LBJ Museum Visit and Thoughts on Vietnam and Iraq

 

After several years in Austin, I finally visited the LBJ Library and Museum. How similar is Iraq with Vietnam? Well, that was part of my investigation.

The Museum

First of all, the visit to the LBJ Library and Museum was well worth it. It's an impressive 8-story building located near the Royal Memorial stadium on the University of Texas campus. Even if you're not interested in history, the building and it's surroundings are worth visiting. The first and second floor are mostly the museum. Also, some of the museum is on the eighth floor with an Oval Office replica. The eighth floor also provides a nice view of the stadium, UT, and downtown Austin. Floors 3 through 6 are where the archives are located which can be seen from the Great Hall. The Great Hall provides the grandeur one would expect from a presidential library. This hall is about 60 feet high. The giant 4-story archives are visible through windows, and there is a large marble staircase connecting the first and second floor.

Unlike all other presidential libraries (every president since Hoover has a library), LBJ's library provides free admission. It's open every day except Christmas. So I realized I didn't have an excuse for not visiting.

Some may think the presidential libraries offer a one-sided history of the presidents. The museums do focus more on the good than the bad that happened during the president's term. However, both the good and the bad are covered. All major historical events are covered regardless if they were favorable to the president. So for history buffs, like myself, these museums are very interesting. I'm not a resercher, so my visit was just to the museum portion of the library. Researchers with specific searches can gain access to the archives.

Vietnam and Iraq Similarities

In LBJ's famous speech in 1968 where he announced he was not going to run for re-election, he included several interesting points regarding Vietnam. Here is one excerpt:

We and our allies can only help to provide a shield behind which the people of South Vietnam can survive and can grow and develop. On their efforts--on their determination and resourcefulness--the outcome will ultimately depend.

Note the similarities with Iraq. First, it starts with "We and our allies". Note the similarities with how Bush describes our force in Iraq. We are part of a coalition, although the vast majority are US. Second, note that our goal in Vietnam is just like our goal in Iraq, "provide a shield behind which the people" "can survive and can grow and develop". In Vietnam, it was a shield against the Vietcong and the North Vietnamese army. In Iraq, it is a shield against the insurgents and terrorists.

In another portion of LBJ's speech, he recalls JFK's famous quote about Americans:

pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.

The Iraqi War, like the Vietnam War, has turned into a war where this is the fundamental motivation (at least in public). Defeat in both cases mean the defeat of liberty and democracy. In the 60's, it was the Domino Theory of spreading communism. Today, it's the Domino Theory of spreading Islamic radicalism.

Well, South Vietnam did finally get taken over by the North, and South Asia didn't all fall under Communism. Time will tell what will happen in the Middle East.

One thing should be noted. There is an important difference between Vietnam and Iraq. North Vietnam had strong backing of the Soviets. Iraqi insurgents don't have any strong backing of any nation. They may have subtle backings of some in Iraq and in Arab nations. But this support is much different than what existed between North Vietnam, the Vietcong, and the Soviets.

Some of the miscellaneous history I found interesting during my museum visit:

• LBJ covered Texas in a helicopter for his 1948 Senate campaign.
• LBJ's first senate victory in 1948 was won by 87 votes from box 13 in a precinct in South Texas. His opponent claimed fraud and it took the Supreme Court to settle it.
• During LBJ's term, the Surgeon General came out with it's warnings about smoking. LBJ was a cigarette smoker and had a heart attack as a Senator in 1955. Also he died somewhat young at age 64.
• Medicare was enacted during LBJ's term plus a lot of "Great Society" legislation that was enacted as part of "unconditional war on poverty" (always thought the word "war" has been overused and abused by politicians.)
• LBJ had a special 3-TV setup in the Oval Office where he would watch news on all 3 of the major networks.
• 1968 was a chaotic year: the Tet offensive, USSR's invasion of Czechoslovakia, MLK's asassination, riots, RFK's assassination, and the wild Democratic convention. However, the year was capped off by the first moon orbit in preparation for the Apollo moon landing. It offerred the U.S. and the world the first look at what the planet earth looks like in deep space.

My favorite LBJ quote:

A president's hardest task is not to do what is right, but to know what is right.

Related Links:

• LBJ Library and Museum Home Page
• LBJ Biography
• Links to all of the Presidential Libraries Websites
• Speculation about the future George W. Bush Library

posted by Ken on 4:06 PM permalink and comments  

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Comments:

I love that LBJ building.

# posted by  Anonymous : 6:42 AM, March 31, 2005

 

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