151. Editorial Note
During a telephone conversation between President Johnson and Senator Richard Russell that began at 8:05 p.m. on June 2, 1966, the following exchange took place:
[Page 411]“President: We got a pretty disastrous poll coming up on Vietnam. About 35–36% want to get out. About 40% approve of what weʼre doing—the way Iʼm handling it. About 41% approve of the way Iʼm doing it and about 36% disapprove.
“Russell: Well, youʼre going have to do something different out there. If you donʼt youʼre going eventually get in trouble. McNamara gave you some good advice on that.
“President: Whatʼs that?
“Russell: About pushing it a little bit harder.
“President: Well, heʼs not advising that now. We got until we get a government; until we get ʼem propped up, nobody really—
“Russell: I think the governmentʼs straightened itself out pretty well out there.
“President: Well, not yet. Not yet. Itʼs on its way to doing it, but itʼs not—.
“Russell: Well, I donʼt think it ever will be clamped down and be a real government any more than I think weʼre gonna have one in Santo Domingo.” (Johnson Library, Recordings and Transcripts, Recording of Telephone Conversation between Johnson and Russell, Tape F66.16, PNO 1)