The Real Bottom Line: A History of Business Executives Move for Vietnam Peace

Abstract

In 1967, a group of American business leaders established Business Executives Move for Vietnam Peace (BEM) to pressure the US government to stop the bombing, de-escalate the fighting, and negotiate an end to the Vietnam War. Why would business leaders risk taking a public stand on an increasingly controversial political issue? This article will examine the reasons that BEM did so as well as analyze their changing tactics and goals. It will also analyze which business executives joined BEM, and consider their impact on the business community, the Vietnam War, and American society more generally.