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This test consists of 15 multiple choice questions and 5 short answer questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. What does Halberstam say General Westmoreland was asking President Johnson for, now that he was in control of Vietnam?
(a) More fighter jets.
(b) More bombers.
(c) More combat troops.
(d) More time.

2. Who was it who authorized a paper that would rationalize an exit from Vietnam?
(a) Averell Harriman.
(b) Robert McNamara.
(c) McGeorge Bundy.
(d) John McNaughton.

3. What does Halberstam say was the conclusion of the study that analyzed the results of a bombing attack against the north?
(a) The report concluded that bombing would break the Vietcong's supply routes, and end resistance.
(b) The report concluded that bombing would strengthen the North by building opposition to the Americans.
(c) The report concluded that bombing would overwhelm the people, and drain support for further attacks.
(d) The report concluded that bombing would deter any further guerilla-style attacks against the South.

4. How does Halberstam say Kennedy was feeling about the war at the beginning of Chapter 15?
(a) Dispirited.
(b) Frustrated.
(c) Optimistic.
(d) Enthusiastic.

5. What happened in the Gulf of Tonkin as a part of 34A?
(a) The VIetcong launched missiles at an American plane.
(b) An American ship sunk a North Vietnamese PT boat.
(c) An American plane was shot down by Russian Migs.
(d) An American ship was torpedoed.

6. When does Halberstam say the Johnson administration realized that Bundy was necessary to their planning?
(a) When McNamara's plans were ineffectual.
(b) When Diem was overthrown, as Bundy had predicted he would be.
(c) When they had a hard time while he was on vacation.
(d) When Taylor's theories were proven wrong.

7. When does Halberstam say the President's thinking about bombing began to change?
(a) After the 1964 elections.
(b) After the Vietcong attack on Qui Nhon.
(c) After the media began to carry explicit photos from the front.
(d) After he realized that Khanh was not an effective leader.

8. What does Halberstam say was the outcome of the report on the bombing attacks?
(a) The report was ignored, although it delayed the bombings.
(b) The report led to sanctions against the American military.
(c) The report resulted justifiying sending more troops and bombers to Vietnam.
(d) The report resulted in the withdrawal of American combat troops.

9. What does Halberstam say was the beginning of the 'credibility gap'?
(a) When the media began to exploit photographs to build opposition to the war.
(b) When U.S. deaths in Vietnam were withheld.
(c) When the military gave the government falsified reports on progress in Vietnam.
(d) When the government's figures were revised to protect Johnson's Great Society program.

10. What pressure does Halberstam say the events of September and October of 1963 relieved for Kennedy?
(a) He felt like he was finally hitting his stride in the presidency.
(b) He no longer felt the political pressure to deliver a victory.
(c) He no longer felt the need to prove himself to Kruschev.
(d) He was relieved of budgetary pressure.

11. How does Halberstam define the flash point?
(a) The location at which forces could engage face to face.
(b) The point at which the American people were no longer going to support the war.
(c) The point at which he would convince the American people to support the war.
(d) The point to which the U.S. could escalate without going to war.

12. What problem does Halberstam say McNamara discovered in Vietnam?
(a) That America's allies in the region were opposed to further involvement.
(b) The government was unpopular and the U.S. mission was not clear.
(c) The government wasn't working out and the Vietcong were gaining strength.
(d) The war effort was hampered by corruption and inefficient military support.

13. Why does Halberstam say that September and October of 1963 were good for the Kennedy administration?
(a) There was accord on civil rights issues.
(b) Averell Harriman made progress on the test ban treaty.
(c) The administration was prepared to pick up seats in special elections.
(d) The military made progress in the Mekong Delta.

14. What does Halberstam say happened when control shifted out of Taylor's hands in March and April 1965?
(a) Reports began to be issued with greater frequency.
(b) Reports began to describe American troops' atrocities.
(c) Reports began to be closer to actual realities.
(d) Reports began to reduce estimations of Vietcong troop strength.

15. What evidence does Halberstam say the President was presented with to make the case for bombing?
(a) U.S. soldiers' atrocities.
(b) Test results from the bomb manufacturers.
(c) Jobs reports in districts where bombs were manufactured.
(d) U.S. soldiers' casualty rates.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does Halberstam say was decided at the April 20, 1965 meeting in Honolulu?

2. In what way does Halberstam say that Lyndon Johnson resembled Kennedy in his management style?

3. What was the outcome of the first confrontation between Vietcong and U.S. troops?

4. What problem does Halberstam say Maxwell Taylor had in Vietnam?

5. What did Johnson say he needed before they could move against the North?

(see the answer keys)

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