“The Impact: Vietnam and the 1968 Democratic Primary” It was the late Beatle, John Lennon, who once said that “We live in a world of where people have to hide to make love, while violence is practiced in broad daylight." This obviously refers to his disdain for the Vietnam War and frankly when you ask someone who was an American citizen at the time, you will most likely get the same wistful answer. For much of 15 years, the Vietnam War was at the forefront of American society politically, socially and economically. As time passed, public opinion collapsed, leaving President Lyndon Johnson with no choice but to reject the Democratic Party's nomination for the 1968 presidential election. As the Johnson administration transformed into a damage control factory, an incredibly intriguing race for the Democratic nomination was brewing. The race included the likes of Senator Robert Kennedy of New York, Senator Eugene McCarthy of Minnesota, and Vice President Hubert Humphrey. In the long run, the Vietnam War proved to be the critical issue that mattered most to the electorate. The reasons were that we were spending countless dollars, risking hundreds of thousands of lives, and making no progress. Kennedy, McCarthy, and Humphrey all agreed that the matter should be brought to an end, however, the ways in which to proceed were in stark contrast. For most of the race, Kennedy was the clear favorite to win. However, once he was taken down, things changed a lot, to the detriment of the Democratic Party. They would not see a successful president take office until the early 1990s due to the complete lack of trust in government and the way Democrats, particularly LBJ, handled Vietnam. The mismanagement... middle of paper... history, shit. For me, Vietnam was the root cause of this. Johnson had mismanaged the war and the level of distrust in the party and the government was at an all-time low. Democrats wouldn't see a successful president until Bill Clinton took them back in 1992 and revolted. In 1968 the Vietnam War was a time when Americans saw deep divisions, disappointments, and tragedies. Their government had failed them, people they could trust had been killed, and their loved ones were frightened by the effects of war. Rightly so, the American people were shocked and angry. The dynamic that I explored that made Vietnam such an important piece of American history that it influenced an entire party and a nation will only amplify over time, not just in 1968 and not just for one primary election, but for everyone those who have shared an interest in this window..