Final answer:
The Johnson administration faced a 'credibility gap' due to conflicting reports about Vietnam between government claims and journalistic accounts, which led to public distrust and calls for withdrawal.
Step-by-step explanation:
The problem that developed for the Johnson administration as news reports continued to contradict its claims that the enemy was on the brink of defeat was a credibility gap. This term refers to the discrepancy between what the government officials were reporting about the Vietnam War and what was being revealed by other sources, such as the Pentagon Papers, and the realities on the ground reported by journalists. The Tet Offensive of 1968, wherein communist forces launched a massive and unexpected attack across South Vietnam, starkly exposed this gap. Despite U.S. military repelling the Viet Cong and inflicting heavy casualties, the event significantly undermined public trust in the government, as it contradicted officials' claims about the war nearing an end and the enemy's capabilities being diminished.
The continuous flow of negative images and stories, like the revelation of the My Lai Massacre and the leaking of the Pentagon Papers, further eroded public confidence. Consequently, most Americans began to press for an end to the Vietnam War, with 'peace with honor' becoming a call for withdrawal rather than victory. President Nixon eventually responded by ending the draft and reducing troop numbers, which in turn reduced antiwar activities, revealing a complex dynamic between public opinion, military policy, and the antiwar movement.