War of Words & Deeds

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Looking beyond the war, Lyndon Johnson held open the prospect of "economic and social cooperation" with all of Southeast Asia—presumably including Hanoi—if the area can ever be made "free from terror, subversion and assassination." At present, the President said, the U.S. is supporting several big development projects. One such program that Johnson has in mind: a TVA-type system for the vast Mekong River basin.

As the President well knew, all that was far in the future. To bring it to pass, he was perfectly prepared to continue the stepped-up war that might one day take the U.S. to the bargaining table in a position of strength, if not victory.