Final answer:
The Vietnam War showcases the conflict between presidential and congressional authority in wartime, with the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution increasing presidential power, and the War Powers Act later aiming to balance this with increased Congressional oversight.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Vietnam War is indeed reflective of the issue of presidential vs. congressional authority during wartime. Presidential authority to conduct war was expanded through the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution, which gave President Johnson, and later Nixon, a broad mandate to conduct military operations in Vietnam without a formal declaration of war by Congress. This led to an escalation of the conflict and considerable debate regarding the separation of powers.
Over time, the credibility gap between what officials reported and the reality broadened, further complicating the trust in presidential authority. By 1968, public opinion had shifted notably against the war. The release of the Pentagon Papers in 1971 and the subsequent revelations of the true nature and scope of U.S. involvement in Vietnam intensified criticisms of the way presidents were handling the war.
Consequently, Congress sought to reclaim its authority by repealing the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution and later, in 1973, passing the War Powers Act, which aimed to check the president's power to engage U.S. forces without congressional approval. This tug-of-war between the branches of government underscored the complex dynamics of executive and legislative power during military conflicts.