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The war in Vietnam has been influential in policy and decision making for decades following the end of the war. Public opinion has a strong influence over decisions made by presidents during wartime. This strategy can be used to bring troops home or to find a fast solution to ending a war. Wars can be used to make or break a presidency. If a president makes unpopular decisions during his presidency, it will reflect in the polls. Americans have used many methods of getting their voices heard; one of the most popular is anti-war protests. Decisions made by presidents reflect public opinion. Public opinion has always played a crucial role in any war. This can determine if a president is re-elected or not. An example of this is Lyndon B. Johnson, who in 1967, the year before an election year, traveled to Vietnam and declared a victory. The public wanted a victory, and if Johnson did not produce one, he knew he did not stand a chance of re-election. In 1968, Johnson did not run for president again because of the continuance of the war in Vietnam. Democratic nominee, Richard Nixon, used Johnson’s failure to help him gain election. He promised a quick, decisive end to the war. In his Republican nomination acceptance spe