Aug. 10, 1964 - President Johnson formally signed a joint Congressional resolution today approving “all necessary measures” he might take to repel attack and prevent aggression in Southeast Asia.
Surrounded by the Cabinet and the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Congressional leaders, the President emphasized that U.S. policy in Southeast Asia was now clearly known throughout the world.
“The position of the United States is stated plainly,” he said. “To any armed attack upon our forces, we shall reply. To any in Southeast Asia who ask our help in defending their freedom, we shall give it.”
The President had requested the Congressional resolution to strengthen his hand in dealing with Communist aggression after the North Vietnamese torpedo boat attacks last week on two U.S. destroyers, which resulted in retaliatory air assaults on North Vietnamese boats and bases.
The only members of Congress to oppose the resolution were Senators Wayne Morse, Democrat of Oregon, and Ernest Gruening, Democrat of Alaska.
Shortly before the President signed the resolution on Southeast Asia, Senator Barry Goldwater of Arizona indicated a belief that Johnson had not gone far enough in the retaliatory air attacks on North Vietnam.
The Republican Presidential candidate said that a strong response was not enough. He maintained that the U.S. must “prosecute the war in Vietnam with the object of ending it.”
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