"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." — Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, Public Law 88-408, August 7, 1964
Later evidence, including releases studied with the Pentagon Papers, suggested that the second alleged North Vietnamese attack of August 4, 1964:
- Acheck_circle
Likely did not occur as initially reported, raising questions about the resolution's factual basis
- B
Sank two American destroyers and killed 40 sailors
- C
Was confirmed by Soviet naval logs
- D
Took place in Cambodian territorial waters
Explanation
Subsequent declassified intelligence and the Pentagon Papers indicated that the second Tonkin incident likely did not happen as Johnson described, undermining the resolution's premise.