DBWI: Failed LBJ Presidency?

Under what circumstances would Lyndon B. Johnson's Presidency be considered a failure?

In our timeline, LBJ was President of the US from 1963 to 1973 and was elected in landslides in 1964 and 1968. By the time he left office in January 20, 1973, his approval ratings were close to 70 percent.

In my opinion, Johnson would have to be more involved in foreign affairs especially in Vietnam (and screw it up).

However, I believe that a failed Presidency would have to be ASB.
 
Vietnam? LBJ just wanted to leave it to Diem, really. He actually scaled it back compared to JFK (although in public it looked like he escalated it a bit; think JFK and removing the secret missiles from Turkey).

The only way I think is by scandal. Remember, Bobby Kennedy was going to resign over Watergate in '82 before Hinckley took matters into his own hands. Either way, his legacy was tarnished forever from that. If something similar happens to LBJ, then I could see it. Even so, Humphrey would probably still succeed him, so not much would change I think...
 
A failed Johnson Presidency does raise interesting possibilities.

It was a bit before my time but from what I have read many think LBJ was the key behind the scenes power that exposed Watergate and blocked RFK's plans to ban opposition parties and establish a one party state.

I still think RFK would have been blocked by others, but might he have gotten further w/o LBJ there to prevent it (assuming he was acting as most think he was).
 
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