 Johnson promptly seized upon the reports of an attack on a Navy warship in international waters to ask Congress to pass a resolution giving him the authority to wage war in Vietnam.McNamara via Admiral U. S. Grant Sharp Jr. of the Pacific fleet put strong pressure on Herrick to say that his ship had been attacked by torpedo boats, despite his strong doubts on the subject.On 5 August 1964, McNamara appeared before Congress to present proof of what he claimed was an attack on the Navy's warships in international waters of the Gulf of Tonkin and stated it was imperative that Congress pass the resolution as quickly as possible.