Now Available: Summit Book & DVD Set
- Oct. 19, 2017
A look back at the summit with newly released book and three-disc DVD set.
Recap: John Kerry & Ken Burns
- April 26, 2016
John Kerry's keynote address as well as his conversation with Ken Burns
The Vietnam War Summit
LBJ Presidential Library | April 26-28, 2016
About the Summit
When the LBJ Presidential Library was dedicated in May 1971, President Johnson proclaimed to the assembled crowd, "It's all here, the story of our time--with the bark off. There is no record of a mistake, or an unpleasantness or a criticism, that is not included in the files here." Accordingly, he wanted his presidential library to reflect not only the triumphs of his administration, but the failures, too--and he wanted us to learn from them to build a better future for our country.
In keeping with President Johnson's vision for his library, the library took a substantive, unvarnished look at the most controversial facet of his legacy: The Vietnam War. The result was the Vietnam War Summit, an intensive three-day conference in April 2016 that brought together policy makers, scholars, journalists, photographers, musicians, and importantly, those who were on the front lines of the war and the antiwar movement.
Our goal was to shed definitive light on the war, its lessons, and legacy as well as recognize the men and women who courageously served in Vietnam. In conjunction with the conference, the library displayed a half-scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. Also, twice each day during the summit, Vietnam War veterans were recognized in pinning ceremonies held in partnership with the United States Vietnam War Commemoration.
The summit was co-hosted by The University of Texas at Austin.
