American Quote by Rick Perlstein
“When downed American pilots were first taken prisoner in North Vietnam in 1964, U.S. policy became pretty much to ignore them - part and parcel of President Lyndon B. Johnson's determination to keep the costs of his increasingly futile military escalation in Southeast Asia from the public.”
About This Quote
Source Book: *The Pentagon Papers* by Neil Sheehan, 1971
U.S. leadership chose to hide POWs to avoid public backlash against the Vietnam war escalation.
In simple terms: Government ignored captured pilots to keep war support.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how political motives can suppress truth.
Themes
politics
war
media
ethics
Mood
critical
reflective
Type
historical
political
When to use this quote
- policy analysis
- historical research
- civil rights advocacy
Key Concepts
propaganda
public opinion
military strategy
Questions to Reflect On
- How does secrecy affect democratic accountability?
- What responsibilities do leaders have to transparency?
A Different Perspective
Ignoring POWs caused long‑term mistrust in government.
