Aug. 7, 1964 - The House of Representatives and the Senate approved today the resolution requested by President Johnson to strengthen his hand in dealing with Communist aggression in Southeast Asia.
After a 40-minute debate, the House passed the resolution, 416-0. Shortly afterward, the Senate approved it, 88-2. Senate debate, which began yesterday afternoon, lasted nine hours.
The resolution gives prior Congressional approval of “all necessary measures” that the President may take “to repel any armed attack” against U.S. forces and “to prevent further aggression.”
The resolution also gives advance sanction for “all necessary steps” taken by the President to help any nation covered by the Southeast Asia collective defense treaty that requests assistance “in defense of its freedom.”
President Johnson said the Congressional action was “a demonstration to all the world of the unity of all Americans.”
“The votes prove our determination to defend our forces, to prevent aggression, and to work firmly and steadily for peace and security in the area,” he said.
“I am sure the American people join me in expressing the deepest appreciation to the leaders and members of both parties in both houses of Congress for their patriotic, resolute, and rapid action.”
Except for Senators Wayne Morse, Democrat of Oregon, and Ernest Gruening, Democrat of Alaska, who cast the votes against the resolution, members in both houses uniformly praised the President for the retaliatory action he had ordered against North Vietnamese torpedo boats and their bases after the second torpedo boat attack on U.S. destroyers in the Gulf of Tonkin.
Senators Morse and Gruening said the resolution was “unconstitutional” because it was “a predated declaration of war power” reserved for Congress.
North Vietnam has stated that the second torpedo boat attack was fabricated by the U.S. as a pretext to widen the war.
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