Lyndon B Johnson Rhetorical Analysis Essay

Towards the end of his presidency, Lyndon B. Johnson’s approval steadily declined (Cohen, 25). Not only were his policies on Vietnam widely unpopular, but his plans for the “great society” were also failing as many believed he was “trying to move too fast” with many of his programs (Cohen, 25). The American people were extremely split on the president and how his actions had affected them. Having fallen victim to his ego, Johnson and his team decided that the best thing for the country would be for him not to take office for a second term. The country was left stunned, and after hearing this, many took to the press to voice their opinions about him and what they believed would happen next. The division of the American people is evident in the three writings published by the New York …show more content…
He finishes off by taking one more stab at Johnson, with the statement that the public still needs to focus on what matters in the war. One key difference between the papers is how their tone illustrates Johnson. The editorial, which has by far the most middle-grounded opinion of him, is more focused on the news around LBJ, than on him as a person. The author states that Johnson’s announcement “is one of the more dramatic developments” within politics of the period (Editorial). While they do focus a bit on why he may have chosen not to run, the article seems more interested in factual evidence than opinions over Johnson’s presidency. The letters, on the other hand, make it very clear how they feel about LBJ. Gray writes in an empathetic tone, explaining how he gives thanks “for the privilege of his leadership” (Gray). Opposing Gray’s words, Popkin used a far harsher tone to describe the president, who claimed that Johnson’s announcement was nothing more than a coverup of the bombing in

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