[1966 STATE OF THE UNION SPEECH BY PRESIDENT LYNDON JOHNSON / REPORT ON VIETNAM WAR]

Year Published: 1966

Description:

This film highlights the Vietnam War portion of the State of the Union Address which was presented by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966. In the actual full speech, Johnson also addressed his Great Society and War on Poverty domestic programs, civil rights, and other matters.
The State of the Union took place on January 12th, 1966 in the House Chamber of the Capitol. The speech outlines the situation in 1966 as LBJ saw it -- affirming the United States' commitment to Southern Vietnam and highlighting past and ongoing efforts for peace. The President underscores difficult choices and sacrifices made during the war. He stresses continued US support in southern Vietnam until aggression ceases from the communist government of Northern Vietnam.

The film can be broken down as follows:

• Introduction: The President is introduced to Congress and the American people.

• Vietnam War: The President discusses the ongoing conflict in Vietnam, highlighting the sacrifices of young Americans and the nation's commitment to fighting for freedom and against aggression.

• Historical Context: The speech reflects on the history of Vietnam, the rise of communist forces in the North, and the decision by the United States to support South Vietnam.

• Commitment to Stay: The President emphasizes the U.S. commitment to stay in Vietnam until aggression is stopped, citing the importance of supporting allies and maintaining global confidence in American protection.

• Efforts for Peace: Despite the conflict, the President mentions numerous efforts for peace, including private talks and international communications, stressing that the U.S. seeks self-determination for South Vietnam.

• Call for Peace: The speech concludes with a call for peace, recognizing the horrors of war and expressing a desire for a future where hope and life prevail.

The speech underscores the gravity of the Vietnam War, the sacrifices made, and the ongoing efforts to achieve peace while maintaining a firm stance against aggression.

The film opens with the series’ planned goals to increase public awareness and interest in domestic and foreign affairs (:22). The Capitol building appears (:33). President Johnson is introduced; the audience of Senators and Congressmen and other dignitaries clap as he heads for the podium (1:00). Ground footage of Vietnam follows as he begins (2:41). Soldiers cart litters from medic helicopters to collect the dead and wounded (2:43). LBJ discusses the history prior to the war (3:37). Ho Chi Minh appears (3:41) as the separation between the northern and southern Vietnamese government is explained. Protests and political demonstrations follow (3:57). Armed northern soldiers are pictured (4:06). LBJ drive the decision to remain embedded in the conflict (4:36) and increase of US troops in Hanoi the year prior (6:26). A force of M113’s drive through (7:47). The M113’s were the most widely used armored vehicles in this war. Delegates conducted about 300 peace talks in 1965 (8:03). Vietnamese casualties are discussed (7:36). The Indian Prime Minister; Lal Bahadur Shastri (9:37) and French president Georges Pompidou shake hands. Johnson reiterates the need to remain in Vietnam (10:48). American flags blanket caskets of US casualties as American dead come home for burial (11:25). The address concludes (12:28) as the audience applauds. The White House reappears (12:34). The film was produced by Hearst Metrotone News Inc. (12:49).

Complete Record: This film highlights the Vietnam War portion of the State of the Union Address which was presented by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1966. In the actual full speech, Johnson also addressed his Great Society and War on Poverty domestic programs, civil rights, and other matters. The State of the Union took place on January 12th, 1966 in the House Chamber of the Capitol. The speech outlines the situation in 1966 as LBJ saw it -- affirming the United States' commitment to Southern Vietnam and highlighting past and ongoing efforts for peace. The President underscores difficult choices and sacrifices made during the war. He stresses continued US support in southern Vietnam until aggression ceases from the communist government of Northern Vietnam. The film can be broken down as follows: • Introduction: The President is introduced to Congress and the American people. • Vietnam War: The President discusses the ongoing conflict in Vietnam, highlighting the sacrifices of young Americans and the nation's commitment to fighting for freedom and against aggression. • Historical Context: The speech reflects on the history of Vietnam, the rise of communist forces in the North, and the decision by the United States to support South Vietnam. • Commitment to Stay: The President emphasizes the U.S. commitment to stay in Vietnam until aggression is stopped, citing the importance of supporting allies and maintaining global confidence in American protection. • Efforts for Peace: Despite the conflict, the President mentions numerous efforts for peace, including private talks and international communications, stressing that the U.S. seeks self-determination for South Vietnam. • Call for Peace: The speech concludes with a call for peace, recognizing the horrors of war and expressing a desire for a future where hope and life prevail. The speech underscores the gravity of the Vietnam War, the sacrifices made, and the ongoing efforts to achieve peace while maintaining a firm stance against aggression. The film opens with the series’ planned goals to increase public awareness and interest in domestic and foreign affairs (:22). The Capitol building appears (:33). President Johnson is introduced; the audience of Senators and Congressmen and other dignitaries clap as he heads for the podium (1:00). Ground footage of Vietnam follows as he begins (2:41). Soldiers cart litters from medic helicopters to collect the dead and wounded (2:43). LBJ discusses the history prior to the war (3:37). Ho Chi Minh appears (3:41) as the separation between the northern and southern Vietnamese government is explained. Protests and political demonstrations follow (3:57). Armed northern soldiers are pictured (4:06). LBJ drive the decision to remain embedded in the conflict (4:36) and increase of US troops in Hanoi the year prior (6:26). A force of M113’s drive through (7:47). The M113’s were the most widely used armored vehicles in this war. Delegates conducted about 300 peace talks in 1965 (8:03). Vietnamese casualties are discussed (7:36). The Indian Prime Minister; Lal Bahadur Shastri (9:37) and French president Georges Pompidou shake hands. Johnson reiterates the need to remain in Vietnam (10:48). American flags blanket caskets of US casualties as American dead come home for burial (11:25). The address concludes (12:28) as the audience applauds. The White House reappears (12:34). The film was produced by Hearst Metrotone News Inc. (12:49).

Transcription

[Music] [Music] to widen your horizons to increase your interest to make you better citizens [Music] Mr Speaker the president of the United States [Applause] members of the Congress I have the great pleasure the highest privilege and the distinguished and I might also add personal honor of presenting to you the president of the United States Mr Speaker Mr President members of the house and the Senate my fellow Americans I come before you tonight to report on the state of the union for the third time tonight the cup of peril is full in Vietnam tonight as so many nights before Young Americans struggle and Young Americans die in a distant land tonight as so many nights before The American Nation is asked to sacrifice the blood of its children and the fruit of its labor for the love of his freedom how many times in my lifetime and in yours have the American people gathered as they do now to hear their president tell them of conflict and tell them of danger each time they have answered they've answered with all the effort that the security and the freedom of this nation required and they do again tonight in Vietnam [Applause] not too many years ago Vietnam was a peaceful if troubled land in the north was an independent communist government in the South a people to build a nation with the friendly help of the United States there were some in South Vietnam who wished to Force Communist rule on their own people but their progress was slight their hope of success was D then little more than six years ago North Vietnam decided on conquest and from that day to this soldiers and supplies have moved from north to south in a swelling stream that's swallowing the remnants of Revolution and aggression and as the assault mounted our choice gradually became clear we could leave abandoning South Vietnam to its attackers and to certain Conquest while we could stay and fight beside the people of South Vietnam we stayed and we will stay [Applause] until and we will stay until aggression has stopped we will stay because a just Nation cannot leave to the cruelties of its enemies a people who have Stak their lives in Independence on America's solemn pledge a pledge which has grown through the commitments of three American Presidents we will stay because in Asia and around the world are countries whose Independence rests in large measure on confidence bur and in America's protection to yield to force in Vietnam would weaken that confidence would undermine the independence of many lands and would equ the appetite of aggression we would have to fight in one land and then we'd have to fight in another or abandon much of Asia to the domination of communism [Applause] and we do not intend to abandon Asia to [Applause] Conquest last year the nature of the war in Vietnam changed again swiftly increasing numbers of armed men from the north crossed the borders to join forces that were already in the south attack and Terror increased spurred and encouraged by the belief that the United States lacked the will to continue and that their victory was near despite our desire to limit conflict it was necessary to act to hold back the mounting aggression to give courage to the people of the South and to make our firmness clear to the north thus we began limited air action against military Targets in North Vietnam we increased our fighting force to its pres present strength tonight of 190,000 men these moves have not ended the aggression but they have prevented its success the aims of the enemy have been put Out Of Reach by the skill and The Bravery of Americans and their allies and by the enduring courage of to the South Vietnamese who I can tell you have lost eight men last year for every one of ours the enemy is no longer closer to Victory time is no longer on his side there is no cause to doubt the American commitment our decision to stand firm has been matched by our desire for peace in 196 5 alone we had 300 private talks for peace in Vietnam with friends and adversaries throughout the world able and experienced spokesman have visited behalf of America more than 40 countries we have talked to more than aund governments all 113 that we have relations with and some that we don't we talked to the United Nations and we've called upon all of its members to make any contribution that they can toward helping obtain peace in public statements and in private Communications to adversaries and to friends in Rome and Warsaw in Paris and Tokyo in Africa and throughout this hemisphere America has made her position abundantly clear we seek neither territory nor bases economic domination or military Alliance in Vietnam we fight for the principle of self-determination that the people of South Vietnam should be able to choose their own course choose it in free election without violence without Terror and without fear [Applause] [Applause] we have carried our Quest for Peace to many nations and peoples because we share this planet with others whose future in large measure is tied to our own action and whose counsel is necessary to our own hopes we have found understanding and support and we know they wait with us tonight for some response that could lead to peace until peace comes or if it does not come our course is clear we will act as we must to help protect the independence of the Valiant people of South [Applause] Vietnam we will strive to limit the conflict for or we wish neither increased destruction nor do we want to invite increased danger and let me be absolutely clear the days may become months and the months may become years but we will stay as long as aggression commands us to battle how many men who listen to me tonight have served their nation in other Wars how very many are not here to listen the war in Vietnam is not like these other Wars yet finally war is always the same it is young men dying in the fullness of their promise it is trying to kill a man that you do not even know well enough to hate it is a crime against mankind as so much courage and so much will and so many dreams must be flung on the fires of war and death to all of those caught up in this conflict we therefore say again tonight let us choose peace and with it the wondrous works of peace and beyond that the time when hope reaches toward consummation and life is the servant of life in this work we plan to discharge our duty to the people whom we serve this is the state of the union [Applause] for a better understanding of the world you live in for a greater knowledge of the world around you [Applause]

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