Why did we go into and then stay in Vietnam, and how was it relevant to politics?

Question

I'm doing a project on the 1968 Democratic National Convention, and in my research have reasoned the only really significant divide in the Democratic party was over Vietnam. What I want to know is: why did we go into vietnam in the first place, why was LBJ so determined to stay in Vietnam (as in how was it politically advantageous to have that position, both when he came into office and in 1968), and how would leaving Vietnam affect him and/or Humphrey politically? I generally know the Domino theory idea, but I really think there are other reasons. Things were looking dim and so many people thought that we should pull out despite domino theory. I think there was some political reason LBJ and Humphrey wanted to stay. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I have tried doing research but I decided the best way to go about it is to ask people who may have been around at the time and would have some knowledge of the politics of the era.

Answer 1

Trueman doctrine it had to do with fighting the small wars with the Communist.

Answer 2

US went into Vietnam to defeat the Communist North Vietnamese and Viet Cong from taking over South Vietnam and spreading Communism throughout all of Southeast Asia. Any war is relevant to politics because all wars involve politics & just as the Iraq war is also a war between liberals & conservatives so was the Vietnam war.

Answer 3

January 27, 1965 - Johnson aides, National Security Advisor McGeorge Bundy and Defense Secretary Robert McNamara, send a memo to the President stating that America's limited military involvement in Vietnam is not succeeding, and that the U.S. has reached a 'fork in the road' in Vietnam and must either soon escalate or withdraw.

February 6, 1965 - Viet Cong guerrillas attack the U.S. military compound at Pleiku in the Central Highlands, killing eight Americans, wounding 126 and destroying ten aircraft.

February 7-8 - "I've had enough of this," President Johnson tells his National Security advisors. He then approves Operation Flaming Dart, the bombing of a North Vietnamese army camp near Dong Hoi by U.S. Navy jets from the carrier Ranger.

Johnson makes no speeches or public statements concerning his decision. Opinion polls taken in the U.S. shortly after the bombing indicate a 70 percent approval rating for the President and an 80 percent approval of U.S. military involvement in Vietnam.
March 8, 1965 - The first U.S. combat troops arrive in Vietnam as 3500 Marines land at China Beach to defend the American air base at Da Nang. They join 23,000 American military advisors already in Vietnam.

April 15, 1965 - A thousand tons of bombs are dropped on Viet Cong positions by U.S. and South Vietnamese fighter-bombers.

April 17, 1965 - In Washington, 15,000 students gather to protest the U.S. bombing campaign.

May 3, 1965 - The first U.S. Army combat troops, 3500 men of the 173rd Airborne Brigade, arrive in Vietnam.

December 7, 1965 - Defense Secretary McNamara tells President Johnson that the North Vietnamese apparently "believe that the war will be a long one, that time is their ally, and that their staying power is superior to ours."

February 3, 1966 - Influential newspaper columnist Walter Lippmann lambastes President Johnson's strategy in Vietnam, stating, "Gestures, propaganda, public relations and bombing and more bombing will not work." Lippmann predicts Vietnam will divide America as combat causalities mount.
June 29, 1966 The U.S. is very cautious about targeting the city of Hanoi itself over concerns for the reactions of North Vietnam's military allies, China and the Soviet Union. This concern also prevents any U.S. ground invasion of North Vietnam, despite such recommendations by a few military planners in Washington.
March 12, 1968 - By a very slim margin of just 300 votes, President Johnson defeats anti-war Democrat Eugene McCarthy in the New Hampshire Democratic primary election. This indicates that political support for Johnson is seriously eroding.

April 30-May 3 - The Battle of Dai Do occurs along the Demilitarized Zone as NVA troops seek to open an invasion corridor into South Vietnam. They are halted by a battalion of U.S. Marines nicknamed "the Magnificent Bastards" under the command of Lt. Col. William Weise. Aided by heavy artillery and air strikes, NVA suffer 1568 killed. 81 Marines are killed and 297 wounded. 29 U.S. Army are killed supporting the Marines and 130 wounded.

For the time being, this defeat ends North Vietnam's hope of successfully invading the South. They will wait four years, until 1972, before trying again, after most of the Americans have gone. It will actually take seven years, until 1975, for them to succeed.
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Sounds real familar , all any enemy has to do is have staying power and the American public seems loses interest.....

Answer 4

The south asked for help and we were more than happy to try to stop the spread of the commies. Once we were in, like Iraq, it was hard to get out. LBJ was haunted by the deaths and the protests. He didn't benefit in any shape, form or fashion.

Answer 5

your question is so complicated that the only you will be able to find an appropriate and accurate answer is to do research beyond this forum.