McNamara graduated from Harvard with a master's degree in economics, served in the U.S. Air Force, and was president of the Ford Motor Company. Given his background in analysis, in 1960 President Kennedy asked McNamara to become his Secretary of Defense. American military support for South Vietnamese forces gradually increased during Kennedy's presidency. Early public opinion of Vietnam was not necessarily negative. The widespread American notion of war was seen as a fight against communism. This, combined with the preconceived idea of North Vietnam's inferiority as a military power, seemed like a favorable probability for an easy American victory, given its reputation for global hegemony. For this reason Kennedy, with McNamara's advice, approached the conflict according to the principles of limited war. However, the Kennedy administration did not foresee the unexpected tactics of guerrilla warfare coupled with unwavering dedication to the war effort. After President Kennedy's assassination, Lyndon B. Johnson assumed the role of president. Before Kennedy's death, there had been talks between him and McNamara about withdrawing troops from the war. This strategy was not shared by Johnson. His main strategy was to escalate and “Americanize” the war.[2] VIETNAM BOOK FACTS. McNamara's actions accordingly correspond to this as Johnson's Secretary of Defense until McNamara's resignation in 1978. However, evaluating
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