JOHNSON, Lyndon B. Typed letter signed ("Lyndon B. Johnson") as President, to Edwin D. Eshleman, Washington, 3 July 1968. 1 page, 8vo, White House stationery.
JOHNSON, Lyndon B. Typed letter signed ("Lyndon B. Johnson") as President, to Edwin D. Eshleman, Washington, 3 July 1968. 1 page, 8vo, White House stationery.

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JOHNSON, Lyndon B. Typed letter signed ("Lyndon B. Johnson") as President, to Edwin D. Eshleman, Washington, 3 July 1968. 1 page, 8vo, White House stationery.

A WAR PRESIDENT'S LAST BID TO SECURE NUCLEAR PEACE: THE NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY

"On Monday," Johnson tells Congressman Eshleman, "it was the proud privilege of this Government to sign the Non-Proliferation Treaty. We will begin talks with the Soviet Union on further steps to peace soon. Because of the great importance of these events to all the people of the world, I am sending you a personal copy of the remarks I made on Monday [not included here]. I hope that you will give this matter your full and urgent attention. I trust we may move forward as a united people toward bringing a measure of order into the affairs of our troubled planet."

The Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty - by which signatory nations pledged to ban the acquisition and transfer of nuclear weapons -- seemed to be one of the few successes LBJ could claim in the waning months of his administration. In March, in the face of escalating anti-Vietnam War protests, Johnson had effectively resigned the Presidency by declining to seek reelection in 1968. In his remaining time in office, he desperately wanted to claim a legacy as a peacemaker and not just as the leader of a failed war. He pinned his hopes on Congress ratifying - and the next President endorsing - a commitment to U. S. participation in the nonproliferation regime. He also had hopes for a summit meeting with Soviet leaders. But here too LBJ was doomed to disappointment. The summit plans came to nothing. Congress waited to see what the November election brought, and with Richard Nixon's victory they refused to hold a lame duck special session to ratify the Treaty.

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