Question

Which of the following statements is true of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution of 1964?

• A. It passed both the Senate and the House without any dissenting votes.
• B. It contributed to President Johnson's slim margin of victory in the 1964 election.
• C. It was a declaration of war that Congress passed after much debate.
• D. In retrospect, it is clear that the resolution was justified by clear evidence of North Vietnamese aggression.
• E. It gave President Johnson a "blank check" to retaliate against the North Vietnamese.

Answer 1

The correct option is E It gave President Johnson a "blank check" to retaliate against the North Vietnamese.

On August 7, 1964, Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, authorizing President Johnson to take any measures he believed were necessary to retaliate and to promote the maintenance of international peace and security in southeast Asia. The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution of 1964 gave President Johnson a "blank check" to retaliate against the North Vietnamese.