How Serious Is the President?

During two recent trips to Washington I saw a number of fairly knowledgeable persons—Right and Left, hawks, doves and sparrows—both in and out of government. The question of the President’s intention in Vietnam came up in every conversation but no one I talked to—though several had most clearances in the book, and others were bright enough not to need clearances— seemed at all sure of an answer.

My impressions, not so much of the explicit opinions as of the implications of the supporting evidence and arguments, might, however, be summed up on net as follows. The President is not seeking to regain the global strategic initiative. He has not embarked on the preliminary, transitional phase of what he intends to be an advance. Nor has he decided to draw a basic defensive line in South Vietnam. He is, rather, conducting a rearguard skirmish to cover a withdrawal. He will settle for almost any formula that will save American face.

JB

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James Burnham

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During two recent trips to Washington I saw a number of fairly knowledgeable persons—Right and Left, hawks, doves and sparrows—both in and out of government. The question of the President’s intention in Vietnam came up in every conversation but no one I talked to—though several had most clearances in the book, and others were bright enough not to need clearances— seemed at all sure of an answer.

My impressions, not so much of the explicit opinions as of the implications of the supporting evidence and arguments, might, however, be summed up on net as follows. The President is not seeking to regain the global strategic initiative. He has not embarked on the preliminary, transitional phase of what he intends to be an advance. Nor has he decided to draw a basic defensive line in South Vietnam. He is, rather, conducting a rearguard skirmish to cover a withdrawal. He will settle for almost any formula that will save American face.