Analysis Of The Gulf Of Tonkin Incidents

On August 2, 1964 reports came to Washington that the USS Maddox in the Gulf on Tonkin was under torpedo attach by the North Vietnamese. The USS Maddox was able to repel the attack and President Johnson took no action. Two days later, on August 4, 1964, more reports came in of a possible second attack. On August 7, 1964, three days after the second attack, the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was passed and gave President Lyndon B. Johnson the power to use military force in Vietnam without the direct consent of Congress. Forty years after the fact, Professor David L. Anderson postulates that the two attacks, referred to as the Gulf of Tonkin Incidents, were used as a “pretext” to pass a resolution that allowed President Johnson the power to use military force without direct congressional consent. The main statement in the Golf of Tonkin Resolution reads, “Congress approves and supports the determination of the President, as Commander in Chief, to take all necessary measures to repel any armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression.” This statement grants President Johnson the responsibility to use his own “determination” in deciding how to proceed in Vietnam, basically giving him, what many refer to as, a blank check. It is known that the Constitution of the United States gives the power to declare war solely to Congress. Although the resolution doesn’t explicitly give this power to the president, it does allow him to act with war like responses (air raids, bombing, ground combat, etc.) to any conflict in Southeast Asia without the permission of Congress. This was one of the largest shifts in the balance of powers of the government branches the country had ever seen. However, the Gulf of To...

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...sive military measures without having to make a declaration of war. In a 60 minutes interview, President Johnson explained that there were “unknown risks” in formally declaring war on North Vietnam. He explained a possible risk later in the interview. He said, “I didn’t know what treaty China might have with North Vietnam or Russia might have with North Vietnam. The communist have these agreements among themselves. And if we declare war on North Vietnam that might automatically declare war against China.” The resolution allowed the U.S. to take war like action without getting caught up in a huge war between the U.S. and all communist countries. Senator Fulbright described the resolution as a “resolution to prevent a war.” He saw that escalation in Vietnam was inevitable and the only way to stay involved but stay out of a messy war was to pass this resolution.