Johnson came to office convinced that the United States had to honor its commitments to South Vietnam and resist the revolution, but originally he was certain that success depended chiefly on the South Vietnamese. In his view, their government had to carry out the program of social and economic reform and development needed to gain the support of the people, and their army had to do the fighting. He felt that the United States could only encourage and assist the development of the political and military programs. In a Department of State Bulletin, August 24, 1964 Johnson said:

" I summarized it on June 2 in four simple propositions:

America keeps her word. Here as elsewhere, we must and shall honor our commitments.

The issue is the future of Southeast Asia as a whole. A threat to any nation in that region is a threat to all, and a threat to us. Our purpose is peace. We have no military, political, or territorial ambitions

in the area. This is not just a jungle war, but also a struggle for freedom on every front of human activity. Our military and economic assistance to South Vietnam and Laos in particular has the purpose of helping these countries to repel aggression and strengthen their independence." (Internet Source)

McMahon, Robert. Major Problems in the History of the Vietnam War. D.C. Heath and Company. Lexington, MA:1995.

In response to Ball's opposed view of escalation Johnson admits that :

"I do not find it easy to send the flower of our youth, our finest young men, into battle. I have spoken to you today of the divisions and the forces and the battalions and the units, but I know them all, every one. I have seen them in a thousand streets, of a hundred towns, in every state in this union-working and laughing and building, and filled with hope and life. I think I know, too, how their mothers weep and how their families sorrow. " (Internet source)

Some common words found in the essay are:
Critics Johnson's, Viet Cong, Lyndon Johnson, South Vietnam, South Vietnamese, Southeast Asia, Bulletin August, Commander Chief, President Johnson, Cold War, lyndon johnson, viet cong, south vietnam, tonkin gulf resolution, internet source, george ball, south vietnamese, vietnam war, tonkin gulf, president johnson, war vietnam,
Approximate Word count = 936
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)