Which of the following statements is true of the Gulf of Tonkin affair?
A. Congress was divided and only reluctantly passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.
B. The destroyer Maddox was sunk by North Vietnamese gunboats.
C. Johnson approved covert amphibious raids on North Vietnam.
D. Johnson sought passage of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution in order to freely expand American involvement in Vietnam
not d
its c
To determine which of the given statements is true of the Gulf of Tonkin affair, we can analyze each statement individually.
A. Congress was divided and only reluctantly passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution: This statement is true. The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which effectively granted President Lyndon B. Johnson broad powers to escalate U.S. involvement in Vietnam, was met with divided opinions in Congress. Many lawmakers were hesitant and cautious, but ultimately, the resolution was passed.
B. The destroyer Maddox was sunk by North Vietnamese gunboats: This statement is false. The initial incident that occurred in the Gulf of Tonkin involved the USS Maddox, a U.S. Navy destroyer, which claimed it had been attacked by North Vietnamese PT boats. However, subsequent investigations and declassified documents suggest that the reports of an actual attack may have been exaggerated or misinterpreted.
C. Johnson approved covert amphibious raids on North Vietnam: There is no mention of Johnson approving covert amphibious raids on North Vietnam directly related to the Gulf of Tonkin affair. Therefore, this statement is not applicable to the Gulf of Tonkin incident.
D. Johnson sought passage of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution in order to freely expand American involvement in Vietnam: This statement is true. The Gulf of Tonkin Resolution was sought by President Johnson to gain broad authorization to increase U.S. military presence and involvement in the Vietnam War. It provided the President significant power to conduct military operations without a formal declaration of war.
Based on the analysis, the correct statement about the Gulf of Tonkin affair is A. Congress was divided and only reluctantly passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution.