# Is the current historical perception of LBJ inaccurate?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-current-historical-perception-of-lbj-inaccurate/449068>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [May 12, 2008, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-current-historical-perception-of-lbj-inaccurate/449068 "2008-05-12T18:50:48Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 5

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**Author:** ![intention](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e95f7d/32.png) [@intention](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/intention)\
**Post date:** [May 19, 2008, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-current-historical-perception-of-lbj-inaccurate/449068/81 "2008-05-19T19:40:29Z")

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Stranger, you are quite correct to note the earlier invasions by Chinese and Mongols.

No story in history is ever simple. Johnson did not understand that he was wandering into a buzz saw. Being a good Texas boy, he couldn’t walk away from a fight … much to his (and our) cost.

w.

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**Author:** ![Typo\_Knig](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@Typo\_Knig](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Knig)\
**Post date:** [June 1, 2008, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-current-historical-perception-of-lbj-inaccurate/449068/82 "2008-06-01T02:20:41Z")

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Here’s an op-ed piece in the Washington Post about LBJ’s accomplishments while in office: [linky](http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/30/AR2008053002445_pf.html).

This article is very positive about LBJ. No surprise there - it’s by Joseph Califano, former member of LBJ’s White House staff. It’s worth noting anyway - LBJ did get a lot done while in the White House. Historians will wrestle with the balance of good and bad in LBJ’s administration for a long time to come. Historically inclined Dopers as well.

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**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\
**Post date:** [June 1, 2008, 2:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/is-the-current-historical-perception-of-lbj-inaccurate/449068/83 "2008-06-01T02:37:25Z")

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Anyone interested in reading further into this subject can go to [Wowio](http://www.wowio.com/index.asp). For those unfamiliar with the site, it lets you download free books as PDF files. Some of the ones currently available are [Death of a Generation: How the Assassinations of Diem and JFK Prolonged the Vietnam War](http://www.wowio.com/users/product.asp?BookId=311) by Howard Jones and [Into the Quagmire: Lyndon Johnson and the Escalation of the Vietnam War](http://www.wowio.com/users/product.asp?BookId=356) by Brian VanDeMark. Those looking for a short overview might be interested in [How Did It Happen? The Vietnam War](http://www.wowio.com/users/product.asp?BookId=1304) by Clive Gifford.

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