What hurt LBJ was when TV anchorman Walter Cronkite went on nation wide television after he himself had toured South Vietnam and turned against the war on TV. When LBJ saw that on television he reportedly stated, If Ive lost Cronkite Ive lost the war (or the American people). Either way, LBJ was burned out on Vietnam (he wanted to be remembered for his Great Society, not Vietnam), therefore he refused to run for re-election...announcing his refusal on nation wide television.

The Tet Offensive was a very successful attack against US and allied forces as the North Vietnamese forces attacked during a time that was typically a holiday for them. With Tet taking place at the beginning of 68 and that year being the year with the most casualties (nearly 17,000 American dead) it left a delible mark on the mental state as well as the strategic postions of American forces in Vietnam .