Gulf of Tonkin incident

1964NotableContested

Reported attacks on U.S. ships lead Congress to authorize war in Vietnam.

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Contested history

Consensus: Congress authorized war after reported North Vietnamese attacks on U.S. destroyers in August 1964.

The August 2 attack happenedEstablished

North Vietnamese boats did engage the USS Maddox.

The August 4 attack did not happenEstablished

An NSA history declassified in 2005 concluded no attack took place that night.

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