnam during his presidency
- 12:22–21:20: Relationship between Lyndon B. Johnson and Eisenhower
- 21:40–23:38: Eisenhower at Gettysburg
- 23:39–27:14: General William Westmoreland and Eisenhower
- 27:15–31:19: “A Balance Sheet on Bombing”
- 31:20–43:28: Precision bombing
- 43:55–45:44: “Negotiations: Hopes and Realities”
- 45:45–47:02: Tet Offensive
- 47:03–48:24: Johnson’s reaction to the Tet Offensive
- 48:25–57:16: “Negotiations: Hopes and Realities”
Related Resources
- Essay: “The Consequences of Defeat in Vietnam” by Mark Atwood Lawrence (University of Texas at Austin), History Now 27 (Spring 2011)
- Essay: “The Sixties” by Harvard Sitkoff (University of New Hampshire), History Resources
- Video: “The Origins of the Vietnam War” by John Prados (George Washington University)