Eisenhower Speech

sponsored by the Colorado citizens for Eisenhower and does not reflect the views of WOI TV or its staff. president committee here now is Dwight B Eisenhower my fellows since the time we thought peace had been won in 1945 the tragedy or the death of a son on a distant battlefield has been visited upon thousands of our homes the prayer of the American family is a fair son will be spared I want to talk tonight especially to those families I want to talk to the young man facing his turn to serve in the armed forces to the student who studies may be erupted to the young husband separated from his family and to his wife who is left alone certainly these people should know some of the aims and aspirations and programs that can justify their heavy sacrifices may I make this one personal up observation I have entered upon a serious political undertaking among the reasons which led me to take that step one consideration that weighed heavily upon me was the argument of my friends that the responsibilities entrusted to me through the last ten critical years and the knowledge derived from that experience would enable me to serve our country effectively in the cause of peace no other cause could so completely enlist my energies in brief I occupy my present position in this political race primarily because I believe that peace may well be a state let me first affirm for you my deep faith I believe we can have peace I believe we can diminish the likelihood of global war that we can dispel the clouds over the future and lift many of the heavy burdens now laid upon us but I would not be honest if I led you to believe that there is any easy way to peace there is none there is no painless political shortcut no glib solution but on our success depends the achievement of almost all our objectives the elimination of casualty lists the easing of our heavy tax load the stemming of inflation that raises the cost of everything we buy the dispelling of pessimism continued advancement in living standards clearly our foreign policy must be based as is that of other nations upon our own enlightened self-interest before every step we must ask is this good for the United States does it promote our security our well-being this is not selfishness it is recognition of the fact that a strong confident peaceful America is the great hope of the free world in this problem of security there is one central fact from which all our reckoning must precede that central fact is a shrunken world in which distance has been almost obliterated and there has developed an unprecedented interdependence among the Nations by invention by advanced methods of production and the skills of labour each portion of the world including mighty America depends upon other parts for materials it must have today into this interdependent world has come a threatening force the force of aggressive communism it is cunning it is godless you teams to destroy all freedom and most of all yours in mind because America is its final and chief targets the men who direct that force to have a vast power already without a scratch on a single Russian soldier they have swept nation after nation into slavery they have moved closer to sources of supply on which our existence depends their strategy is to continue to close in until finally they can destroy our economy and our freedom the communist threat against the free world creates a need for political and military arrangements that will preserve the safety law and assure the continuance of vital commerce because of the facts of the world situation I should like to say something to you with all your kness I can some I can give you this evening only the briefest outline of the practical program which I believe fits the situation we reject all talk of preventive war there is no such thing live men and happy families not synthetic doves are the symbols of our purpose some regard the United Nations in terms of its shortcomings and would reduce our support for it to a reluctant minimum to the United Nations and seven years of life has fallen short of its peace objectives but the whole world is fallen short and for reasons which are plain should we then surrender our objective of course not for our objective is peace the United Nations is an instrument of peace our aim must be to make it more vital and effective even those who blindly oppose this launching admit that it has stopped the spread of communism in Europe and the Mediterranean our security agreements with other American countries and the peoples of Asia and the Pacific must be similarly supported only through positive pronouncement of our long-term intentions in the international field can we ourselves be sure of our nation's English we should only announce that we will never lose interest in a people who want to be free who live unwillingly behind the iron curtain this means the launching of a concerted political program that will establish our peaceful intent encourage our allies and assure all the world that as long as any nation is enslaved we shall never be indifferent to its people's lot here that strong they will probably see in such a proposal their own self-interest and will feel obliged to accept even if grudgingly and slowly this would be a true plan for peace and disarmament to be strong we must have an unshakeable spiritual depth let us constantly proclaim to all peoples our belief in God and our devotion to the ideals and causes that spring from such belief for you and for me and for our children the cause we support is that of freedom the right of each of us to live and work and speak and worship according to the dictates of his conscience that community of belief of aspiration and of striving is I deeply believe our strongest board and our best defense along with spiritual strength we must at all costs increase our power to produce what we need for ourselves and an additional margin for the support of our armed forces and for necessary military assistance to our allies to retain our economic soundness we must be watchful that we get the maximum return on every dollar spent for defence a bankrupt America is a defenseless America another necessary element is military power manifest the United States cannot stationed its troops all over the world to protect every area in which we have a vital interest the essence of collective security is as rapidly as possible to lives the responsibility for the defense of those areas upon their own population finally we must lead the free world east and west toward a unity of purpose that we ourselves must exemplify there is unity in the world of communism a singleness of performance based upon fear and terror sometimes in contrast our own apparent disunity seems so serious as to be the mark of a fatal weakness our unity must be voluntary we need a broadly based inspired leadership that will promote understanding of all these issues it must preach faith instead of cynicism courage and confidence instead of defeatist we hope instead of despair I know something about war its strategy its requirements is tragic cost in blood and treasure its criminal waste I shall not rest as long as I believe I can contribute to the cause of peace the peace America seeks is not a matter of formula alone it is a vital living driving force that kind of peace will come if we work for it persistently and intelligently when it does then our sons can return to tasks of constructive achievement then all our people of every color race and Creed can be free to follow their opportunities for the full life to which all among us are entitled and to which every true American is dedicated my fellow Americans this can be done we can begin now to make sure that it is done no other people can take the lead just as we are the ultimate communist objective so the ultimate answer lies with us it lies with us because here in this land of ours free men have built for freedom such strong support as the world has never seen before faced with momentous issues confronting danger it is not in our American character to fail we will not fail now hope hate and work will see us through you have just heard white D Eisenhower speaking from Denver tatra Graham was purchased by the Colorado Eisenhower for president committee Dwight D Eisenhower will be again heard in a nationwide address this Thursday from Denver Coliseum at 10:30 p.m. Eastern Daylight Saving Time check your papers for local time and station this program has come to you from Denver this is the CBS television network