The Vietnam War - Hit Song Timeline: 1964

Where to Begin?

Foreign military involvement in Vietnam had been occurring since the end of the Second World War, with first, France, then the United States becoming involved. After the French realized that you couldn't win a land war in Asia and left, the United States decided to "take up the cause".

The United States government was determined to stop the Red Menace from sweeping straight through Asia and into Kansas. So during the early 60's, the USA began propping up a corrupt South Vietnam government by send military advisors, and then a steady increase in air support, transport, and supplies for the South Vietnam troops.



Then on November 22, 1963, a president is assassinated, a new leader is sworn in without being democratically elected and the Nino Tempo and April Stevens song "Deep Purple" is the number one single in America.

And before you know it, it's 1964. As good of spot as any to start.

The Gulf of Tonkin Incident (Aug 2, 1964 - Aug 7, 1964)

• On Aug 2nd, the United States destroyer, USS Maddox, engages three North Vietnamese patrol boats, sinking one and damaging the other two.

• On Aug 4th, the USS Maddox and the destroyer USS C Turner Joy were reported to engage in further action. This was an erroneous report. The North Vietnamese were most likely just attempting to salvage the boats lost two days earlier. The press didn't care and reported it as a fierce firefight.

• On Aug 7th, the un-elected president of the United States, Lyndon Johnson, was granted by congress, the authority to use US forces to assist in the fight against the spread of communism in Southeast Asia.

• Johnson used the "Gulf of Tonkin Resolution" to justify the escalation of the war.

An 80% approving nation tunes in on Aug 2 to hear "A World Without Love" by Peter and Gordon. But by time the fires are out at the oil facilities bombed by Navy jets, a new single is on top of the charts. The Beach Boys song "I Get Around", fueled a Middle American teen's California dreams.





President Johnson Wins Re-election (Nov. 3, 1964)

• President Johnson wins a landslide victory by taking 61% of the popular vote.

• The landslide sweeps many conservatives out of congress and the President uses his "electoral mandate" to push forward the war.

• This will be the last election in which a democrat candidate for president wins a majority of the white vote.

On the way to their polling stations, white Americans were humming the catchy melody of the song "Where Did Our Love Go". The chart topping single from a black singing group named The Supremes.

Stay tuned in .... the next installment is on the way.