U.S. Official Propaganda During the Vietnam War, 1965-1973: The Limits of Persuasion (History and Politics in the 20th Century: Bloomsbury Academic)

"United States involvement in the Vietnam War was one of the most important events in the post-World War II period. The political, social and military consequences of US involvement and defeat in Vietnam have been keenly felt within the US and the international community, and the 'lessons' learned have continued to exert an influence to the present day. This book focuses on the effects of US propaganda on America's Western allies - particularly France, West Germany and Great Britain - from the time when the Vietnam War began to escalate in February 1965, to the American withdrawal and its immediate aftermath. One of its main aims is to assess the amount and veracity of information passed on by the US administration to allied governments and to compare this with the level of public information on the war within those countries."--Bloomsbury Publishing. Cover Half-title Title Copyright Contents Acknowledgements Dedication Introduction: The background to U.S. involvement and the importance of propaganda Notes 1 The beginning and escalation of the war, 1965-1968 1965: setting the pattern 1966-1967: increasing the pressure 1968: the credibility trap 2 Propaganda I : theory, strategy and history Organization of U.S. propaganda The image of America Propaganda strategy Historical aspects and analogies 3 Propaganda II : political and military themes and problems Political aspects Propaganda problems posed by the war 4 European perspectives The United Kingdom France West Germany 5 The balance sheet for LBJ (I) : European media by 1968 Media coverage 6 The balance sheet for LBJ (II): Government opinion by 1968 United Kingdom government reaction and opinion French Government reaction and opinion West German Government reaction and opinion 7 The balance sheet for LBJ (III): European public opinion by 1968 United Kingdom public opinion Public opinion in France Public opinion in West Germany 8 Nixon's inheritance: war, peace and propaganda The Vietnam War by 1969 The Paris peace talks The propaganda environment in 1969 Attitudes towards Nixon 9 The balance sheet for Nixon Nixon's goals and propaganda themes European perceptions of Nixon and the war The U.S. peace movement The Cambodian incursion The end of the U.S. commitment and 'peace' Conclusion Bibliography Index An appraisal of the veracity and effectiveness of official US propaganda on public and official opinion in friendly states during the Vietnam War, particularly in France, West Germany, Great Britain, Australia and New Zealand.