The Gulf of Tonkin Incident, 1964
Background
· Vietnam was originally a French colony (Indochina). Ho Chi Minh and his communist supporters resisted Japanese occupation. The French recaptured after WWII, only to be defeated by Ho Chi Minh. The Battle of Dien Bien Phu was a turning point in French occupation and became a symbol for the Vietnamese Communists. The separation of Vietnam into Laos, Cambodia, and North and south Vietnam, there was a power vaccum in the north that the Americans felt they must fill lest Vietnam should become a Communist country and influence the domino theory.
A divided country
· South Vietnam was led by a Catholic named Ngo Dinh Diem.
· The mainly Buddhist south opposed the North in the form of the National Liberation Force and The Viet Cong were the south supporters of the politics of the North.
· The north (ho chi minh) supported both groups and never accepted the speration of nrth and south Vietnam (the Geneva Agreement)
·
American Involvement in Vietnam
· In the Eisenhower doctrine, SEATO was the group responsible for the continment in Vietnam.
· The US supported the French during their Vietnam struggles.
· Kennedy increased the troops in 1962 from 500 to 10,000
· CIA overthrows Diem in 1963 on account of his corruption.
· Kennedy was not in favour of going to war despite his vice president Lyndon Johnson wanting to.
· When Kennedy dies, Johnson engages war.
The Gulf of Tonkin incident
· An American destroyer in Tonkin was torpedoed (although no damage was recorded)
· Because of this, Johnson was able to install the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, which was a response to what was seen as an act of war.
· This lead to the commitment of regular ground troops and air support. (200,000 troops in 1965, 600,000 1968)
· The significance of the Tonkin incident was the making of American entry into Vietnam legitimate.
· Vietnam was originally a French colony (Indochina). Ho Chi Minh and his communist supporters resisted Japanese occupation. The French recaptured after WWII, only to be defeated by Ho Chi Minh. The Battle of Dien Bien Phu was a turning point in French occupation and became a symbol for the Vietnamese Communists. The separation of Vietnam into Laos, Cambodia, and North and south Vietnam, there was a power vaccum in the north that the Americans felt they must fill lest Vietnam should become a Communist country and influence the domino theory.
A divided country
· South Vietnam was led by a Catholic named Ngo Dinh Diem.
· The mainly Buddhist south opposed the North in the form of the National Liberation Force and The Viet Cong were the south supporters of the politics of the North.
· The north (ho chi minh) supported both groups and never accepted the speration of nrth and south Vietnam (the Geneva Agreement)
·
American Involvement in Vietnam
· In the Eisenhower doctrine, SEATO was the group responsible for the continment in Vietnam.
· The US supported the French during their Vietnam struggles.
· Kennedy increased the troops in 1962 from 500 to 10,000
· CIA overthrows Diem in 1963 on account of his corruption.
· Kennedy was not in favour of going to war despite his vice president Lyndon Johnson wanting to.
· When Kennedy dies, Johnson engages war.
The Gulf of Tonkin incident
· An American destroyer in Tonkin was torpedoed (although no damage was recorded)
· Because of this, Johnson was able to install the Tonkin Gulf Resolution, which was a response to what was seen as an act of war.
· This lead to the commitment of regular ground troops and air support. (200,000 troops in 1965, 600,000 1968)
· The significance of the Tonkin incident was the making of American entry into Vietnam legitimate.
Path of the Maddox
The Incident
Speech Delivered by Johnson after the Incident
August 4, 1964
My fellow Americans: - As President and Commander in Chief, it is my duty to the American people to report that renewed hostile actions against United States ships on the high seas in the Gulf of Tonkin have today required me to order the military forces of the United States to take action in reply.
The initial attack on the destroyer Maddox, on August 2, was repeated today by a number of hostile vessels attacking two U.S. destroyers with torpedoes. The destroyers and supporting aircraft acted at once on the orders I gave after the initial act of aggression. We believe at least two of the attacking boats were sunk. There were no U.S. losses.
The performance of commanders and crews in this engagement is in the highest tradition of the United States Navy. But repeated acts of violence against the Armed Forces of the United States must be met not only with alert defense, but with positive reply. That reply is being given as I speak to you tonight. Air action is now in execution against gunboats and certain supporting facilities in North Viet-Nam which have been used in these hostile operations.
In the larger sense this new act of aggression, aimed directly at our own forces, again brings home to all of us in the United States the importance of the struggle for peace and security in southeast Asia. Aggression by terror against the peaceful villagers of South Viet-Nam has now been joined by open aggression on the high seas against the United States of America.
The determination of all Americans to carry out our full commitment to the people and to the government of South Viet-Nam will be redoubled by this outrage. Yet our response, for the present, will be limited and fitting. We Americans know, although others appear to forget, the risks of spreading conflict. We still seek no wider war.
I have instructed the Secretary of State to make this position totally clear to friends and to adversaries and, indeed, to all. I have instructed Ambassador Stevenson to raise this matter immediately and urgently before the Security Council of the United Nations. Finally, I have today met with the leaders of both parties in the Congress of the United States and I have informed them that I shall immediately request the Congress to pass a resolution making it clear that our Government is united in its determination to take all necessary measures in support of freedom and in defense of peace in southeast Asia.
I have been given encouraging assurance by these leaders of both parties that such a resolution will be promptly introduced, freely and expeditiously debated, and passed with overwhelming support. And just a few minutes ago I was able to reach Senator Goldwater and I am glad to say that he has expressed his support of the statement that I am making to you tonight.
It is a solemn responsibility to have to order even limited military action by forces whose overall strength is as vast and as awesome as those of the United States of America, but it is my considered conviction, shared throughout your Government, that firmness in the right is indispensable today for peace; that firmness will always be measured. Its mission is peace.
August 4, 1964
My fellow Americans: - As President and Commander in Chief, it is my duty to the American people to report that renewed hostile actions against United States ships on the high seas in the Gulf of Tonkin have today required me to order the military forces of the United States to take action in reply.
The initial attack on the destroyer Maddox, on August 2, was repeated today by a number of hostile vessels attacking two U.S. destroyers with torpedoes. The destroyers and supporting aircraft acted at once on the orders I gave after the initial act of aggression. We believe at least two of the attacking boats were sunk. There were no U.S. losses.
The performance of commanders and crews in this engagement is in the highest tradition of the United States Navy. But repeated acts of violence against the Armed Forces of the United States must be met not only with alert defense, but with positive reply. That reply is being given as I speak to you tonight. Air action is now in execution against gunboats and certain supporting facilities in North Viet-Nam which have been used in these hostile operations.
In the larger sense this new act of aggression, aimed directly at our own forces, again brings home to all of us in the United States the importance of the struggle for peace and security in southeast Asia. Aggression by terror against the peaceful villagers of South Viet-Nam has now been joined by open aggression on the high seas against the United States of America.
The determination of all Americans to carry out our full commitment to the people and to the government of South Viet-Nam will be redoubled by this outrage. Yet our response, for the present, will be limited and fitting. We Americans know, although others appear to forget, the risks of spreading conflict. We still seek no wider war.
I have instructed the Secretary of State to make this position totally clear to friends and to adversaries and, indeed, to all. I have instructed Ambassador Stevenson to raise this matter immediately and urgently before the Security Council of the United Nations. Finally, I have today met with the leaders of both parties in the Congress of the United States and I have informed them that I shall immediately request the Congress to pass a resolution making it clear that our Government is united in its determination to take all necessary measures in support of freedom and in defense of peace in southeast Asia.
I have been given encouraging assurance by these leaders of both parties that such a resolution will be promptly introduced, freely and expeditiously debated, and passed with overwhelming support. And just a few minutes ago I was able to reach Senator Goldwater and I am glad to say that he has expressed his support of the statement that I am making to you tonight.
It is a solemn responsibility to have to order even limited military action by forces whose overall strength is as vast and as awesome as those of the United States of America, but it is my considered conviction, shared throughout your Government, that firmness in the right is indispensable today for peace; that firmness will always be measured. Its mission is peace.