Government. Host joining us now on cspan is Peter Prichard, the former editor in chief of the usa today newspaper and he is a former president of them museum and author of this book, killing grace a vietnam war mystery. What made you write a novel about the vietnam war . Guest i had always dreamed of writing a novel but then life intervened and and i becamea newspaper editor and an executive. E. But when covid it i finally thought i had the time to try to write a novel and i wanted to write something that wasnt really a a combat novel, that ws more in the vein of quiet american or the ugly american, both books had a great influence. Host without getting way any spoilers come whats the books s synopsis . Guest two mps in saigon in 1967 at the height of the war are called to investigate the murder of an american tourist named grace waverley whose body is found in the saigon river. And it appears to be a drowning, and she is an antiwar activist who said she came to vietnam ass a piece of
Annette dunlap she changed it in terms of putting education in the forefront and getting involved with education and taking care of children. She was really concerned about how children were cared for, and that was something she definitely emphasized. Susan swain and, taylor where would you put her in the pantheon of first ladies weve been learning about this year . Taylor stoermer shes the first celebrity first lady, the First National celebrity first lady. And i think when were talking about the development of our understanding of the institution of the first lady, then she is the first one in which we get to start thinking about what really are the uses of that celebrity in good ways and bad ways, because there are concerns that have developed about the first family being owned by the American Public, but also how that can actually be a positive tool of the broader presidency if only Grover Cleveland would have been able to see that. Susan swain and the story in that regard will con
Vietnam the Airmobile Division and certain other forces that will raise the strength to wonder code5 thousand men, most immediately. Additional forces will be needed later and they will be sent as requested. This will make it necessary to increase our active fighting forces by raising the monthly draft goal from 17,000 over a period of time. For us to step up the campaign for voluntary enlistments. There has been talked about a timetable in connection with vietnam. You have said and repeated today that the United States will not be defeated and will not grow tired. Donald johnson the National Commander of the American Legion went over to vietnam in the spring and later you. C alled on you. He told white house reporters she could imagine war going on for five or six or seven years. Reporters he could imagine war going on for five or six or seven years. Should the American People think of that possibility . President johnson the American People should understand that there is no quick so
Make it necessary to increase the draft call from 17,000 to 35,000 month. This program is from the collections of the lbj library. My fellow americans, not long ago, i received a letter from a woman in the midwest. She wrote year mr. President in my humble way, i am writing to you about the crisis in vietnam. I have a son who is now in vietnam. My husband served in world war ii. Our country was at war. But now, this time, they did something i dont understand. Why . I have tried to answer that question. Dozens of times and more in practically every state in this union, i have discussed it fully in baltimore in april, in washington in may, in San Francisco in june. Let me again now discuss it here in the east room of the white house. Why must young americans, born into a land exultant with hope and golden promise toil and suffer and sometimes die in such a remote and distant place . The answer, like the war itself, is not an easy one. But, it echoes clearly from the painful lessons of ha
Pres. Johnson my fellow americans. Not long ago, i received a letter from a woman in the midwest. She wrote dear mr. President , in my humble way, i am writing to you about the crisis in vietnam. I have a son who is now in vietnam. My husband served in world war ii. Our country was at war. But now, this time, it is just something that i do not understand. Why . I have tried to answer that question. Dozens of times and more, in practically every state in this union. I have discussed it fully in baltimore in april, in washington in may, in San Francisco in june. Let me again, now, discuss it here in the east room of the white house. Why must young americans, born into a land exultant with hope and with golden promise, toil and suffer and sometimes die in such a remote and distant place . The answer, like the war itself, is not an easy one. But, it echoes clearly from the painful lessons of half a century. Three times in my lifetime, in two world wars and in korea, americans have gone to