Operation Limpieza

1965 Lyndon Johnson sends 23,000 US troops to D.R. in response to domestic clashes between "constitutionalists" (supporters of left-wing Juan Bosch) and "loyalists" (far-right military supporters of Trujillo protege Joaquin Balaguer). A few thousand are killed. "'Your announced mission is to save US lives. Your unannounced mission is to prevent the Dominican Republic from going Communist. The President has stated that he will not allow another Cuba—you areto take all necessary measures to accomplish this mission. You will be given sufficient forces to do the job.'" - General Wheeler In an effort to minimize controversy over the invasion, the President's staff determined that it was best to omit from public statements that the casus belli was a Communist threat. Ambassador Adlai Stevenson argued that the President should not go beyond the need to protect American lives in explaining his decision. To present it as an "…intervention 'to restore order' and prevent a Communist victory" would most likely be condemned throughout the hemisphere as a return to gunboat diplomacy. The word went forward that the U.S. was simply conducting operations to protect Americans. However, as reporters started to cover the story, they became aware of the real reason behind the conflict. "When the reporters went aboard the [USS] Boxer to be briefed by Dare, the commodore told them that marines would stay ashore as long as necessary to 'keep this a non-Communist government.'" The decision to cover-up the truth resulted in the media's distrust of the administration for the rest of the crisis. There has also been speculation that it was this breaking of trust that caused the media to report on Vietnam so aggressively. After the invasion, US-backed Balaguer will dominate Dominican politics for the next 35 years.