Compare and contrast the policies of Kennedy and Johnson regarding US involvement in Vietnam.

The question requires that candidates give an account of the similarities and differences between Kennedy and Johnson in terms of their policies regarding US involvement in Vietnam, referring to both throughout. There does not need to be an equal number of each. Candidates may refer to both presidents wanting to aid South Vietnam and prevent it from falling to communism. Both presidents gave military and financial aid to South Vietnam and both presidents increased US involvement throughout their presidencies. Contrasts are in the methods used to help South Vietnam. Kennedy continued the use of military advisors, increasing their number to nearly 16,000 to train the South Vietnamese army. He also employed the Strategic Hamlet Program. Johnson, after getting the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, sent in combat troops in 1965 and began the campaign known as Operation Rolling Thunder, the heavy bombing of North Vietnam. Johnson “Americanized” the war, sending more and more US combat troops into action. Candidates’ opinions or conclusions will be presented clearly and supported by appropriate evidence.

The question required that candidates give an account of the similarities and differences between Kennedy and Johnson in terms of their policies regarding US involvement in Vietnam. This was frequently selected and led to a wide range of quality in the responses. Weaker essays tended to describe the events of the two presidents with limited comparison and contrast, or discussed Truman and Eisenhower, but there were commendable efforts that supported their assessments with a depth of knowledge and sound analysis.