While the United States' involvement in Vietnam evolved over several decades, President Lyndon B. Johnson significantly escalated the American military commitment, leading many to consider his actions as the true beginning of large-scale U.S. combat involvement in the Vietnam War.
The Escalation Under President Lyndon B. Johnson
President Johnson inherited a situation of increasing U.S. military aid and advisory roles in Vietnam. However, a pivotal turning point occurred in 1964. Following the Gulf of Tonkin incident, where U.S. naval vessels were allegedly attacked by North Vietnamese forces, President Johnson swiftly ordered retaliatory air strikes against North Vietnam. This decisive action was further solidified when Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which granted the President broad authority to take military action in Southeast Asia without a formal declaration of war. This resolution authorized substantial military intervention in defense of South Vietnam, marking a dramatic shift from an advisory role to direct military engagement and the deployment of U.S. ground combat troops.
A Gradual Buildup: Pre-Johnson Involvement
It's important to understand that U.S. involvement in Vietnam didn't begin abruptly with President Johnson. The seeds of American engagement were sown much earlier:
- President Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953-1961) supported South Vietnam with financial aid and military advisors after the French defeat at Dien Bien Phu, aiming to prevent the spread of communism under the "domino theory."
- President John F. Kennedy (1961-1963) dramatically increased the number of U.S. military advisors in South Vietnam, from hundreds to thousands, and expanded aid programs. However, he stopped short of deploying large-scale combat troops.
Therefore, while previous administrations laid the groundwork for involvement, it was under President Johnson that the United States transitioned from an advisory and support role to a full-scale military intervention with direct combat forces.
Key Milestones in U.S. Engagement
Understanding the different phases of U.S. presidential involvement helps clarify the evolution of the conflict:
| President | Period of US Involvement | Key Actions |
|---|---|---|
| Dwight D. Eisenhower | 1953 – 1961 | Provided significant financial and military aid to South Vietnam; sent hundreds of military advisors; supported the creation of South Vietnam. |
| John F. Kennedy | 1961 – 1963 | Increased the number of military advisors from 900 to over 16,000; expanded military and economic aid; supported strategic hamlet program; no direct combat troops deployed. |
| Lyndon B. Johnson | 1963 – 1969 | Ordered air strikes against North Vietnam following the Gulf of Tonkin incident; secured the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution; deployed the first U.S. ground combat troops; dramatically escalated the war. |
| Richard Nixon | 1969 – 1974 | Implemented "Vietnamization" to withdraw U.S. troops while expanding South Vietnamese capacity; resumed bombing campaigns; pursued peace negotiations. |
The actions taken by President Johnson in 1964, particularly after the Gulf of Tonkin incident, marked the definitive shift towards full-scale American military engagement in Vietnam. This period is widely recognized as the point when the U.S. truly entered the war as a direct combatant.
