American Prestige Takes a Hit
 |
| "Members of the New York delegation protest against the Vietnam War during the 1968 Democratic National Convention held in Chicago" (source) |
Bill Downs
ABC Washington
March 18, 1968
The revelations that Senator Robert Kennedy has been trying to play behind-the-scenes presidential politics with Lyndon Johnson has set this town on its electoral ear. Bobby, it seems, was willing to keep out of the Democratic race for the White House if the president would appoint a high-level commission which would prove that Mr. Johnson's Vietnam policies have been all wrong.
The president turned down the idea, and New York's Senator Kennedy announced his candidacy.
This news signaled other efforts to try and do something about America's Vietnam dilemma, including the formation of a bipartisan group of 139 Republican and Democratic Congressmen who today presented resolutions calling for a full-scale debate on Vietnam in the House of Representatives.
Congressman Morris Udall admitted, however, the House of Representatives probably would not get its Vietnam debate unless the White House gives its go-ahead.
This is Bill Downs in Washington for Information Reports.
__________________________
Bill Downs
ABC Washington
March 20, 1968
General David Shoup is a tough man, as would be expected of a former commandant of the US Marine Corps. But since his retirement to private life Shoup has appeared as a kind of dove in hawk's clothing, because the hero former Marine disapproves of the war in Vietnam. He claims no objectives have been set to win the conflict or the peace.
The general got a sympathetic hearing before Senator Fulbright's Foreign Relations Committee today and surprised the session by producing his formula for settling the Vietnam War and restoring United States prestige around the world.
Let the Washington and Saigon governments tell Ho Chi Minh, he said, "You set the time and place for peace negotiations and bring along representatives of South Vietnam's National Liberation Front. The US and her allies will cease all offensive operations as long as the negotiations proceed, reserving the right to defend ourselves."
General Shoup added that if these negotiations progress toward a peaceful settlement, then the US can begin to withdraw its military forces from South Vietnam and ask our Allies to do the same.
The Shoup proposal, incidentally, has received top-level consideration here. Former Defense Secretary McNamara passed it along to the White House several months ago.
This is Bill Downs in Washington for Information Reports.
__________________________
Bill Downs
ABC Washington
April 11, 1968
Defense Secretary Clark Clifford held his first full-dress news conference at the Pentagon today and demonstrated the low-pressure style that has made him one of the most successful men in official Washington.
Clifford held the conference to announce the calling-up of 24,500 men from the National Guard and the Army, Navy, and Air Force reserves. It was a call-up far less than the 200,000 some newspapers were predicting a month ago, yet almost twice as many as the 13,000 additional troops President Johnson announced were being sent to Vietnam.
Secretary Clifford made it clear, however, that plans already are in the works to call up more reserves if the situation warrants.
It was the "situation" which right now is preoccupying much of the world as US officials begin their first exploratory contacts with the Hanoi Communists following President Johnson's deescalation of the bombing of most of North Vietnam.
This is Bill Downs in Washington for Information Reports.
