CC Director of Graduate Studies on Vietnam War, 50 years later

Appearing on CSPAN, Prof. Lawrence argues that “what really puts Vietnam front and center…is the coming of the Cold War in Asia in the late 1940s that causes concern among Americans about the potential expansion of Communism into Vietnam.” There was anxiety about a ‘domino effect’–of Communism spreading across Asia. In making the decision to go to war, Prof. Lawrence highlights that President Johnson knew his decision would “potentially become a very difficult situation for the United States.”  

Watch the full CSPAN video below: 

Prof. Lawrence was also moderator of a panel on the 35th anniversary of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall at the U.S. National Archives. Watch the full video below: