Introduction
It's 1964.
For nearly a decade, the United States has been supporting the Republic of Vietnam (also known as South Vietnam) in their conflict with Communist forces from the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (or North Vietnam).
On August 2nd and 4th, American warships patrolling in the Gulf of Tonkin report being attacked by North Vietnamese PT boats. As a result, President Johnson orders retaliatory strikes on North Vietnamese military targets, and asks the U.S. Congress to pass a resolution that increase the President's ability to protect America's allies in southeast Asia.
America's history in Southeast Asia is about to change. America is about to change.
Why did the president and members of his cabinet want the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution? What were some of the arguments made against passing such a resolution?