Lyndon Johnson, Harold Wilson and the Vietnam War: a Not So Special Relationship?

Introduction

“…There was 'no personal chemistry or ideological common ground between Wilson and Johnson … the relationship was not a happy one'. 85 Thomas Schwartz confirms that Wilson and Johnson had 'a very testy relationship over Vietnam', but they 'compartmentalised their relationship and learned to live with their differences over Vietnam and work together effectively in matters where they shared a similar outlook'. This period saw 'an extraordinary degree of interaction, involvement, and influence between the US and British governments … with intense US involvement in such matters as the British budget process and subsequent reciprocal British influence, especially on US approaches to the alliance'.…”