It was August 7, 1964 when the Gulf of Tunkin
Resolution passed by the US Congress right after the alleged attack on two US
naval destroyers stationed off the coast of Vietnam. The Gulf of Tonkin
Resolution viably propelled America's full-scale inclusion in the Vietnam War.
Though there is no formal declaration of war, this also gave President Johnson
approval "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." This has been
used by Johnson and Pres. Richard Nixon as a justification for escalated
involvement in Indochina.
Although there was never a formal declaration of war, the Resolution gave President Johnson approval "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." Both Johnson and President Richard Nixon used the Resolution as a justification for escalated involvement in Indochina.
