Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

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Asked by a room full of journalists why the US was at war in Vietnam, Lyndon B. Johnson is reported to have unzipped his trousers, whipped out his ‘Jumbo’ and said, “This is why!”

New to The Rest Is History and want to know where to start? If you’re a fan of US history, we’re taking a look back at our ‘America in 1968’ series - where Tom and Dominic explore the most turbulent year in modern American history.

Search ‘How Vietnam Broke America’s Most Powerful President’.