Path to War

The film opens with the January 1965 Inaugural Ball, introducing Johnson's presidency and his dual resolve to push civil rights and the Great Society. Advisors frame the era as a time for reform even as the country faces foreign peril. The stage is set for a presidency that must balance domestic ambition with a growing Vietnam crisis.

In an early cabinet meeting, General Earle Wheeler pushes for sending combat troops into South Vietnam. George Ball stands as the lone voice of restraint, warning that escalation could backfire and that Hanoi will push back.

Johnson meets with Lady Bird Johnson to discuss civil rights and voter registration, weighing social reform against the war's perils. He also navigates pressure from Martin Luther King Jr., who refuses to pause protests.

Clark Clifford arrives as a seasoned adviser, sharpening the debate over how far to go in Vietnam. He challenges hardline plans and helps frame a more cautious, negotiated approach.

Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara argues escalation could push Hanoi toward negotiation, while General Westmoreland advocates a larger troop presence and intensified bombing.

Norman Morrison's self-immolation shocks McNamara and makes the cost of the war feel personal. Johnson begins to recognize that a political crisis could be as dangerous as a battlefield loss.

A CIA briefing by the Briefer warns that bombing has had limited strategic impact and that North Vietnamese resolve remains strong. The briefing underscores the human cost and the fragile prospects for victory.

The administration grapples with growing antiwar sentiment at home and begins signing casualty letters while managing public messaging. Rivals like Robert F. Kennedy press Johnson from the sidelines.

The Tet Offensive of January 1968 exposes the fragility of the prospect for a quick win as North Vietnamese forces strike across Vietnam. American troops repel major assaults, but the scale signals a longer and harder war ahead.

Clifford guides a reluctant reorganization of defense leadership, signaling a shift away from the most aggressive expansion. The administration prepares to recalibrate the war's strategic direction.

Johnson delivers a televised speech announcing a commitment to negotiate and to constrain further bombing, signaling a pivot in policy. The address also acknowledges the toll of the war and the political risks of escalation.

A closing caption notes that the war continues under subsequent leadership and emphasizes the enormous toll on both sides. The film ends by highlighting the tension between pursuing victory and seeking peace under shifting political realities.