In the opening pages of his lengthy history of the Johnson
administrations Vietnam policy, Lloyd Gardner observes that
explaining Americas involvement in Vietnam is not a simple
matter. To his credit, Gardner endeavors to provide a
multidimensional analysis of an extraordinarily complex topic.
He faces a difficult task, for at the most basic level he must
provide a convincing thesis to explain why an American president
persisted in a policy that showed unmistakable signs of failure
early on. Indeed, that president refused to retreat even when it
became apparent that the Vietnam intervention was undermining
his Great Society domestic agenda, supposedly his highest
priority, and imperiling his political future. Gardners effort
to provide a comprehensive and compelling explanation is only
partially successful. The most serious weakness is his emphasis
on the economic dimensions of American policy. Readers of
Gardners previous works will hardly be surprised at the
prominence of that factor in Pay Any Price. And t