RenunciationSpeech.doc

RenunciationSpeech LyndonBainesJohnson:RenunciationSpeech Goodevening,myfellowAmericans: TonightIwanttospeaktoyouofpeaceinVietnamandSoutheastAsia.Nootherquestionsopreoccupiesourpeople.Nootherdreamsoabsorbsthe250millionhumanbeingswholiveinthatpartoftheworld.NoothergoalmotivatesAmericanpolicyinSoutheastAsia. Foryears,representativesofour * sandothershavetraveledtheworldseekingtofindabasisforpeacetalks.SincelastSeptembertheyhavecarriedtheofferthatImadepublicatSanAntonio.Andthatofferwasthis: ThattheUnitedStateswouldstopitsbombardmentofNorthVietnamwhenthatwouldleadpromptlytoproductivediscussionsandthatwewouldassumethatNorthVietnamwouldnottakemilitaryadvantageofourrestraint. Hanoidenouncedthisoffer,bothprivatelyandpublicly.Evenwhilethesearchforpeacewasgoingon,NorthVietnamrushedtheirpreparationsforasavageassaultonthepeople,thegovernment,andthealliesofSouthVietnam.TheirattackduringtheTetholidaysfailedtoachieveitsprincipalobjectives.Itdidnotcollapsetheelected * ofSouthVietnamorshatteritsarmyastheCommunistshadhoped.Itdidnotproduceageneraluprisingamongthepeopleofthecities,astheyhadpredicted.TheCommunistswereunabletomaintaincontrolofanyofthemorethan30citiesthattheyattacked.Andtheytookveryheavycasualties.ButtheydidpeltheSouthVietnameseandtheiralliestomovecertainforcesfromthecountrysideintothecities.Theycausedwidespreaddisruptionandsuffering.Theirattacks,andthebattlesthatfollowed,maderefugeesofhalfamillionhumanbeings. TheCommunistsmayrenewtheirattackanyday.Theyare,itappears,tryingtomake1968theyearofdecisioninSouthVietnamtheyearthatbrings,ifnotfinalvictoryordefeat,atleastaturningpointinthestruggle. Thismuchisclear:Iftheydomountanotherroundofheavyattacks,theywillnotsucceedindestroyingthefightingpowerofSouthVietnamanditsallies.Buttragically,thisisalsoclear:Manymenonbothsidesofthestrugglewillbelost.Anationthathasalreadysuffered20yearsofwarfarewillsufferonceagain.Armiesonbothsideswilltakenewcasualties.Andthewarwillgoon.Thereisnoneedforthistobeso.Thereisnoneedtodelaythetalksthatcouldbringanendtothislongandthisbloodywar. Tonight,IrenewtheofferImadelastAugust:tostopthebombardmentofNorthVietnam.Weaskthattalksbeginpromptly,thattheybeserioustalksonthesubstanceofpeace.WeassumethatduringthosetalksHanoiwillnottakeadvantageofourrestraint.Wearepreparedtomoveimmediatelytowardpeacethroughnegotiations.Sotonight,inthehopethatthisactionwillleadtoearlytalks,Iamtakingthefirststeptodeescalatetheconflict.Wearereducingsubstantiallyreducingthepresentlevelofhostilities,andwearedoingsounilaterallyandatonce. Tonight,IhaveorderedouraircraftandournavalvesselstomakenoattacksonNorthVietnam,exceptintheareanorthofthedemilitarizedzonewherethecontinuingenemybuildupdirectlythreatensalliedforwardpositionsandwherethemovementsoftheirtroopsandsuppliesareclearlyrelatedtothatthreat.Theareainwhichwearestoppingourattacksincludesalmost90percentofNorthVietnamspopulation,andmostofitsterritory.Thus,therewillbenoattacksaroundtheprincipalpopulatedareas,orinthefoodproducingareasofNorthVietnam. EventhisverylimitedbombingoftheNorthcouldetoanearlyendifourrestraintismatchedbyrestraintinHanoi.ButIcannotingoodconsciencestopallbombingsolongastodosowouldimmediatelyanddirectlyendangerthelivesofourmenandourallies.Whetherapletebombinghaltbeespossibleinthefuturewillbedeterminedbyevents.Ourpurposeinthisactionistobringaboutareductioninthelevelofviolencethatnowexists.Itistosavethelivesofbravemenandtosavethelivesofinnocentwomenandchildren.Itistopermitthecontendingforcestomoveclosertoapoliticalsettlement.AndtonightIcallupontheUnitedKingdomandIcallupontheSovietUnionascochairmenoftheGenevaconferences,andaspermanentmembersoftheUnitedNationsSecurityCounciltodoalltheycantomovefromtheunilateralactofdeescalationthatIhavejustannouncedtowardgenuinepeaceinSoutheastAsia. Now,asinthepast,theUnitedStatesisreadytosenditsrepresentativestoanyforum,atanytime,todiscussthemeansofbringingthisuglywartoanend.IamdesignatingoneofourmostdistinguishedAmericans,AmbassadorAverellHarriman,asmypersonalrepresentativeforsuchtalks.Inaddition,IhaveaskedAmbassadorLlewellynThompson,whoreturnedfromMoscowforconsultation,tobeavailabletojoinAmbassadorHarrimanatGenevaoranyothersuitableplacejustassoonasHanoiagreestoaconference. IcalluponPresidentHoChiMinhtorespondpositively,andfavorably,tothisnewsteptowardpeace.Butifpeacedoesnotenowthroughnegotiations,itwillewhenHanoiunderstandsthatourmonresolveisunshakable,andourmonstrengthisinvincible. Tonight,weandtheotheralliednationsarecontributing600,000fightingmentoassist700,000SouthVietnamesetroopsindefendingtheirlittlecountry.Ourpresencetherehasalwaysrestedonthisbasicbelief:ThemainburdenofpreservingtheirfreedommustbecarriedoutbythembytheSouthVietnamesethemselves. WeandouralliescanonlyhelptoprovideashieldbehindwhichthepeopleofSouthVietnamcansurviveandcangrowanddevelop.Ontheireffortsontheirdeterminationsandresourcefulnesstheoutewillultimatelydepend.Thatsmall,beleaguerednationhassufferedterriblepunishmentformorethan20years.Ipaytributeonceagaintonighttothegreatcourageandtheenduranceofitspeople.SouthVietnamsupportsarmedforcestonightofalmost700,000men,andIcallyourattentiontothefactthatthatistheequivalentofmorethan10millioninourownpopulation.ItspeoplemaintaintheirfirmdeterminationtobefreeofdominationbytheNorth. Therehasbeensubstantialprogress,Ithink,inbuildingadurablegovernmentduringtheselastthreeyears.TheSouthVietnamof1965couldnothavesurvivedtheenemysTetoffensiveof1968.TheelectedgovernmentofSouthVietnamsurvivedthatattackandisrapidlyrepairingthedevastationthatitwrought.TheSouthVietnameseknowthatfurthereffortsaregoingtoberequiredtoexpandtheirownarmedforces;tomovebackintothecountrysideasquicklyaspossible;toincreasetheirtaxes;toselecttheverybestmenthattheyhaveforcivilandmilitaryresponsibilities;toachieveanewunitywithintheirconstitutionalgovernment,andtoincludeinthenationaleffortallthosegroupswhowishtopreserveSouthVietnamscontroloveritsowndestiny. LastweekPresidentThieuorderedthemobilizationof135,000additionalSouthVietnamese.Heplanstoreachassoonaspossibleatotalmilitarystrengthofmorethan800,000men.Toachievethis,the * ofSouthVietnamstartedthedraftingof19yearoldsonMarch1st.OnMay1st,the * willbeginthedraftingof18yearolds.Lastmonth,10,000menvolunteeredformilitaryservice.Thatwastwoandahalftimesthenumberofvolunteersduringthesamemonthlastyear.SincethemiddleofJanuary,morethan48,000SouthVietnamesehavejoinedthearmedforces,andnearlyhalfofthemvolunteeredtodoso. AllmenintheSouthVietnamesearmedforceshavehadtheirtoursofdutyextendedforthedurationofthewar,andreservesarenowbeingcalledupforimmediateactiveduty.PresidentThieutoldhispeoplelastweek,andIquote: Wemustmakegreaterefforts,wemustacceptmoresacrifices,becauseasIhavesaidmanytimes,thisisourcountry.Theexistenceofournationisatstake,andthisismainlyaVietnameseresponsibility. Hewarnedhispeoplethatamajornationaleffortisrequiredtorootoutcorruptionandinpetenceatalllevelsofgovernment.WeapplaudthisevidenceofdeterminationonthepartofSouthVietnam.Ourfirstprioritywillbetosupporttheireffort.WeshallacceleratethereequipmentofSouthVietnamsarmedforcesinordertomeettheenemysincreasedfirepower.AndthiswillenablethemprogressivelytoundertakealargershareofbatoperationsagainsttheCommunistinvaders. OnmanyoccasionsIhavetoldtheAmericanpeoplethatwewouldsendtoVietnamthoseforcesthatarerequiredtoacplishourmissionthere.Sowiththatasourguidewehavepreviouslyauthorizedaforcelevelofapproximately525,000.SomeweeksagotohelpmeettheenemysnewoffensivewesenttoVietnamabout11,000additionalMarineandairbornetroops.Theyweredeployedbyairin48hoursonanemergencybasis.Buttheartilleryandthetankandtheaircraftandmedicalandotherunitsthatwereneededtoworkwithandsupporttheseinfantrytroopsinbatcouldnotthenacpanythembyaironthatshortnotice. Inorderthattheseforcesmayreachmaximumbateffectiveness,theJointChiefsofStaffhaveremendedtomethatweshouldpreparetosendduringthenextfivemonthsthesupporttroopstotalingapproximately13,500men.Aportionofthesemenwillbemadeavailablefromouractiveforces.Thebalancewillefromreserveponentunits,whichwillbecalledupforservice. TheactionsthatwehavetakensincethebeginningoftheyeartoreequiptheSouthVietnameseforces;tomeetourresponsibilitiesinKorea,aswellasourresponsibilitiesinVietnam;tomeetpriceincreasesandthecostofactivatinganddeployingthesereserveforces;toreplacehelicoptersandprovidetheothermilitarysuppliesweneed,alloftheseactionsaregoingtorequireadditionalexpenditures.Thetentativeestimateofthoseadditionalexpendituresis21/2billiondollarsinthisfiscalyearand2billion,600millioninthenextfiscalyear.Theseprojectedincreasesinexpendituresforournationalsecuritywillbringintosharperfocusthenationsneedforimmediateaction,actiontoprotecttheprosperityoftheAmericanpeopleandtoprotectthestrengthandthestabilityofourAmericandollar. OnmanyoccasionsIhavepointedoutthatwithoutataxbillordecreasedexpenditures,nextyearsdeficitwouldagainbearound$20billion.Ihaveemphasizedtheneedtosetstrictprioritiesinourspending.IhavestressedthatfailuretoactandtoactpromptlyanddecisivelywouldraiseverystrongdoubtsthroughouttheworldaboutAmericaswillingnesstokeepitsfinancialhouseinorder. YetCongresshasnotacted.Andtonightwefacethesharpestfinancialthreatinthepostwareraathreattothedollarsroleasthekeystoneofinternationaltradeandfinanceintheworld. Lastweek,atthemonetaryconferenceinStockholm,themajorindustrialcountriesdecidedtotakeabigsteptowardcreatinganewinternationalmonetaryassetthatwillstrengthentheinternationalmonetarysystem.AndImveryproudoftheveryableworkdonebySecretaryFowlerandChairmanMartinoftheFederalReserveBoard.Buttomakethissystemwork,theUnitedStatesjustmustbringitsbalanceofpaymentstoorveryclosetoequilibrium.Wemusthavearesponsiblefiscalpolicyinthiscountry.Thepassageofataxbillnow,togetherwithexpenditurecontrolthattheCongressmaydesireanddictate,isabsolutelynecessarytoprotectthisnationssecurity,andtocontinueourprosperity,andtomeettheneedsofourpeople. Now,whatisatstakeissevenyearsofunparalleledprosperity.Inthosesevenyears,therealineoftheaverageAmerican,aftertaxes,rosebyalmost30percentagainaslargeasthatoftheentirepreceding19years.Sothestepsthatwemusttaketoconvincetheworldareexactlythestepsthatwemusttaketosustainourowneconomicstrengthhereathome.Inthepasteightmonths,pricesandinterestrateshaverisenbecauseofourinaction.Wemustthereforenowdoeverythingwecantomovefromdebatetoaction,fromtalkingtovotingandthereis,IbelieveIhopethereisinbothHousesoftheCongressagrowingsenseofurgencythatthissituationjustmustbeacteduponandmustbecorrected. MybudgetinJanuary,wethought,wasatightone.Itfullyreflectedourevaluationofmostofthedemandingneedsofthisnation.Butinthesebudgetarymatters,thePresidentdoesnotdecidealone.TheCongresshasthepower,andtheduty,todetermineappropriationsandtaxes.AndtheCongressisnowconsideringourproposals,andtheyareconsideringreductionsinthebudgetthatwesubmitted. Aspartofaprogramoffiscalrestraintthatincludesthetaxsurcharge,IshallapproveappropriatereductionsintheJanuarybudgetwhenandifCongresssodecidesthatthatshouldbedone.Onethingisunmistakablyclear,however.Ourdeficitjustmustbereduced.Failuretoactcouldbringonconditionsthatwouldstrikehardestatthosepeoplethatallofusaretryingsohardtohelp Sothesetimescallforprudenceinthislandofplenty.AndIbelievethatwehavethecharactertoprovideit,andtonightIpleadwiththeCongressandwiththepeopletoactpromptlytoservethenationalinterestandtherebyserveallofourpeople. NowletmegiveyoumyestimateofthechancesforpeacethepeacethatwillonedaystopthebloodshedinSouthVietnam;thatwillalltheVietnamesepeoplewillbepermittedtorebuildanddeveloptheirland;thatwillpermitustoturnmorefullytoourowntaskshereathome.IcannotpromisethattheinitiativethatIhaveannouncedtonightwillbepletelysuccessfulinachievingpeaceanymorethanthe30othersthatwehaveundertakenandagreedtoinrecentyears.ButitisourferventhopethatNorthVietnam,afteryearsoffightingthathaslefttheissueunresolved,willnowceaseitseffortstoachieveamilitaryvictoryandwilljoinwithusinmovingtowardthepeacetable. AndtheremayeatimewhenSouthVietnameseonbothsidesareabletoworkoutawaytosettletheirowndifferencesbyfreepoliticalchoiceratherthanbywar.AsHanoiconsidersitscourse,itshouldbeinnodoubtofourintentions.Itmustnotmiscalculatethepressureswithinourdemocracyinthiselectionyear.Wehavenointentionofwideningthiswar.ButtheUnitedStateswillneveracceptafakesolutiontothislongandarduousstruggleandcallitpeace. Noonecanforetelltheprecisetermsofaneventualsettlement.OurobjectiveinSouthVietnamhasneverbeentheannihilationoftheenemy.IthasbeentobringaboutarecognitioninHanoithatitsobjectivetakingovertheSouthbyforcecouldnotbeachieved.WethinkthatpeacecanbebasedontheGenevaAccordsof1954,underpoliticalconditionsthatpermittheSouthVietnamesealltheSouthVietnamesetocharttheircoursefreeofanyoutsidedominationorinterference,fromusorfromanyoneelse. Sotonight,IreaffirmthepledgethatwemadeatManila:thatwearepreparedtowithdrawourforcesfromSouthVietnamastheothersidewithdrawsitsforcestotheNorth,stopstheinfiltration,andthelevelofviolencethussubsides.OurgoalofpeaceandselfdeterminationinVietnamisdirectlyrelatedtothefutureofallofSoutheastAsia,wheremuchhashappenedtoinspireconfidenceduringthepast10years.Andwehavedoneallthatweknewhowtodotocontributeandtohelpbuildthatconfidence. Anumberofitsnationshaveshownwhatcanbeacplishedunderconditionsofsecurity.Since1966,Indonesia,thefifthlargestnationinalltheworld,withapopulationofmorethan100millionpeople,hashadagovernmentthatsdedicatedtopeacewithitsneighborsandimprovedconditionsforitsownpeople. Politicalandeconomiccooperationbetweennationshasgrownrapidly.AndIthinkeveryAmericancantakeagreatdealofprideintherolethatwehaveplayedinbringingthisaboutinSoutheastAsia.WecanrightlyjudgeasresponsibleSoutheastAsiansthemselvesdothattheprogressofthepastthreeyearswouldhavebeenfarlesslikely,ifnotpletelyimpossible,ifAmericassonsandothershadnotmadetheirstandinVietnam. AtJohnsHopkinsUniversityaboutthreeyearsago,IannouncedthattheUnitedStateswouldtakepartinthegreatworkofdevelopingSoutheastAsia,includingtheMekongvalley,forallthepeopleofthatregion.Ourdeterminationtohelpbuildabetterlandabetterlandformenonbothsidesofthepresentconflicthasnotdiminishedintheleast.Indeed,theravagesofwar,Ithink,havemadeitmoreurgentthanever. SoIrepeatonbehalfoftheUnitedStatesagaintonightwhatIsaidatJohnsHopkinsthatNorthVietnamcouldtakeitsplaceinthismoneffortjustassoonaspeacees.Overtime,awiderframeworkofpeaceandsecurityinSoutheastAsiamaybeepossible.Thenewcooperationsofthenationsoftheareacouldbeafoundationstone.CertainlyfriendshipwiththenationsofsuchaSoutheastAsiaiswhattheUnitedStatesseeksandthatisallthattheUnitedStatesseeks. Oneday,myfellowcitizen,therewillbepeaceinSoutheastAsia.ItwillebecausethepeopleofSoutheastAsiawantitthosewhosearmiesareatwartonight;thosewho,thoughthreatened,havethusfarbeenspared.PeacewillebecauseAsianswerewillingtoworkforitandtosacrificeforitandtodiebythethousandsforit.Butletitneverbeforgotten:peacewillealsobecauseAmericasenthersonstohelpsecureit. Ithasnotbeeneasyfarfromit.Duringthepastfourandahalfyears,ithasbeenmyfateandmyresponsibilitytobeCommanderinChief.Ihaveliveddailyandnightlywiththecostofthiswar.Iknowthepainthatithasinflicted.Iknowperhapsbetterthananyonethemisgivingsthatithasaroused.AndthroughoutthisentirelongperiodIhavebeensustainedbyasingleprinciple:thatwhatwearedoingnowinVietnamisvitalnotonlytothesecurityofSoutheastAsia,butitisvitaltothesecurityofeveryAmerican. Surely,wehavetreatieswhichwemustrespect.Surely,wehavemitmentsthatwearegoingtokeep.ResolutionsoftheCongresstestifytotheneedtoresistaggressionintheworldandinSoutheastAsia. ButtheheartofourinvolvementinSouthVietnamunderthreedifferentpresidents,threeseparateAdministrations,hasalwaysbeenAmericasownsecurity.AndthelargerpurposeofourinvolvementhasalwaysbeentohelpthenationsofSoutheastAsiabeeindependent,andstandalone,selfsustainingasmembersofagreatworldmunity,atpeacewiththemselves,atpeacewithallothers.Andwithsuchanationourcountryandtheworldwillbefarmoresecurethanitistonight. IbelievethatapeacefulAsiaisfarnearertorealitybecauseofwhatAmericahasdoneinVietnam.Ibelievethatthemenwhoendurethedangersofbattlethere,fightingthereforustonight,arehelpingtheentireworldavoidfargreaterconflicts,farwiderwars,farmoredestruction,thanthisone.Thepeacethatwillbringthemhomesomedaywille.Tonight,IhaveofferedthefirstinwhatIhopewillbeaseriesofmutualmovestowardpeace. IpraythatitwillnotberejectedbytheleadersofNorthVietnam.Ipraythattheywillacceptitasameansbywhichthesacrificesoftheirownpeoplemaybeended.AndIaskyourhelpandyoursupport,myfellowcitizens,forthisefforttoreachacrossthebattlefieldtowardanearlypeace. Finally,myfellowAmericans,letmesaythis: Ofthosetowhommuchisgiven,muchisasked.Icannotsayandnomancouldsaythatnomorewillbeaskedofus.YetIbelievethatnow,nolessthanwhenthedecadebegan,thisgenerationofAmericansiswillingtopayanyprice,bearanyburden,meetanyhardship,supportanyfriend,opposeanyfoe,toassurethesurvival,andthesuccess,ofliberty. SincethosewordswerespokenbyJohnF.Kennedy,thepeopleofAmericahavekeptthatpactwithmankindsnoblestcause.Andweshallcontinuetokeepit. Yet,Ibelievethatwemustalwaysbemindfulofthisonethingwhateverthetrialsandthetestsahead,theultimatestrengthofourcountryandourcausewilllie,notinpowerfulweaponsorinfiniteresourcesorboundlesswealth,butwilllieintheunityofourpeople. ThisIbelieveverydeeply.ThroughoutmyentirepubliccareerIhavefollowedthepersonalphilosophythatIamafreeman,anAmerican,apublicservant,andamemberofmypartyinthatorderalwaysandonly. For37yearsintheserviceofournation,firstasaCongressman,asaSenator,andasVicePresident,andnowasyourPresident,Ihaveputtheunityofthepeoplefirst.Ihaveputitaheadofanydivisivepartisanship.Andinthesetimesasintimesbefore,itistruethatahousedividedagainstitself