1. Lyndon B. Johnson (LBJ) Foreign Policy, 1963-1969 Gulf of Tonkin Resolution Escalation in Vietnam

2. Gulf of Tonkin Resolution By 1964, Vietnam was split along the 17 th parallel, with the North being communist (Soviet- backed) and the South being US-backed capitalist. On Aug. 2 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson claimed that two North Vietnamese ships had torpedoed a US carrier; the following day he claimed another N. Viet. ship had torpedoed another US carrier. In response, President Johnson asked Congress for a Resolution to defend American forces; Congress granted him “The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution,” which was basically a blank check to do “whatever it takes to protect American forces” in Vietnam. Like grandma’s nightshirt, it covered everything! Years later, it was revealed, the entire incident was completely made up; the two ships who “attacked the US” had been docked at port the entire time. It was too late, Johnson had already used the resolution to escalate the war. LBJ initiated increased air strikes in Vietnam, named Operation Rolling Thunder, & escalated the amount of combat troops sent. Eventually, the War Powers Act (1973) repealed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution. This act profoundly limited the president’s ability to wage war without the support of Congress.

3. ESCALATION OF WAR IN VIETNAM At first, US involvement in Vietnam only involved air strikes & bombings in Operation Rolling Thunder. After several attacks on U.S. bases, however, it was decided that US bases needed more protection. Also, the South Vietnamese military seemed incapable of providing security & stabilization. By March 1965, 3500 soldiers were dispatched to South Vietnam. This marked the beginning of the Am. ground war. Used napalm & agent orange to destroy jungles guerillas fought in. By Dec. 1965, 200,000 troops were sent to Vietnam. At war’s peak, there were more than 350,000 American ground troops in Vietnam.

4. TROUBLE IN VIETNAM DOVES v. HAWKS: 1968 the nation seemed divided into two camps–the doves who wanted the U.S. to withdraw from the war vs. the hawks who felt the U.S. should stay and fight. TET OFFENSIVE: During Tet, the Vietnamese New Year, the Vietcong & North Vietnamese launched a surprise attack known as the Tet offensive = guerrilla fighters hit Am. airbases in S.V. as well as the South’s major cities & provincial capital = Communist political victory that shocked Americans  LBJ doesn’t run for re-election in 1968 (Nixon wins) CREDIBILITY GAP: Americans began to question the gov. when what saw/read via media & what told by gov. was different  credibility gap developed  difficult to believe what the Johnson administration said about winning the war & it being almost over when media showing rising American soldier body count