Vietnam: A Television History; Interview with John James Flynt, Jr., 1982
Description:
John James Flynt, Jr., was a Congressman from Georgia from 1954 to 1979. Flynt talks about his constituency as of 1965 as being largely supportive of the war effort, almost out of tradition for supporting government decisions. He recounts the deference offered by Congress to the president and his cabinet members, particularly in testimony on the conduct and progress of the war. He describes Congress as being "in awe" of the president at the time of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution but that awe fading within the next two years as constituents expressed dissatisfaction. He recounts being critical of the anti-war movement, being of the opinion that it undermined the war effort, including protests at the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago. Flynt describes his 1971 decision to turn against the war, saying it was the hardest decision of his life.
