4. Lyndon B. Johnson
As U.S. President, Lyndon B. Johnson dramatically escalated American involvement in the Vietnam War. In August 1964, following the Gulf of Tonkin incident, he ordered retaliatory airstrikes against North Vietnam and sought congressional approval for increased military action. This led to the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, granting him authority to use military force in Southeast Asia. By the end of 1965, U.S. troop numbers had surged to over 180,000, significantly shaping the war’s trajectory. (history.com)
