The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution authorized President Lyndon Johnson
Lyndon B. Johnson
Lyndon Baines Johnson, often referred to as LBJ, was an American politician who served as the 36th president of the United States from 1963 to 1969. Formerly the 37th vice president of the United States from 1961 to 1963, he assumed the presidency following the assassination of Presid…
What was the purpose of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution?
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution authorized President Lyndon Johnson to “take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression” by the communist government of North Vietnam.
What did Johnson do in the Gulf of Tonkin?
Congress passes Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. Johnson responded by sending in another destroyer. On August 4, the two destroyers reported that they were under attack. This time, Johnson authorized retaliatory air attacks against North Vietnam. He also asked Congress to pass the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.
How did the Tonkin Gulf debate affect the Vietnam War?
( Tonkin Gulf debate 1964) The Johnson administration subsequently relied upon the resolution to begin its rapid escalation of U.S. military involvement in South Vietnam and open warfare between North Vietnam and the United States .
What happened to the Gulf of Tonkin in 1964?
"Gulf of Tonkin Measure Voted In Haste and Confusion in 1964". The New York Times. June 25, 1970. "Gulf of Tonkin Resolution is Repealed Without Furor".
See more
What was the Tonkin Gulf Resolution?
Tonkin Gulf Resolution Passed by Congress after U.S. Navy ships supposedly came under attack in the Gulf of Tonkin, this resolution gave U.S. President Lyndon Johnson the authority to wage war against North Vietnam.
What was the significance of the passage of the Tonkin Gulf Resolution?
In the years following its passage, the Johnson administration used the authority granted by the resolution to increase American military involvement in South Vietnam.
What was the name of the ship that was attacked by communists in the Gulf of Tonkin?
In early August 1964, a U.S. Navy destroyer called the Maddox and a handful of North Vietnamese torpedo boats engaged in a brief fight in the Gulf of Tonkin, off the shores of North Vietnam. Two days later, the U.S. Navy incorrectly reported that its ships had been attacked by Communist forces for a second time. The U.S. Senate and House of Representatives reacted to this news by overwhelmingly approving the Tonkin Gulf Resolution. Over the next several years, U.S. President Lyndon Johnson (1908– 1973; president 1963–1969) and his administration used this resolution to dramatically increase U.S. military involvement in Vietnam.
What happened to the Maddox and Turner Joy?
In the meantime, a U.S. Navy investigation into the events of August 4 revealed that reports of a North Vietnamese attack on the Maddox and the Turner Joy were almost certainly wrong. Investigators discovered that stormy weather, false radar readings made by inexperienced personnel, and misunderstood North Vietnamese radio messages all combined to convince the ships that they were under attack, when actually they were in no danger. But Johnson chose to keep this information quiet. He wanted the increased military authority that would come with passage of the Tonkin Gulf Resolution.
What was the Johnson administration planning for?
At the same time, the Johnson administration had begun planning for a wide range of operations related to the war in Vietnam. These activities included instituting a military draft to boost the size of the U.S. military, launching bombing campaigns against North Vietnam, and sending American ground troops to protect South Vietnam from the Viet Cong. The officials hoped to avoid using these "contingency plans," (plans that are devised to prepare for possible emergencies or events in the future) but they wanted to be ready if necessary.
What was the situation in South Vietnam in 1963?
During the winter of 1963–1964, the Johnson administration's concerns about the stability of South Vietnam's government continued to grow. After President Ngo Dinh Diem 's (1901–1963) regime (government) was overthrown in November 1963, the United States had hoped that it might be replaced by a more effective government. As the weeks passed, however, it became clear that South Vietnam's new military rulers lacked political experience. These officers—known as the Military Revolutionary Council—quarreled over how best to lead the country. Many of them used their power to increase their personal wealth or plot against their political enemies.
What did Johnson promise to do?
Johnson promised to pass laws to eliminate segregation and other racist practices that separated minorities from whites in the nation's schools , restaurants, businesses, and other institutions. In addition, Johnson believed that far too many people were living in poverty in the United States.
When was the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution passed?
Passed the Senate on August 7, 1964 ( 88-2) Signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson on August 10, 1964. The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution or the Southeast Asia Resolution, Pub.L. 88–408, 78 Stat. 384, enacted August 10, 1964, was a joint resolution that the United States Congress passed on August 7, 1964, in response to the Gulf ...
What did Johnson say about North Vietnam?
After the meeting, Johnson told one of his aides, Kenny O'Donnell, that he felt he was "being tested" by North Vietnam with both agreeing that how the president handled the crisis would affect the election. O'Donnell recalled that Johnson's main fear was the incident might allow his Republican opponent in the election, Senator Barry Goldwater, a chance to gain in the polls. O'Donnell added that Johnson felt that he "must not allow them [the Republicans] to accuse him of vacillating or being an indecisive leader".
What ship was deployed to the Gulf of Tonkin?
In support of the raids, an American destroyer, the USS Maddox was deployed to the Gulf of Tonkin with orders to collect electronic intelligence on the North Vietnamese radar system.
What was the Kennedy administration concerned about?
Throughout 1963, the Kennedy administration was concerned that the South Vietnamese regime of Ngo Dinh Diem was losing the war to the Viet Cong. Such concerns were intensified after Diem was overthrown and killed in a CIA-sponsored coup on 2 November 1963.
Who was the American diplomat who served as Canada's representative to the International Control Commission?
The passage of the resolution alarmed several American allies who preferred that the United States not fight in Vietnam such as Canada. J. Blair Seaborn , the Canadian diplomat who served as Canada's representative to the International Control Commission engaged in secret "shuttle diplomacy" carrying messages back and forth from Hanoi to Washington in an attempt to stop the escalation of the war. On 13 August 1964, Seaborn arrived in Hanoi to meet the North Vietnamese Premier, Phạm Văn Đồng. Seaborn told Đồng that based on his recent meetings with Johnson that he was seriously using the powers he just gained from the Gulf of Tonkin resolution to go to war, but also stated that Johnson was willing to offer "economic and other benefits" if only North Vietnam ceased trying to overthrow the government of South Vietnam. Seaborn further stated that Johnson had told him that North Vietnam would "suffer the consequences" if it continued on its "present course". Đồng rejected the offer, saying he would rather see the war engulf "the whole of Southeast Asia" than to abandon the vision of one Communist Vietnam.
Who ordered the pull together of the Bundy resolution?
The Secretary of State, Dean Rusk, ordered his staff to "pull together" the resolution Bundy had written in May–June, just in case Johnson decided to submit it to Congress. On 3 August 1963, the South Vietnamese in their Swift boats raided Cape Vinhson and Cua Ron.
Who opposed the Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty?
This included involving armed forces. It was opposed in the Senate only by Senators Wayne Morse (D-OR) and Ernest Gruening (D-AK).
What was the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution?
Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, also called Tonkin Gulf Resolution, resolution put before the U.S. Congress by Pres. Lyndon Johnson on August 5, 1964 , assertedly in reaction to two allegedly unprovoked attacks by North Vietnamese torpedo boats on the destroyers Maddox and C. Turner Joy of the U.S.
Which president was authorized to make war in the Gulf of Tonkin?
destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin, the U.S. Congress authorized Pres. Lyndon B. Johnson to take any action necessary to deal with threats against U.S.
What was the Vietnam War resolution?
The resolution served as the principal constitutional authorization for the subsequent vast escalation of the United States’ military involvement in the Vietnam War. Several years later, as the American public became increasingly disillusioned with the Vietnam War, many congressmen came to see the resolution as giving the president a blanket power to wage war, and the resolution was repealed in 1970.
When was the Vietnam War repealed?
Several years later, as the American public became increasingly disillusioned with the Vietnam War, many congressmen came to see the resolution as giving the president a blanket power to wage war, and the resolution was repealed in 1970.
What was the Gulf of Tonkin resolution?
The United States Congress overwhelming approves the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, giving President Lyndon B. Johnson nearly unlimited powers to oppose “communist aggression” in Southeast Asia. The resolution marked the beginning of an expanded military role for the United States in the Cold War battlefields of Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia.
What happened to Johnson in August?
role in Vietnam. On August 2, North Vietnamese torpedo boats attacked an American destroyer in the Gulf of Tonkin . Johnson responded by sending in another destroyer.
Why did Johnson's popularity rise?
Johnson’s popularity soared in response to his “restrained” handling of the crisis. The Johnson administration went on to use the resolution as a pretext to begin heavy bombing of North Vietnam in early 1965 and to introduce U.S. combat troops in March 1965.
What was the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution?
August 7, 1964, Congress approved of Johnson’s decision and passed what has become known as the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution in the House of Representatives by 416-0 and in the senate by 88-2, which authorized the President to take ‘ all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States ’.
What were the causes and consequences of the Tonkin Gulf Resolution?
The causes and consequences of the Tonkin Gulf Resolution (1964); The attack on Pleiku air base, Operation Rolling Thunder and the arrival of ground troops.
What did LBJ believe?
LBJ was a strong supporter of domino theory, and believed that prevention of an NLF victory was vital to the defence of the US: ‘if we quit Vietnam, tomorrow we’ll be fighting Hawaii and next week we’ll have to fight in San Francisco’.
What happened to the USS Maddox?
The result was the Gulf of Tonkin incident in which the USS Maddox and the USS Turner Joy were fired upon, retaliated and sunk three North Vietnamese torpedo boats (August 2nd). The USS Maddox retreated into international waters before being ordered to return the following day.
What did Johnson say about Vietnam?
In April 1965, Johnson gave a speech in which he summed up the reasons the US had to escalate its commitment to Vietnam, in which he spoke of North Vietnam as a puppet of Communist Russia and China who wanted to conquer the whole of Asia. America had to fight if it wanted to live in a free world.
How many US troops were in Vietnam in 1965?
It was presented to the country as a short-term measure. By the end of 1965 there were nearly 200,000 American troops in Vietnam.
Why did Johnson restrict freedom of movement?
For that reason, despite the military escalation, Johnson remained more cautious than his Joint Chiefs of Staff and restricted their freedom of movement to fight a ‘Limited War’, i.e. one that was designed to avoid confrontation with China or Russia.
Overview
The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution or the Southeast Asia Resolution, Pub.L. 88–408, 78 Stat. 384, enacted August 10, 1964, was a joint resolution that the United States Congress passed on August 7, 1964, in response to the Gulf of Tonkin incident.
It is of historic significance because it gave U.S. President Lyndon B. Johnson authorization, without a formal declaration of war by Congress, for the use of co…
Towards the Incident
Throughout 1963, the Kennedy administration was concerned that the South Vietnamese regime of Ngo Dinh Diem was losing the war to the Viet Cong. Such concerns were intensified after Diem was overthrown and killed in a CIA-sponsored coup on 02 November 1963. On 19 December 1963, the Defense Secretary Robert McNamara visited Saigon and reported to President Lyndon B. Johnson that the situation was "very disturbing" as "current trends, unless reversed in the next tw…
Drafting
In February 1964, Walt Whitman Rostow, the director of the State Department's Policy Planning Staff pointed out a major constitutional problem with the plans to commit American forces to Vietnam, noting under the American constitution only Congress had the power to declare war. Johnson had made it clear that he was opposed to Khánh's plans to have South Vietnam invade North Vietnam out of the fear of causing a war with China, and he had even less enthusiasm for …
The Gulf of Tonkin Incident
Soviet-North Vietnamese relations had become badly strained in the early 1960s as North Vietnam moved closer to China, the more militant and aggressive of the two warring Communist giants. When Mao Zedong denounced Nikita Khrushchev for his "cowardice" for choosing a diplomatic compromise to settle the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 instead of a nuclear war against the United St…
Congress votes
Early on the morning of 04 August 1964, Johnson told several congressmen at a meeting that North Vietnam had just attacked an American patrol in the Gulf of Tonkin in international waters and promised retaliation. At the same time, Johnson also stated that he wanted Congress to vote for a resolution of support. After the meeting, Johnson told one of his aides, Kenny O'Donnell, that he felt he was "being tested" by North Vietnam with both agreeing that how the president handle…
As a policy instrument
The passage of the resolution alarmed several American allies who preferred that the United States not fight in Vietnam such as Canada. J. Blair Seaborn, the Canadian diplomat who served as Canada's representative to the International Control Commission engaged in secret "shuttle diplomacy" carrying messages back and forth from Hanoi to Washington in an attempt to stop the escalation of the war. On 13 August 1964, Seaborn arrived in Hanoi to meet the North Vietname…
Repeal
By 1967, the rationale for what had become a costly U.S. involvement In the Vietnam War was receiving close scrutiny. With opposition to the war mounting, a movement to repeal the resolution—which war critics decried as having given the Johnson administration a "blank check"—began to gather steam.
An investigation by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee revealed that Maddox had been on an electronic …
External links
• Original Document: Tonkin Gulf Resolution
• Ourdocuments.gov
• Peters, Gerhard; Woolley, John T. "Lyndon B. Johnson: "Special Message to the Congress on U.S. Policy in Southeast Asia," August 5, 1964". The American Presidency Project. University of California - Santa Barbara.