"President Johnson put destroyers in harm's way in the Tonkin Gulf not only once, but several times, with the, with a lot of his people hoping that it would lead to a confrontation and claiming that it had. And could have resulted in the lost of many lives in the course of it"

This quote by Daniel Ellsberg is referring to President Johnson's actions throughout the Vietnam War. President Johnson had put destroyers in the Tonkin Gulf several times, with the intent of provoking a fight. This was finished with the hope that it would cause a conflict, and possibly result in the loss of numerous lives. This was a dangerous move, as it could have led to a major war with Vietnam. It is clear that President Johnson wanted to take threats in order to accomplish his goals, and this quote works as a pointer of the repercussions of such actions. Ultimately, President Johnson's actions did not result in a full-blown war, however it is essential to remember the prospective effects of such choices.