ABSTRACT George W. Ball, his dissent on the War in Vietnam and his failure to prevent its escalation On July 28 1965, President Johnson announced during a televised press conference, that the...Show moreABSTRACT George W. Ball, his dissent on the War in Vietnam and his failure to prevent its escalation On July 28 1965, President Johnson announced during a televised press conference, that the United States would take over the war from the South-Vietnamese government. The President ‘Americanized’ the war in South Vietnam choosing ‘a path which turned Vietnam into America’s Nightmare’ (Larry Berman). President Johnson took his decision after long and intensive deliberations with his advisers, Secretary of Defense Robert S. McNamara, Secretary of State Dean Rusk and National Security Adviser McGeorge Bundy. Under Secretary of State George W. Ball was the only one who disagreed. On July 28, he lost the fight that he had begun in October 1964. That George Ball was a dissenter and had strongly argued against the dispatching of troops to Vietnam only became known generally after the publication of the Pentagon Papers in 1971. Why did George Ball dissent on the war in Vietnam? Why did he fail to prevent the escalation? Was he naïve or disingenuous? Was he playing the role of devils advocate? Did President Johnson use him to let everyone believe that all sides were covered? Why did he not resign immediately after the July 28? Why did President Johnson not fire him? This paper seeks answers to these questions.Show less
