Lyndon B. Johnson was nominated to run for the presidency at
the Democratic National Convention in Atlantic City, New Jersey.

His running mate would be Hubert H. Humphrey. Former Vice
President Johnson had assumed the reigns of government in
November 1963 when President Kennedy was assassinated.

Upon assuming office, he inherited a commitment to Vietnam
where Kennedy had sent military advisors to support the South Vietnamese government in Saigon.

Following the Tonkin Gulf incident earlier in August when
North Vietnamese torpedo boats reportedly attacked U.S.
destroyers, Congress passed the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution
empowering Johnson to “take all necessary measures to repel
an armed attack against the forces of the United States and to
prevent further aggression.”