" I knew from the start that I was bound to be crucified either way I moved. If I left the women I really loved- the Great Society- in order to get involved with that bitch of a war on the other side of the world, then i would lose everything at home. All my programs... But if i left that war and let the communists take over South Vietnam then I would be seen as a coward and my nation would be seen as an appeaser, and we would both find it impossible to accomplish anything for anybody anywhere on the entire globe." - Lyndon B. Johnson, as quoted in The Vietnam Wars by Marilyn Young.
The question here is priorities. What is more important, the issues at home, or issues overseas? I feel that the issues in our own society are more important than issues over seas. Here we are trying to help Vietnam fix their government while we put our own at risk. Johnson would risk our society to fight a war " whose definitions he never question ( Young 106)." The issue here is that a president should keep our own country's well being as the number 1 priority. Johnson would rather risk societies well being rather than be seen as a coward, or our nation be seen as an appeaser. Was this decision made in the interest of society's well being or a presidents pride? The purpose of a government is to protect the people it governs. Johnson's decision put the Vietnamese first and the American people second. Where was his priorities?