1964RepublicanNationalConventionAddress.doc

1964RepublicanNationalConventionAddress BarryGoldwater:1964RepublicanNationalConventionAddress MygoodfriendandgreatRepublican,DickNixon,andyourcharmingwife,Pat;myrunningmate,thatwonderfulRepublicanwhohasservedussowellforsolong,BillMillerandhiswife,Stephanie;toThurstonMortonwhosdonesuchamendablejobinchairmaningthisConvention;toMr.HerbertHoover,whoIhopeiswatching;andtothatthatgreatAmericanandhiswife,GeneralandMrs.Eisenhower;tomyownwife,myfamily,andtoallofmyfellowRepublicanshereassembled,andAmericansacrossthisgreatNation. Fromthismoment,unitedanddetermined,wewillgoforwardtogether,dedicatedtotheultimateandundeniablegreatnessofthewholeman.TogetherTogetherwewillwin. Iacceptyournominationwithadeepsenseofhumility.Iaccept,too,theresponsibilitythatgoeswithit,andIseekyourcontinuedhelpandyourcontinuedguidance.MyfellowRepublicans,ourcauseistoogreatforanymantofeelworthyofit.Ourtaskwouldbetoogreatforanyman,didhenothavewithhimtheheartsandthehandsofthisgreatRepublicanParty,andIpromiseyoutonightthateveryfiberofmybeingisconsecratedtoourcause;thatnothingshallbelackingfromthestrugglethatcanbebroughttoitbyenthusiasm,bydevotion,andplainhardwork. Inthisworldnoperson,noPartycanguaranteeanything,butwhatwecandoandwhatweshalldoistodeservevictory,andvictorywillbeours. ThegoodLordraisedthismightyRepublictobeahomeforthebraveandtoflourishasthelandofthefreenottostagnateintheswamplandofcollectivism,nottocringebeforethebullyingofmunism. Now,myfellowAmericans,thetidehasbeenrunningagainstfreedom.Ourpeoplehavefollowedfalseprophets.Wemust,andweshall,returntoprovenwaysnotbecausetheyareold,butbecausetheyaretrue.Wemust,andweshall,setthetidesrunningagaininthecauseoffreedom.Andthisparty,withitseveryaction,everyword,everybreath,andeveryheartbeat,hasbutasingleresolve,andthatisfreedomfreedommadeorderlyforthisNationbyourconstitutionalgovernment;freedomunderagovernmentlimitedbythelawsofnatureandofnaturesGod;freedombalancedsothatorderlackinglibertysicwillnotbeetheslaveryoftheprisonshellcell;balancedsothatlibertylackingorderwillnotbeethelicenseofthemobandofthejungle. Now,weAmericansunderstandfreedom.Wehaveearnedit;wehavelivedforit,andwehavediedforit.ThisNationanditspeoplearefreedomsmodelinasearchingworld.Wecanbefreedomsmissionariesinadoubtingworld.But,ladiesandgentlemen,firstwemustrenewfreedomsmissioninourownheartsandinourownhomes. Duringfourfutileyears,theadministrationwhichweshallreplacehashasdistortedandlostthatvision.Ithastalkedandtalkedandtalkedandtalkedthewordsoffreedom,butithasfailedandfailedandfailedintheworksoffreedom. Now,failurescementsthewallofshameinBerlin.FailuresblotthesandsofshameattheBayofPigs.FailuresmarktheslowdeathoffreedominLaos.FailuresinfestthejunglesofVietnam.AndfailureshauntthehousesofouroncegreatalliancesandunderminethegreatestbulwarkevererectedbyfreenationstheNATOmunity.Failuresproclaimlostleadership,obscurepurpose,weakeningwill,andtheriskofincitingourswornenemiestonewaggressionsandtonewexcesses. Andbecauseofthisadministrationwearetonightaworlddivided;weareaNationbecalmed.Wehavelostthebriskpaceofdiversityandthegeniusofindividualcreativity.Weareploddingalongatapacesetbycentralizedplanning,redtape,ruleswithoutresponsibility,andregimentationwithoutrecourse. Ratherthanusefuljobsinourcountry,ourpeoplehavebeenofferedbureaucraticmakework;ratherthanmoralleadership,theyhavebeengivenbreadandcircuses.Theyhavebeengivenspectacles,and,yes,theyveevenbeengivenscandals. Tonight,thereisviolenceinourstreets,corruptioninourhighestoffices,aimlessnessamongstouryouth,anxietyamongourelders,andtheresavirtualdespairamongthemanywholookbeyondmaterialsuccessfortheinnermeaningoftheirlives.Andwhereexamplesofmoralityshouldbeset,theoppositeisseen.Smallmen,seekinggreatwealthorpower,havetoooftenandtoolongturnedeventhehighestlevelsofpublicserviceintomerepersonalopportunity. Now,certainly,simplehonestyisnottoomuchtodemandofmeningovernment.Wefinditinmost.Republicansdemanditfromeveryone.Theydemanditfromeveryonenomatterhowexaltedorprotectedhispositionmightbe.Nowthethegrowingmenaceinourcountrytonight,topersonalsafety,tolife,tolimbandproperty,inhomes,inchurches,ontheplaygrounds,andplacesofbusiness,particularlyinourgreatcities,isthemountingconcern,orshouldbe,ofeverythoughtfulcitizenintheUnitedStates. Securityfromdomesticviolence,nolessthanfromforeignaggression,isthemostelementaryandfundamentalpurposeofanygovernment,andagovernmentthatcannotfulfillthispurposeisonethatcannotlongmandtheloyaltyofitscitizens. Historyshowsusitdemonstratesthatnothing,nothingpreparesthewayfortyrannymorethanthefailureofpublicofficialstokeepthestreetssafefrombulliesandmarauders. Now,weRepublicansseeallthisasmore,muchmore,thantheresultofmerepoliticaldifferencesormerepoliticalmistakes.Weseethisastheresultofafundamentallyandabsolutelywrongviewofman,hisnature,andhisdestiny.Thosewhoseektoliveyourlivesforyou,totakeyourlibertiesinreturnforrelievingyouofyours,thosewhoelevatethestateanddowngradethecitizenmustseeultimatelyaworldinwhichearthlypowercanbesubstitutedforDivineWill,andthisNationwasfoundedupontherejectionofthatnotionandupontheacceptanceofGodastheauthoroffreedom. Nowthosewhoseekabsolutepower,eventhoughtheyseekittodowhattheyregardasgood,aresimplydemandingtherighttoenforcetheirownversionofheavenonearth.Theyandletmeremindyou,theyaretheveryoneswhoalwayscreatethemosthellishtyrannies.Absolutepowerdoescorrupt,andthosewhoseekitmustbesuspectandmustbeopposed.Theirmistakencoursestemsfromfalsenotions,ladiesandgentlemen,ofequality.Equality,rightlyunderstood,asourfoundingfathersunderstoodit,leadstolibertyandtotheemancipationofcreativedifferences.Wronglyunderstood,asithasbeensotragicallyinourtime,itleadsfirsttoconformityandthentodespotism. FellowRepublicans,itisthecauseofRepublicanismtoresistconcentrationsofpower,privateorpublic,whichwhichenforcesuchconformityandinflictsuchdespotism.ItisthecauseofRepublicanismtoensurethatpowerremainsinthehandsofthepeople.And,sohelpusGod,thatisexactlywhataRepublicanPresidentwilldowiththehelpofaRepublicanCongress. ItisfurtherthecauseofRepublicanismtorestoreaclearunderstandingofthetyrannyofmanovermanintheworldatlarge.Itisourcausetodispelthefoggythinkingwhichavoidsharddecisionsinthedelusionthataworldofconflictwillsomehowmysteriouslyresolveitselfintoaworldofharmony,ifwejustdontrocktheboatorirritatetheforcesofaggressionandthisishogwash. ItisfurtherthecauseofRepublicanismtoremindourselves,andtheworld,thatonlythestrongcanremainfree,thatonlythestrongcankeepthepeace. Now,Ineedntremindyou,ormyfellowAmericansregardlessofparty,thatRepublicanshaveshoulderedthishardresponsibilityandmarchedinthiscausebefore.ItwasRepublicanleadershipunderDwightEisenhowerthatkeptthepeace,andpassedalongtothisadministrationthemightiestarsenalfordefensetheworldhaseverknown.AndIneedntremindyouthatitwasthestrengthandtheunbelievablewilloftheEisenhoweryearsthatkeptthepeacebyusingourstrength,byusingitintheFormosaStraitsandinLebanonandbyshowingitcourageouslyatalltimes. ItwasduringthoseRepublicanyearsthatthethrustofCommunistimperialismwasblunted.ItwasduringthoseyearsofRepublicanleadershipthatthisworldmovedcloser,nottowar,butclosertopeace,thanatanyothertimeinthelastthreedecades. AndIneedntremindyoubutIwillthatitsbeenduringDemocraticyearsthatourstrengthtodeterwarhasstoodstill,andevengoneintoaplanneddecline.IthasbeenduringDemocraticyearsthatwehaveweaklystumbledintoconflict,timidlyrefusingtodrawourownlinesagainstaggression,deceitfullyrefusingtotellevenourpeopleofourfullparticipation,andtragically,lettingourfinestmendieonbattlefields,unmarkedbypurpose,unmarkedbyprideortheprospectofvictory. Yesterday,itwasKorea.Tonight,itisVietnam.Makenobonesofthis.Donttrytosweepthisundertherug.WeareatwarinVietnam.AndyetthePresident,whoistheCommanderinChiefofourforces,refusestosayrefusestosay,mindyou,whetherornottheobjectiveoverthereisvictory.AndhisSecretaryofDefensecontinuestomisleadandmisinformtheAmericanpeople,andenoughofithasgoneby. AndIneedntremindyoubutIwillithasbeenduringDemocraticyearsthatabillionpersonswerecastintoCommunistcaptivityandtheirfatecynicallysealed. TodayTodayinourbelovedcountrywehaveanadministrationwhichseemseagertodealwithmunismineverycoinknownfromgoldtowheat,fromconsulatestoconfidences,andevenhumanfreedomitself. NowtheRepublicancausedemandsthatwebrandmunismastheprincipaldisturberofpeaceintheworldtoday.Indeed,weshouldbranditastheonlysignificantdisturberofthepeace,andwemustmakeclearthatuntilitsgoalsofconquestareabsolutelyrenouncedanditsrelationswithallnationstempered,munismandthegovernmentsitnowcontrolsareenemiesofeverymanonearthwhoisorwantstobefree. Now,wehereinAmericacankeepthepeaceonlyifweremainvigilantandonlyifweremainstrong.Onlyifwekeepoureyesopenandkeepourguardupcanwepreventwar.AndIwanttomakethisabundantlyclear:IdontintendtoletpeaceorfreedombetornfromourgraspbecauseoflackofstrengthorlackofwillandthatIpromiseyou,Americans. Ibelievethatwemustlookbeyondthedefenseoffreedomtodaytoitsextensiontomorrow.Ibelievethatthemunismwhichboastsitwillburyuswill,instead,givewaytotheforcesoffreedom.AndIcanseeinthedistantandyetrecognizablefuturetheoutlinesofaworldworthyofourdedication,oureveryrisk,oureveryeffort,oureverysacrificealongtheway.Yes,aworldthatwillredeemthesufferingofthosewhowillbeliberatedfromtyranny.IcanseeandIsuggestthatallthoughtfulmenmustcontemplatethefloweringofanAtlanticcivilization,thewholeofEuropereunifiedandfreed,tradingopenlyacrossitsborders,municatingopenlyacrosstheworld. Now,thisisagoalfar,farmoremeaningfulthanamoonshot. ItsaItsatrulyinspiringgoalforallfreementosetforthemselvesduringthelatterhalfofthetwentiethcentury. IcanalsoseeandallfreemenmustthrilltotheeventsofthisAtlanticcivilizationjoinedbyitsgreatoceanhighwaytotheUnitedStates.WhatadestinyWhatadestinycanbeourstostandasagreatcentralpillarlinkingEurope,theAmericas,andthevenerableandvitalpeoplesandculturesofthePacific.IcanseeadaywhenalltheAmericas,NorthandSouth,willbelinkedinamightysystem,asysteminwhichtheerrorsandmisunderstandingsofthepastwillbesubmergedonebyoneinarisingtideofprosperityandinterdependence.Weknowthatthemisunderstandingsofcenturiesarenottobewipedawayinadayorwipedawayinanhour.Butwepledge,wepledgethathumansympathywhatourneighborstotheSouthcallanattitudeofsimpaticonolessthanenlightenedselfinterestwillbeourguide. AndIcanseethisAtlanticcivilizationgalvanizingandguidingemergentnationseverywhere. NowIknowthisfreedomisnotthefruitofeverysoil.Iknowthatourownfreedomwasachievedthroughcenturies,byunremittingeffortsofbraveandwisemen.AndIknowthattheroadtofreedomisalongandachallengingroad.AndIknowalsothatsomemenmaywalkawayfromit,thatsomemenresistchallenge,acceptingthefalsesecurityofgovernmentalpaternalism. AndIAndIpledgethattheAmericaIenvisionintheyearsaheadwillextenditshandinhealth,inteachingandincultivation,sothatallnewnationswillbeatleastencouragedencouragedtogoourway,sothattheywillnotwanderdownthedarkalleysoftyrannyorthedeadendstreetsofcollectivism. MyfellowRepublicans,wedonomanaservicebyhidingfreedomslightunderabushelofmistakenhumility. IseekanAmericaproudofitspast,proudofitsways,proudofitsdreams,anddeterminedactivelytoproclaimthem.Butourexampletotheworldmust,likecharity,beginathome. Inourvisionofagoodanddecentfuture,freeandpeaceful,theremustberoom,roomfordeliberationoftheenergyandthetalentoftheindividual;otherwiseourvisionisblindattheoutset. Wemustassureasocietyherewhich,whileneverabandoningtheneedyorforsakingthehelpless,nurturesincentivesandopportunitiesforthecreativeandtheproductive.Wemustknowthewholegoodistheproductofmanysinglecontributions. AndIcherishadaywhenourchildrenonceagainwillrestoreasheroesthesortofmenandwomenwho,unafraidandundaunted,pursuethetruth,strivetocuredisease,subdueandmakefruitfulournaturalenvironmentandproducetheinventiveenginesofproduction,science,andtechnology. ThisNation,whosecreativepeoplehaveenhancedthisentirespanofhistory,shouldagainthriveuponthegreatnessofallthosethingswhichwe,weasindividualcitizens,canandshoulddo.AndduringRepublicanyears,thisagainwillbeanationofmenandwomen,offamiliesproudoftheirrole,jealousoftheirresponsibilities,unlimitedintheiraspirationsaNationwhereallwhocanwillbeselfreliant. WeRepublicansseeinourconstitutionalformofgovernmentthegreatframeworkwhichassurestheorderlybutdynamicfulfillmentofthewholeman,andweseethewholemanasthegreatreasonforinstitutingorderlygovernmentinthefirstplace. WeseeWeseeinprivatepropertyandineconomybaseduponandfosteringprivateproperty,theonewaytomakegovernmentadurableallyofthewholeman,ratherthanhisdeterminedenemy.Weseeinthesanctityofprivatepropertytheonlydurablefoundationforconstitutionalgovernmentinafreesociety.AndAndbeyondthat,wesee,incherisheddiversityofways,diversityofthoughts,ofmotivesandacplishments.Wedontseektoleadanyoneslifeforhim.Weonlyseekonlyseektosecurehisrights,guaranteehimopportunityguaranteehimopportunitytostrive,withgovernmentperformingonlythoseneededandconstitutionallysanctionedtaskswhichcannototherwisebeperformed. WeRepublicansseekagovernmentthatattendstoitsinherentresponsibilitiesofmaintainingastablemonetaryandfiscalclimate,encouragingafreeandapetitiveeconomyandenforcinglawandorder.Thus,doweseekinventiveness,diversity,andcreativedifferencewithinastableorder,forweRepublicansdefinegovernmentsrolewhereneededatmany,manylevelspreferably,though,theoneclosesttothepeopleinvolved. Ourtownsandourcities,thenourcounties,thenourstates,thenourregionalpactsandonlythen,thenationalgovernment.That,letmeremindyou,istheladderofliberty,builtbydecentralizedpower.Onitalsowemusthavebalancebetweenthebranchesofgovernmentateverylevel. Balance,diversity,creativedifference:ThesearetheelementsoftheRepublicanequation.RepublicansagreeRepublicansagreeheartilytodisagreeonmany,manyoftheirapplications,butwehaveneverdisagreedonthebasicfundamentalissuesofwhyyouandIareRepublicans. ThisisaParty.ThisRepublicanPartyisaPartyforfreemen,notforblindfollowers,andnotforconformists. Infact,in1858AbrahamLincolnsaidthisoftheRepublicanpartyandIquotehim,becauseheprobablycouldhavesaiditduringthelastweekorso:Itwasposedofstrange,discordant,andevenhostileelementsendofthequotein1858.YetYetallof