Johnson’s War? Assessing the Impact of President Johnson upon the Vietnam War The Gulf of Tonkin Incident

Setting the Scene June 1964 – the American administration had drawn up a resolution securing American military commitment to the Vietnam war. The aim of the resolution was to raise morale in Saigon (South) but the administration had hesitated to introduce it into congress. By July 1964, 200 American troops had died in Vietnam. Johnson had placed an additional 2,500 troops there. The war against the North was NOT going well. The debate in Washington centred around how to WIN the war – not how to get OUT. Most of Johnson’s advisers saw escalation as the only route to success. To enable this – Johnson felt he needed BOTH Congressional support and public support. Why were these both a problem for Johnson in July 1964?

The Gulf of Tonkin Incident For a decade, the CIA had been secretly sending South Vietnamese teams on sabotage missions to the North. In the first half of 1964 South Vietnamese gunboats raided the north Vietnamese coast and Johnson approved covert (hidden) US operations. American ships such as the Maddox went on espionage missions in the North’s coastal waters. Johnson claimed that the North Vietnamese made two unprovoked attacks on the Maddox and the Turner Joy on the Gulf of Tonkin.

What should Johnson do? In your groups you must act as Johnson’s advisers. You will either be: Dean Rusk: Hawk Robert McNamara: Hawk Mike Mansfield: Dove Barry Goldwater: MASSIVE HAWK! Write a report (in character) for President Johnson arguing what YOU feel should happen next. Remember it is your job to advise him! Be persuasive. Think about the implications of your suggestions! Use what we already know about these individuals to help you!

Debate What should Johnson do? What would be the potential impact of Johnson’s actions in Vietnam? 7 minute debate Class vote – WHAT SHOULD JOHNSON DO?

The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution The Gulf of Tonkin incident gave Johnson the chance he needed to get the resolution passed. He persuaded the administration that the lives of the US troops had been jeopardised – was this a genuine threat?.. Passing the resolution gave the President the power to wage a war in Vietnam. The resolution only expired when Congress decided to terminate it.

Document Analysis Analyse the primary source in the document booklet. How does this help us to understand Johnson’s involvement in Vietnam? TO WHAT EXTENT CAN THE VIETNAM WAR BE SEEN AS ‘JOHNSON’S WAR?’

Why was the Gulf of Tonkin resolution so important to Johnson? How did the resolution lead to escalation?