Because of his unrelenting opposition to the Johnson administration's Vietnam policy and what was widely perceived as his hostility to McNamara, LeMay was essentially forced into retirement in February 1965. Moving to California, he was approached by conservatives to challenge moderate Republican Thomas Kuchel for his seat in the United States Senate in 1968, but he declined.
Because of his unrelenting opposition to the Johnson administration's Vietnam policy and what was widely perceived as his hostility to McNamara LeMay was essentially forced into retirement in February 1965 Moving to California he was approached by conservatives to challenge moderate Republican Thomas Kuchel for his seat in the United States Senate in 1968 but he declined