| Pictorial Parade No 184 (1966) New Zealand's Day With LBJ: President Lyndon Johnson and his wife, Lady Bird, arrive at Ohakea airfield at the start of a whirlwind 24-hour visit to New Zealand. He is the first United States President to visit this country. 'LBJ', as he is commonly known, had been stationed in New Zealand and Australia during the Second World War, when he was an observer on a number of bomber missions in the South Pacific. His return in 1966 is primarily to shore up support for the war in Vietnam. New Zealand's National government has been cautious in its approach to Vietnam, initially sending a Civilian Surgical Team to Qui Nhon in Binh Dinh province in 1963. Under continuing US pressure, the Holyoake government provided 25 Army engineers in June 1964. The crucial decision to send combat forces came in May 1965, when the Royal New Zealand Artillery's 161 Battery replaced the engineers. Johnson's visit appeared to confirm public support for New Zealand's involvement in Vietnam. In something resembling a royal visit, LBJ and Lady Bird are surrounded by cheering crowds as their motorcade progresses through Wellington. Up to 200,000 Kiwis cram the streets to get a glimpse of the President and First Lady. The President is keen to shake hands with as many onlookers as possible, much to the consternation of his security detail. When LBJ arrives at Parliament for a state luncheon on 20 October he is greeted by a large number of protestors. But they are outnumbered by supportive, cheering crowds who even tore down some of the protest banners. Newspapers declare the whistle-stop tour an overwhelming success, claiming that "the anti-Vietnam campaigners have less strength in the country than they imagined." Duration: 14.37
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