Thank you John Frankenheimer: Path To War
Published February 29, 2004
LBJ was a man much misunderstood by his own times and by immediate history. It is only now that we are seeing a more considered re-evaluation of the man, his concerns, motivations and priorities. In the dubyaspeak regime, they assume even greater importance; and comparisons between McNamara and Rumsfield might lead to terrifying conclusions. Was Lyndon Johnson misled? It can't be easy being the Chief Executive of the United States of America (unless you're George W. Bush in which case everything is neatly black or white and nothing between) and Vietnam presented what was probably the most distressing of questions before that administration. Johnson was undoubtedly a most astute statesman. His political play in resolving burning race issues is perhaps an object example of how a determined leader with complete clarity of vision and true breadth of mind can outflank his strongest opponents (in this case George Wallace). Though ending racial inequality and establishing affirmative action was just one of the several issues on LBJ's front burner, Vietnam overshadowed them all. Much that is of lasting value even today, or is now firmly entrenched in the American polity, was the work of two or three Presidents of the 20th Century, FDR and LBJ being perhaps the most important. It is therefore not just sad or tragic to see the Bush administration's attempts at systematicaly dismantling environmental safeguards, economic and fiscal equity measures and even that most fundamental of all freedoms, the freedom of choice; it is without doubt a fatal blow to the future of mankind.
This is crucial. The achivements of the great Presidents of the United States had an impact well beyond America's territorial boundaries. America became, under them and after them, the lodestar to follow and the yardstick by which other regimes were measured and found wanting. In a sense, this became a self-fulfilling prophecy: Those who did not adopt the American standard, or at least attempt to, became the 'enemy'. The tirade against communism is but the most startling instance. Later Presidents were cautious in deploying this argument too prominently on the world stage. 9/11 and Iraq has changed all that, for the worse. The world will never be the same again and neither will the United States of America.
What is happening today is a rank betrayal of ideals that Lyndon Johnson, among others, strived and struggled to integrate into the reality of 'the American Dream'. Frankenheimer sees this clearly. His film is a calm, dispassionate and studied attempt to understand the man and, perhaps, come to terms with some of the decisions that were taken during his tenure. Frankenheimer does not 'do' the war at all. He remains in the White House with just the occasional documentary footage from Vietnam. There are no scenes of war, no graphic violence and not despite this but because of it, the film is both and chilling. Was this really the way we were? How did that come to pass?
- Thank you John Frankenheimer: Path To War
- Published: February 29, 2004
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- Section: Video
- Filed Under: Video: Documentary, Video: Drama, Video: Military, Video: Television
- Writer: Gautam Patel
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Joe, I can't understand what I have said or done to warrant such a personal attack on me, my values or my family. I have a view on the Vietnam war and the present US policy; you may or may not agree, and I respect and defend your right to hold a contrary view and express it freely. But I see no reason to attack or dislike you because you hold a contrary view. I do not hate the US at all. I have no reason to. Pretty much my entire family lives there, and I myself spend several wonderful years there at University. But I do not approach it without reservation either, as I do not almost any other place.
This is the real tragedy of our times - that we have forgotten how to like, or even tolerate, those who hold an opposing view, how to tolerate dissent. That is Bush's legacy. It was not LBJ's. So allow me my "wrong-headed liberalism", Joe, as I allow you your conservatism.
And, incidentally, the film is not such an 'adult' film that a teen or a pre-teen can't or shouldn't watch it. I was glad my daughter did. She learned much. She asked many questions. She was introduced to a period in history that she might not have studied till much later. The film has no violence, no sex, no strong language. Why would I not let her watch it?
Oh, by the way, have you actually seen the film? On second thoughts, please don't answer that. I have the answer.
Path to War was an excellent film about a very controversial subject. I suppose we could all "Joe Blow" until we were blue in the face about this touchy subject matter, but the simple fact of the matter is this film portrays, at the very least, a part of the miserable truth of the Vietnam War. I am thrilled to hear a young child sat through this film and suddenly became interested in history, especially a part of history where leaders of our nation made misguided and unfortunate mistakes. We SHOULD ask questions, the same questions asked in Path to War.
LBJ was a great, old school American President caught in changing times. History will eventually show him to be one of the great men, if not the great leaders, in American history. During Lincoln's time, he was so hated that he had a bullet put into his brain. Well, LBJ, from a remarkably similar background, figuratively had the same thing happen to him. To call LBJ a President of Hate, is to reveal a "Joe Blow"-like ignorance about history, close-minded, confused, and seemingly at odds with the entire institution of American ideals. LBJ may have been misguided, but only because he had an issue forced upon him which no President in history could have appropriately handled.
He was a great man, human like the rest of us, brilliant, tragic and utterly, thankfully American.
Watch Path to War. And watch the American Experience, I believe it's about five hours long, documentary on LBJ's life. Learn, understand, read, ask questions, and avoid the "Joe Blow" hatred that taints much of our society......
This essay came to me again, after watching the movie "The Path to War" and because I have read and own more than 30 books on the Kennedy presidency/family. I know both these Bobs well. One was Robert "Bobby" F. Kennedy and the other was Robert "Bob" McNamara. Bob was a top CEO at the Ford Motor Co. when Jack called him to serve. If you want to know more about his role watch "The Fog of War" an excellent movie about his role in the
Cuban-missile crisis.
The thought and the pun of "two Bobs" was inescapable to me. If you watched the mini-series "Roots" you know that the African word "tubob" means "white man" along with the implication that
this man is a inveterate liar.
That word surfaces over and over in the series. But it is poignant
especially when Chicken George was fighting chickens with his dad, whom he did not know was his dad at the time, but who promised him and his family their freedom if he won a particular fight. Well,
he did not win that fight.
When he told of this prospect to his mother, well-acted by Leslie Uggams, she told him that he could not possibly believe the "massa'"
because remember that "the massa' is tubob, white man." Thus it
went without saying that the words "your freedom" were worthless
coming, back then, from a white man to a black, enslaved man such as her
son. Then when his master reniged on his promise, he wanted to kill
him. This is when his mother had to tell him that he couldn't kill
his own pappa. Ahh such is the stuff that drama is made of.
But that is the pun which I heard when I heard this essay title in my head "tubob." What does that mean exactly?
I have been exploring the relationship between Thomas Merton and the
Kennedy and the Skakel family. As I said earlier I cannot share
the content of the letters without permission, but here again I can
tell you of their message from Tom to Bobby: "See if you can stop the
bombing going on in Viet Nam." He would write these letters to Ethel
Kennedy with the express hopes that she would share his thoughts
with her husband. She did share her thoughts with him and in the movie and in newsclips Bobby can be heard publically and expressly asking that
the bombing in Viet Nam be halted. He did not say the war be stopped
but that the bombing be stopped. There is a difference.
Then we see LBJ who now finds himself between a rock and a hard place, caught between two Bobs. It is shocking but true that it was Bob McNamara who pushed for the bombing in the first place. And when there was
a chance for peace and/or halting the war instead he pushed for and before everyone's eyes--Bob became a bomb-dropping machine.
Something that I think is purely inconceivable had Jack still been
rocking in that rocking chair in the White House. I don't think he would have had the balls to drops those bombs, or been able to get that first bombing run off the runway if he had to fly it past Bobby and Jack. That was not possible.
I think LBJ knew that. He also knew that someone was feeding Bobby his opinion about the war. I believe that someone was Tom. I cannot post the letters, but I can state for the public record, because it is public record, that Tom wrote many letters
requesting the same thing. This has been deleted or downplayed by the Kennedy family and others because they do not want outsiders to believe that
their Catholic religion and faith has anything to do with their politics. If you believe this then you are mistaken.
The movie portrays Johnson's firm belief that Bob McNamara betrayed him, and that Bobby also betrayed him when he came out publically denouncing the bombing of the Viet Cong. It nearly killed him, and it did kill his hopes of a second term. These two Bobs acting almost in concert brought down the Johnson presidency without firing a single shot.
This was the darkest time in America I believe. I think the parallels to the Iraq war going on now are strikingly similar: an unwinnable war for honor's sake. We cannot take away what Johnson pushed through. But we also cannot deny that it was Jack's efforts along those lines that birthed the idea [he loved everything and knew everything that Abe Lincoln did and Jackie wanted to imitate Lincoln, thus his funeral procession was made in that image.] Few realize that at the RNC Bush's convention he showed the clip of Kennedy accepting the nomination at that convention.
I digress, Johnson was able in part to be fueled by a passion fo this legislation because the Kennedy hand was in it. He passed it through because
of the impact of the Kennedy assassination on the hearts of the
American people. This is a paradox because he did respect and even
loved Kennedy, Jack that is, but hated Bobby.
If you think that the South was happy to hear of these bills being proposed and passed, especially here in Texas, then you don't know America. It is unbelievable the racism that still exists here in Texas and in the South. There are whole offices and companies and schools here where NOT ONE black person works! And where the sight of a black person causes great angst.
Finally, the two Bobs spoken of in this essay have a huge role in history. Let it not be said nor be held in trust that the legacy of the white man in America be perpetually that of a "tubob" -- the white man who lies.
Heloise
PS: Title to Heloise essay
Viet Nam: A tale of Two Bobs [comment on the film "Path to War"]
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After reading your review of "The Path To War" one thing struck me. The fact that you let your daughter of eleven years watch a movie with such adult themes says volumes about you. Here's a clue. The 60's are over. Your side was wrong. LBJ's great society was a pie in the sky pipe dream from the beginning. Everyone I knew back then knew that and my friends were all flower children types. Repalcing one form of racism with another (affirmative action) is as wrong as racism ever was. Killing babies of course tops racism in every way as perhaps the worst evil the world has ever known. George W. is hardly dismantling enviormental laws as you claim.
Everything about your review reeks of the worst kind of wrong headed liberalism. Charges without support abound. A misguided view of the US resistance to the evil of communism comes as no surprise. I'm surprised you didn't slobber over the idiot Clark Clifford and what he became after his role in the Johnson administration. Heck he's right up your alley now and you missed a chance to kiss his butt in your review of this movie.
In short you are a lost cause if you don't snap yourself out of the 60's mentality you are locked into. It was over long ago. It was the most destructive decade in my lifetime with the ideals you obviously adhere to becoming the worst kind of totalitarianism through political correctness. God help us all if your kind ever gets control of real power. You'll make the Nazis look like girl scouts and you'll kill every Boy Scout in sight.
LBJ's plans were a disaster for this world and it's time someone pointed that out to the likes of you. He created a legacy of hate it will take a century to get over. That's what happens when you make a permanent whiner class. I'm sick of the likes of you forcing their outdated views on the world. LBJ got us into Vietnam all on his own despite the claims of that movie. He was responsible. He made people like you hate the US for reasons that were all strictly LBJ's yet you continually blame the wrong people. When someone fixes the mess LBJ made it's a good thing sir. If LBJ had gotten all he wanted we would have never recovered.