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Withdrawal of Lyndon B. Johnson from the 1968 United States presidential election

On March 31, 1968, then-incumbent US President Lyndon B. Johnson made a surprise announcement during a televised address to the nation, declaring that he would not seek re-election for another term and withdrawing from the 1968 United States presidential election. Johnson stated, "I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President."[1][2]

U.S. President Johnson announces that he will not run for re-election

In the 1968 Democratic Party presidential primaries, at first Johnson's only significant challenger was Eugene McCarthy, an anti-war Senator from Minnesota. Johnson's announcement to drop out of the race came after Eugene McCarthy nearly won the New Hampshire primary and Senator Robert F. Kennedy, another critic of the war and the brother of the late President John F. Kennedy, entered the race.

Johnson's decision opened the door for Vice President Hubert Humphrey to become the Democratic Party's nominee. The 1968 Democratic National Convention, held in Chicago, was marked by significant protests and clashes between demonstrators and police,[3] reflecting the deep divisions within the nation.

The 1968 election saw Republican Party candidate Richard Nixon emerge victorious, defeating Humphrey and third-party candidate George Wallace. Nixon's campaign capitalized on themes of law and order and a promise to end the Vietnam War conflict and United States involvement, which resonated with many voters.[4]

Background

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Main article: Presidency of Lyndon B. Johnson

Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th President of the United States, assumed office following the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in November 1963.[5] Johnson was subsequently elected in a landslide victory in the 1964 United States presidential election.[6] His presidency was marked by significant legislative achievements, including the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Voting Rights Act of 1965, ratification of the Twenty-Four Amendment and Twenty-Fifth Amendment, and the establishment of Medicare and Medicaid.[7]

Vietnam War

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Main article: Vietnam War
Further information: United States in the Vietnam War

Johnson's tenure however was overshadowed by Conflicts of Interests such as resistance to his efforts to escalate U.S. involvement in the conflict. Public opinion turned increasingly against the war with Anti-War movements spreading across the country.[8] The Tet Offensive in early 1968 further eroded support for the war and Johnson's handling of it.[9]

Dump Johnson movement

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Main article: Dump Johnson movement

As the 1968 election approached, Johnson began to lose control of the Democratic Party, which was splitting into four factions. The first group consisted of Johnson and Humphrey, labor unions, and local party bosses (led by Chicago Mayor Richard J. Daley). The second group consisted of antiwar students and intellectuals who coalesced behind Senator Eugene McCarthy in an effort to "dump Johnson." The third group included Catholics, Hispanics and African Americans, who rallied behind Senator Robert F. Kennedy. The fourth group consisted of traditionally segregationist white Southerners like Governor George Wallace.[10]

Public opinion and political challenges

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Main article: 1968 Democratic Party presidential primaries

Johnson's approval ratings had declined significantly by 1968, with his approval rating at the time of his withdrawal being 36 percent.[11] Despite Johnson's growing unpopularity, conventional wisdom held that it would be impossible to deny re-nomination to a sitting president. Johnson won a narrow victory in the New Hampshire presidential primary on March 12, against McCarthy 49–42%,[12] but this close second-place result dramatically boosted McCarthy's standing in the race. Kennedy announced his candidacy on March 16.[13]

Weary of office and presidential position

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Historians such as Jeff Shesol say that Johnson wanted out of the White House but also wanted vindication; when the indicators turned negative he decided to leave.[14] Historians state that Johnson realized he needed to leave in order for the nation to heal.[15] Robert Dallek wrote that Johnson had no further domestic goals, and realized that his personality had eroded his popularity.[14] Johnson's health was deteriorating, and he was preoccupied with the Kennedy campaign; his wife, Lady Bird Johnson, urged for his retirement as his base of support kept shrinking. Leaving the race would allow him to pose as a peacemaker.[16] Author Anthony J. Bennett says Johnson "had been forced out of a reelection race in 1968 by outrage over his policy in Southeast Asia."[17] Johnson may also have hoped that the convention would ultimately choose to draft him back into the race.[18]

Political and public response

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Democratic Party

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Johnson's fellow Democrats expressed a mix of respect, disappointment, and understanding towards his announcement. Former Presidents and key figures within the party praised Johnson's presidency and his decision to step aside. Former President Harry S. Truman commended Johnson's service, highlighting his belief that Johnson acted in the best interests of the country and the Democratic Party. Democratic leaders struggled to figure out how to respond to Johnson's sudden withdrawal.[19] This led to bitter battle for succession among Democrats.[20] Some Democrats were worried that a new nominee, selected by the convention, would lack legitimacy since they would have secured the nomination without direct input from Democratic voters around the country.[21]

Anti-war activists and the Republican Party

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Many anti-war activists rejoiced at the news. Some of them concluded that their movement had forced Johnson to alter his war policy and to decide that he could not win another term.[22][23] Antiwar protesters chanted outside the White House, "Hey, hey, LBJ! How many kids did you kill today?"[24] After Johnson's withdrawal, many Republicans underwent an anguished reappraisal concerning Richard Nixon's chances for winning the election in November.[25]

International response

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South Vietnam

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South Vietnamese officials viewed Johnson's withdrawal with concern, mainly with the threat of an anti-war candidate unwilling to support them and threating to withdraw troops.[26] During this time, South Vietnamese President Nguyễn Văn Thiệu was eagerly anticipating the results of the American election, believing he could secure a more favorable agreement with Republican candidate Nixon than with the incumbent administration. Messages implying this were secretly communicated to Thieu's representatives by Nixon's associates. President Johnson, enraged and appalled, discovered evidence of this through phone taps, intercepts, and surveillance, considering it a potentially treasonous act.[27]

Global anti-war movement

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Johnson's decision was seen as a victory by anti-war activists around the world. His withdrawal was viewed by some as a sign that public and international pressure could influence the policies of powerful nations.[28]

Aftermath

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Main article: Hubert Humphrey 1968 presidential campaign

After Johnson's withdrawal, Vice President Hubert Humphrey won the Democratic Party's nomination following the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, leaving McCarthy as Humphrey's only major opponent before George McGovern entered the race. Humphrey would end up losing the election to the antiwar Republican Richard Nixon. The defeat left Humphrey in a state of depression. To stay active, his friends helped him get hired[29] as a professor at Macalester College and the University of Minnesota. The perceived failures of the Vietnam War nurtured disillusionment with government, and the New Deal coalition fell apart in large part due to tensions over the Vietnam War and the 1968 election.[30][31] Republicans won five of six presidential elections after Johnson left office. Ronald Reagan came into office in 1981 vowing to undo the Great Society, though he and other Republicans were unable to repeal many of Johnson's programs.[30]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Remarks on Decision not to Seek Re-Election (March 31, 1968)". The Miller Center, University of Virginia. October 20, 2016. Retrieved October 2, 2017.
  2. ^ Cohen, Michael A. (April 2, 2016). "LBJ drops out of 1968 presidential race". OUPblog. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  3. ^ "1968 Democratic Convention - Protests, Yippies, Witnesses". History Channel. May 3, 2024. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  4. ^ "Presidential Election of 1968 - 270toWin". 270toWin.com. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  5. ^ "Eyewitness". www.archives.gov. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  6. ^ "Presidential Election of 1964 - 270toWin". 270toWin.com. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  7. ^ "Lyndon B. Johnson - Key Events | Miller Center". millercenter.org. October 7, 2016. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  8. ^ "Anti-War Protests of the 1960s-70s". WHHA. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  9. ^ "Tet Offensive: 1968, Definition & Date". History Channel. December 12, 2022. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  10. ^ Gould, Lewis L. (2010). 1968: The Election That Changed America. Chicago: Ivan R. Dee. ISBN 978-1566638623. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
  11. ^ Updegrove, Mark K. (2012). Indomitable will: LBJ in the presidency (1st ed.). New York: Crown. p. 272. ISBN 978-0-307-88771-9.
  12. ^ "Lyndon B. Johnson's Decision Not to Run in 1968". Bill of Rights Institute. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  13. ^ "ROBERT F. KENNEDY AND THE 1968 CAMPAIGN | JFK Library". www.jfklibrary.org. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  14. ^ a b Shesol, Jeff (1998). Mutual Contempt: Lyndon Johnson, Robert Kennedy, and the Feud that Defined a Decade. W W Norton. pp. 545–47. ISBN 9780393040784. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
  15. ^ Woods 2006, pp. 834–835.
  16. ^ Dallek 1998, pp. 518–525.
  17. ^ Bennett, Anthony J. (2013). The Race for the White House from Reagan to Clinton: Reforming Old Systems, Building New Coalitions. Palgrave Macmillan. p. 160. ISBN 9781137268600. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
  18. ^ Nelson, Justin A. (December 2000). "Drafting Lyndon Johnson: The President's Secret Role in the 1968 Democratic Convention". Presidential Studies Quarterly. 30 (4): 688–713. doi:10.1111/j.0360-4918.2000.00139.x. JSTOR 27552141.
  19. ^ "What Happened When LBJ Announced He Wouldn't Run". History Channel. July 22, 2024. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  20. ^ "AllPolitics - Back in TIME for Apr. 12, 1968". CNN. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  21. ^ Klinkner, Philip (July 21, 2024). "Until 1968, presidential candidates were picked by party conventions – a process revived by Biden's withdrawal from race". The Conversation. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  22. ^ Small, Melvin (2010). "Bring the Boys Home Now! Antiwar Activism and Withdrawal from Vietnam—and Iraq". Diplomatic History. 34 (3): 543–553. ISSN 0145-2096.
  23. ^ "How the Vietnam War Protests Started a Movement and Changed History". ThoughtCo. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  24. ^ "The Sixties". Junior Scholastic. February 11, 1994. p. 4.
  25. ^ "AllPolitics - Back in TIME for Apr. 12, 1968". CNN. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  26. ^ Wernick, Adam. "LBJ knew the Vietnam War was a disaster in the making. Here's why he couldn't walk away". The World from PRX. Retrieved July 22, 2024.
  27. ^ "Lyndon B. Johnson's Decision Not to Run in 1968". Bill of Rights Institute. Retrieved July 23, 2024.
  28. ^ Polsky, Andrew J. (June 2012). Elusive Victories. Oxford University Press. pp. 202–272. ISBN 9780190252649.
  29. ^ Light, Paul C. (1992), "Hubert Humphrey and political science", Perspectives on Political Science, 21 (1): 10–15, doi:10.1080/10457097.1992.9944497, ISSN 1045-7097.
  30. ^ a b Tumulty, Karen (May 17, 2014). "The Great Society at 50". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 21, 2016.
  31. ^ Cohen, Michael (February 17, 2015). "How Vietnam Haunts the Democrats". Politico. Retrieved August 22, 2016.

Works cited

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