The Loyal Opposition: Lyndon Johnson, the Right, and Vietnam

The conservative movement was among the most adamant defenders of the Vietnam War. Conservatives believed that once the US committed military might to the war, there was no excuse for defeat. The Right organized pro-war protests, wrote articles calling for an increasingly aggressive military strategy, and wrote letters to various elected officials. Despite its support for the war, conservatives strongly opposed Johnson’s military strategy. In a political climate where conservatives represented a minority movement, acting as a pro-war and anti-Johnson movement became increasingly difficult. This paper explores how the Right struggled as it attempted to support the war but opposing Johnson’s strategy, and the multifaceted problems conservatives encountered as they tried to retain these duel political beliefs. Furthermore, this paper inspects how foreign policy decisions helped to unify the conservative movement and influence domestic, American politics.