DAY IN HISTORY-MARCH 31, 1968

Johnson Shocks the Nation

“I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President.”

U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson announcing to the nation that he will not run on March 31, 1968. U.S. government photo. Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

March 31, 1968 was just another Sunday evening when many American families were gathered around television sets to watch their favorite shows, such as Bonanza, The Ed Sullivan Show, The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color.

But on this night, regular programming was interrupted by network television’s coverage of a special presidential address. Networks were alerted to the fact that it would be a speech about the war in Vietnam. The war had escalated and become a crisis of international proportions — one seeing President Lyndon B. Johnson’s approval rating take a nosedive.

Johnson did indeed speak about Vietnam during most of the 40-plus minutes of his address. At the very end of the speech, however, he made a surprise announcement: He would not run for the presidency again.

Americans watching the address did a double take. Some probably thought it was an April Fool’s joke since April 1 was the next day. News commentators, who were not informed in advance about this stunning part of the speech, were flabbergasted. In short, Johnson…