Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (text of resolution)

Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (text of resolution)

  

In August 1964 North Vietnamese boats fired on an American destroyer in the Gulf of Tonkin. When two American ships reported a second attack, the United States Senate responded by authorizing increased military activity in the region. The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution marked a turning point in U.S. involvement in Vietnam, giving President Lyndon Johnson broad authority to expand the U.S. war effort. Congress repealed the resolution in 1970 after critical reassessments of the Gulf of Tonkin incident and of the Vietnam War. In 1973 Congress also attempted to curb the president’s power to send troops into combat with the War Powers Resolution. Herbert S. Parmet

The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution

Eighty-eighth Congress of the United States of America

AT THE SECOND SESSION

Begun and held at the City of Washington on Tuesday, the seventh day of January, one thousand nine hundred and sixty-four

Joint Resolution

To promote the maintenance of international peace and security in southeast Asia.

Whereas naval units of the Communist regime in Vietnam, in violation of the principles of the Charter of the United Nations and of international law, have deliberately and repeatedly attacked United States naval vessels lawfully present in international waters, and have thereby created a serious threat to international peace; and

Whereas these attacks are part of a deliberate and systematic campaign of aggression that the Communist regime in North Vietnam has been waging against its neighbors and the nations joined with them in the collective defense of their freedom; and

Whereas the United States is assisting the peoples of southeast Asia to protect their freedom and has no territorial, military or political ambitions in that area, but desires only that these peoples should be left in peace to work out their own destinies in their own way: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the 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.

SEC. 2. The United States regards as vital to its national interest and to world peace the maintenance of international peace and security in southeast Asia. Consonant with the Constitution of the United States and the Charter of the United Nations and in accordance with its obligations under the Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty, the United States is, therefore, prepared, as the President determines, to take all necessary steps, including the use of armed force, to assist any member or protocol state of the Southeast Asia Collective Defense Treaty requesting assistance in defense of its freedom.

SEC. 3. This resolution shall expire when the President shall determine that the peace and security of the area is reasonably assured by international conditions created by action of the United Nations or otherwise, except that it may be terminated earlier by concurrent resolution of the Congress.

Speaker of the House of Representatives: John C. McCormack

Acting President pro tempore of the Senate: Lee Metcalf

APPROVED

AUG 10 1964

Lyndon B. Johnson