November 2 - Path to War

This movie has a scene that happens today – November 2. I hope you will enjoy this movie and watch it tonight.

PATH TO WAR

After Lyndon Baines Johnson (“LBJ”) wins the 1964 presidential election in a landslide he plans to pass a sweeping progressive set of legislation. However, his Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara tells him that communist aggression in Vietnam could present a problem. After a Vietcong attack on an American airbase, LBJ orders a retaliatory strike at a Vietnamese army barracks in North Vietnam. He then gives Congressional preoccupation with Vietnam as the reason he cannot get the Voting Rights Act passed. LBJ later uses the events of ‘Bloody Subday’ at the Pettus Bridge in Alabama to get the Voting Rights Act passed. Troops are sent in to protect Da Nang Air Force base and General Westmoreland; the American commander in Vietnam has a plan to escalate and win the war in Vietnam. LBJ’s advisors agree that either they need to cut and run or the USA will ultimately have to send in One million troops in order to win. Clark Clifford, who LBJ brings in as an advisor says get out, while McNamara insists the US can still win. LBJ decides to escalate the war. On November 2, 1965 [1:16:21 to 1:20:22] Norman Morrison commits self-immolation at the Pentagon in order to protest the Vietnamese War. The war continues in spite of two bombing pauses. LBJ finally orders the bombing of Hanoi, in spite of the risk of sinking Soviet ships.  LBJ learns that continuing to escalate the war will require cuts in domestic programs. LBJ goes to Vietnam. McNamara’s wife gets sick and he speaks out against the war, so LBJ pushes him out of the administration. Then the Tet offensive is perceived as a Viet Cong victory. After he barely wins the New Hampshire Primary and RFK enters the race, LBJ withdraws as a candidate in the 1968 presidential election. 

A good movie about how delusional people refused to accept the facts when they contradicted their personal beliefs and led the USA into an unwinnable war. Where have we heard that since the time of Vietnam?  Gambon does a good jonb of portraying LBJ’s often erractic personality.

The Sixties Chronicle edited by David J. Hogan (Legacy Publishing, New York, 2004) at page 246 gives the date

Producers - Cary Brokaw, Howard Dratch, John Frankenheimer, Guy Riedel and Edgar J. Scherick

Director - John Frankenheimer

Awards – The film was nominated for the Outstanding Casting for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special, Outstanding Cinematography for a Miniseries or a Movie, Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special, Outstanding Hairstyling for a Miniseries, Movie or a Special, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie (Gambon), Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie (Baldwin), Outstanding Made for Television Movie and Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special Emmys at the 54^th Primetime Emmy Awards. 

Screenplay - Daniel Giat

Runtime – 2 hours 45 minutes

Released - May 18, 2002

Starring -

Michael Gambon as Lyndon B. Johnson

Donald Sutherland as Clark Clifford

Alec Baldwin as Robert McNamara

Bruce McGill as George Ball

James Frain as Richard N. Goodwin

Felicity Huffman as Lady Bird Johnson

Frederic Forrest as Earle Wheeler

John Aylward as Dean Rusk

Philip Baker Hall as Everett Dirksen

Gary Sinise as George Wallace

Tom Skerritt as William Westmoreland

Cliff De Young as McGeorge Bundy

Chris Eigeman as Bill Moyers

John Valenti as Jack Valenti

Gerry Becker as Walt Rostow

Sarah Paulson as Luci Baines Johnson

Francis Guinan as Nicholas Katzenbach

Curtis L. McClarin as Martin Luther King, Jr.

Randy Oglesby as John C. Stennis

Patricia Kalember as Margaret McNamara

Diana Scarwid as Marny Clifford

Madison Mason as John McCone