cover of episode 508. America in '68: Nightmare in Vietnam (Part 1)

508. America in '68: Nightmare in Vietnam (Part 1)

2024/10/28
logo of podcast The Rest Is History

The Rest Is History
AI Deep Dive AI Chapters Transcript
People
D
Dominic
T
Tom
参与航空教育和培训的播客主持人
Topics
Tom: 本集探讨了1968年美国动荡的政治局势，包括越南战争、总统大选以及社会动荡等多个方面。节目中提到了林登·约翰逊总统的困境，以及尤金·麦卡锡和罗伯特·肯尼迪等政治人物的崛起。 Dominic: 1968年是美国现代历史上最动荡的一年，这一年发生了许多重大事件，包括越南战争的升级、马丁·路德·金和罗伯特·肯尼迪的遇刺、以及芝加哥民主党大会上的暴力冲突等。这些事件深刻地影响了美国社会和政治格局，也与2024年的总统大选有着诸多相似之处。 Dominic: 尤金·麦卡锡，一位看似默默无闻的参议员，凭借其独特的竞选策略和对反战情绪的巧妙利用，在新罕布什尔州初选中对林登·约翰逊总统造成了巨大的冲击，这在当时被视为一场“不可能的胜利”。麦卡锡的成功，也为罗伯特·肯尼迪的参选铺平了道路，最终导致了约翰逊总统的退选。 Tom: 林登·约翰逊总统在巨大的政治压力、健康问题以及对战争的日益增长的反对声中，最终决定放弃竞选连任。这一决定震惊了整个美国，也标志着美国政治格局的重大转变。

Deep Dive

Chapters
The episode sets the stage for the tumultuous year of 1968, focusing on the Vietnam War, urban unrest, and the political pressure on President Lyndon B. Johnson, which ultimately leads to his decision not to seek re-election.
  • Johnson's popularity is in free fall due to the Vietnam War and urban unrest.
  • The Tet Offensive shocks the American public and erodes support for the war.
  • Johnson feels a crushing sense of political pressure and personal health issues.

Shownotes Transcript

"Tonight I want to speak to you of peace in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.”

On the night of Sunday, 31st of March 1968, President Lyndon B. Johnson, after announcing an end to the bombing of North Vietnam, stunned the world by revealing he would not seek the democratic nomination for that year’s presidential election. The seemingly never-ending Vietnam War had already made LBJ hugely unpopular with his progressive base. But now, facing challenges from Eugene McCarthy, the ambiguously anti-war senator from Minnesota, and Robert “Bobby” Kennedy, heir to the Kennedy throne, Johnson had decided to bow out. And so, as the war slowed for a moment, the Democrats would have to decide on the best candidate to take on a certain Richard M. Nixon… 

Join Tom and Dominic in the first episode of our six part series on America in 1968, as they look at the stories of Lyndon B. Johnson, Eugene McCarthy, and how the Vietnam War would come to define them both.

LIVE SHOWS

The Rest Is History LIVE in the U.S.A.

If you live in the States, we've got some great news: Tom and Dominic will be performing throughout America in November, with shows in San Francisco, L.A., Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Boston and New York.

Tickets on sale now at TheRestIsHistory.com

Twitter:

@TheRestHistory

@holland_tom

@dcsandbrook

Producer: Theo Young-Smith

Assistant Producer: Anouska Lewis

Executive Producers: Jack Davenport + Tony Pastor

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices)