March 31, 1968 - LBJ Announces He Won't Run for President

Film courtesy LBJ Library

[brianvivickers]

When Johnson made this speech, his approval ratings were down, and his health was declining; and supposedly the doctors told him that he wouldn’t live out another term as President, because of his heart problems.

[agustinsegovia]

This video will go trending for absolutely no reason

[clydejames]

I remember the moment as though it happened yesterday evening. The entire dorm I was living in went absolutely WILD when he made this announcement.

[adamsz]

I have a feeling this video is about to get a whole lot of traffic…

[angelcastaneda]

As a history lover, I don’t know what will come next.

[starclonedroid]

If he ran and won he would have been the 2nd longest serving US president

[robj]

He used to walk around the white house turning off all the lights. He was frugal

[mikegalvin]

Today every speech is a "bombshell" but this really was one. I was in 8th grade and watching for civics class. I had friends whose older brothers were soon to be 18 and thinking about draft status. Also even my liberal parents worried about Communist expansion, although unsure Vietnam was the right place to take a stand

[SheeshCurry]

I came here after Biden finally dropped out of the race.

[DaCloudySunnyDay]

The moment where LBJ said, "fuck this job"

[Lt-Dan]

His bad decisions cost us a lot of good men

[alanstrong]

Lyndon would not have survived another term as President. His impending heart failure was waiting for him, not far away. He did himself and America a big old favor.

[Bboy]

Who’s here hoping Biden will do the same

[garyhunt]

Good job Harold Wilson didn't send British troops In Vietnam

[condomadness]

The damage LBJ inflicted on this country, especially the black community, is irreparable. America died on November 22, 1963, and was subsequently buried with the killing of MLK, Malcolm X, and Bobby Kennedy. I've always wondered what the alternate timeline would look like today if JFK hadn't been assassinated.

[brianvivickers]

After Nixon blew up the piece talk in Vietnam, I wish Johnson and J. Edgar Hoover would have brought this to the light; despite the fact that Hoover was wiretapping and listening in illegally.

[JCbklyn]

People forget the origins of the modern day American War machine. It’s sad. Never forget your history.

[gvalley]

Translation; "The war in Vietnam is unwinnable, I will be to blame. I will not win another term, so why bother."

[_ArsNova]

Immediately thought of this speech when I heard the announcement. Respect LBJ much more though. Went from teaching barefoot children in Texas to the White House, no silver spoon.

[nickthomas]

Biden should read LBJ’s speech verbatim, confusing the nation with his Vietnam and Kennedy assassination references