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West Point 1/5/93 [OA 8483]
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West Point 1/5/93 [OA 8483]
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Records of the White House Office of Speechwriting (George H. W. Bush Administration)
Speech Backup Chronological Files
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Originally Processed With FOIA(s):
FOIA Number:
S
S
FOIA
MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the George Bush Presidential
Library Staff.
Record Group/Collection:
George H.W. Bush Presidential Records
Collection/Office of Origin:
Speechwriting, White House Office of
Series:
Speech File Backup Files
Subseries:
Chron File, 1989-1993
OA/ID Number:
13842
Folder ID Number:
13842-003
Folder Title:
West Point 1/5/93 [OA 8483]
Stack:
Row:
Section:
Shelf:
Position:
G
26
23
2
4
WEST POINT
JANUARY 5, 1993
THANK YOU GENERAL (HOWARD) GRAVES FOR
THAT KIND INTRODUCTION. BARBARA AND I ARE
PLEASED TO BE HERE AND HONORED THAT WE
COULD BE JOINED BY SEC. OF THE ARMY
(MICHAEL) STONE, GEN. (GORDON) SULLIVAN,
MRS. (GRACIE) GRAVES, GENERAL (ROBERT)
FOLEY, GENERAL (GERALD) GALLOWAY, AND
CADET FIRST CAPTAIN (SHAWN) DANIEL. AND A
WESTPOINT ALUM WHO HAS BEEN AT MY SIDE FOR
THE PAST FOUR YEARS, GENERAL SCOWCROFT.
MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF VISITORS -- AND,
OF COURSE -- THE CORPS OF CADETS.
- 2 -
LET ME BEGIN WITH THE HARD PART: IT
IS DIFFICULT FOR A NAVY MAN TO COME UP TO
WEST POINT AFTER THAT GAME A MONTH AGO.
LOSING IS NEVER EASY -- TRUST ME, I KNOW -
- BUT IF YOU HAVE TO LOSE, THAT'S THE WAY
TO DO IT. FIGHT WITH ALL YOU HAVE. GIVE
IT YOUR BEST SHOT. AND WIN OR LOSE, LEARN
FROM IT AND GET ON WITH LIFE.
I AM ABOUT TO GET ON WITH THE REST
OF MY LIFE. BUT BEFORE I DO, I WANT TO
SHARE WITH YOU SOME OF MY THINKING, BOTH
ABOUT THE WORLD YOU WILL SOON BE CALLED
UPON TO ENTER AND THE LIFE YOU HAVE
CHOSEN.
- 3 -
ANY PRESIDENT HAS SEVERAL FUNCTIONS.
HE SPEAKS FOR AND TO THE NATION. HE MUST
FAITHFULLY EXECUTE THE LAW. HE MUST LEAD.
BUT NO FUNCTION, NONE OF THE
PRESIDENT'S HATS, IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN
HIS ROLE AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF. FOR IT IS
AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF THAT THE PRESIDENT
CONFRONTS AND MAKES DECISIONS THAT ONE WAY
OR ANOTHER AFFECT THE LIVES OF EVERYONE IN
THIS COUNTRY AS WELL AS MANY OTHERS
ABROAD.
- 4 -
I HAVE HAD MANY OCCASIONS TO DON THIS
MOST IMPORTANT OF HATS. OVER THE PAST
FOUR YEARS, THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO PROUDLY
AND BRAVELY WEAR THE UNIFORMS OF THE U.S.
ARMED SERVICES HAVE BEEN CALLED UPON TO GO
IN HARMS WAY -- AND HAVE DISCHARGED THEIR
DUTY WITH HONOR AND PROFESSIONALISM.
- 5 -
I WISH I COULD SAY THAT SUCH DEMANDS
WERE A THING OF THE PAST, THAT WITH THE
END OF COLD WAR THE CALLS UPON THE UNITED
STATES WOULD DIMINISH. I CANNOT. YES,
THE END OF THE COLD WAR IS A BLESSING. IT
IS A TIME OF GREAT PROMISE. DEMOCRATIC
GOVERNMENTS HAVE NEVER BEEN SO NUMEROUS.
AND THANKS TO HISTORIC TREATIES SUCH AS
THE START II PACT JUST REACHED WITH
RUSSIA, THE LIKELIHOOD OF NUCLEAR
HOLOCAUST IS VASTLY DIMINISHED.
- 6 -
BUT THIS DOES NOT MEAN THERE IS NO
SPECTER OF WAR, NO THREATS TO BE RECKONED
WITH. ALREADY, WE SEE DISTURBING SIGNS OF
WHAT THIS NEW WORLD COULD BECOME IF WE ARE
PASSIVE AND ALOOF. WE WOULD RISK THE
EMERGENCE OF A WORLD CHARACTERIZED BY
VIOLENCE AND CHAOS, ONE IN WHICH DICTATORS
AND TYRANTS THREATEN THEIR NEIGHBORS,
BUILD ARSENALS BRIMMING WITH WEAPONS OF
MASS DESTRUCTION, AND IGNORE THE WELFARE
OF THEIR OWN MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN. AND
WE COULD SEE A HORRIBLE INCREASE IN
INTERNATIONAL TERRORISM, WITH AMERICAN
CITIZENS MORE AT RISK THAN EVER.
- 7 -
WE CANNOT AND NEED NOT ALLOW THIS TO
HAPPEN. OUR OBJECTIVE MUST BE TO EXPLOIT
THE UNPARALLELED OPPORTUNITY PRESENTED BY
THE COLD WAR'S END -- TO WORK TOWARD
TRANSFORMING THIS NEW WORLD INTO A NEW
WORLD ORDER, ONE OF GOVERNMENTS THAT ARE
DEMOCRATIC, TOLERANT, AND ECONOMICALLY
FREE AT HOME, AND COMMITTED ABROAD TO
SETTLING INEVITABLE DIFFERENCES
PEACEFULLY, WITHOUT THE THREAT OR USE OF
FORCE.
- 8 -
UNFORTUNATELY, NOT EVERYONE SUBSCRIBES
TO THESE PRINCIPLES. WE CONTINUE TO SEE
LEADERS BENT ON DENYING FUNDAMENTAL HUMAN
RIGHTS AND SEIZING TERRITORY REGARDLESS OF
THE HUMAN COST. NO, AN INTERNATIONAL
SOCIETY, ONE MORE ATTUNED TO THE ENDURING
PRINCIPLES THAT HAVE MADE THIS COUNTRY A
BEACON OF HOPE FOR SO MANY FOR SO LONG,
WILL NOT JUST EMERGE ON ITS OWN. IT MUST
BE BUILT.
- 9 -
TWO HUNDRED YEARS AGO, ANOTHER
DEPARTING PRESIDENT WARNED OF THE DANGERS
OF WHAT HE DESCRIBED AS "ENTANGLING
ALLIANCES". HIS WAS THE RIGHT COURSE FOR
A NEW NATION AT THAT POINT IN HISTORY.
BUT WHAT WAS "ENTANGLING" IN WASHINGTON'S
DAY IS NOW ESSENTIAL.
- 10 -
THIS IS WHY, AT TEXAS A&M A FEW WEEKS
AGO, I SPOKE OF THE FOLLY OF ISOLATIONISM,
AND OF THE IMPORTANCE -- MORALLY,
ECONOMICALLY, AND STRATEGICALLY -- OF THE
UNITED STATES REMAINING INVOLVED IN THE
WORLD'S AFFAIRS. WE MUST ENGAGE OURSELVES
IF A NEW WORLD ORDER -- ONE MORE
COMPATIBLE WITH OUR VALUES AND CONGENIAL
TO OUR INTERESTS -- IS TO EMERGE. BUT
EVEN MORE, WE MUST LEAD.
- 11 -
LEADERSHIP TAKES MANY FORMS. IT CAN
BE POLITICAL OR DIPLOMATIC, IT CAN BE
ECONOMIC OR MILITARY, IT CAN BE MORAL OR
SPIRITUAL. LEADERSHIP CAN TAKE ANY ONE OF
THESE FORMS -- OR IT CAN BE A COMBINATION
OF THEM.
LEADERSHIP SHOULD NOT BE CONFUSED WITH
EITHER UNILATERALISM OR UNIVERSALISM. WE
NEED NOT RESPOND BY OURSELVES TO EACH AND
EVERY OUTRAGE OR ACT OF VIOLENCE. THE
FACT THAT AMERICA CAN ACT DOES NOT MEAN
THAT IT MUST. A NATION'S SENSE OF
IDEALISM NEED NOT BE AT ODDS WITH ITS
INTERESTS. NOR DOES PRINCIPLE DISPLACE
PRUDENCE.
- 12 -
NO, THE UNITED STATES SHOULD NOT SEEK
TO BE THE WORLD'S POLICEMAN. THERE IS NO
SUPPORT ABROAD OR AT HOME FOR US TO PLAY
THIS ROLE. NOR SHOULD THERE BE. WE WOULD
EXHAUST OURSELVES, IN THE PROCESS WASTING
PRECIOUS RESOURCES NEEDED TO ADDRESS THOSE
PROBLEMS AT HOME AND ABROAD THAT WE CANNOT
AFFORD TO IGNORE.
- 13 -
BUT IN THE WAKE OF THE COLD WAR, IN A
WORLD WHERE WE ARE THE SOLE REMAINING
SUPERPOWER, IT IS THE ROLE OF THE UNITED
STATES TO MARSHAL ITS MORAL AND MATERIAL
RESOURCES TO PROMOTE A DEMOCRATIC PEACE.
IT IS OUR RESPONSIBILITY -- IT IS OUR
OPPORTUNITY -- TO LEAD. THERE IS NO ONE
ELSE.
- 14 -
LEADERSHIP CANNOT BE SIMPLY ASSERTED
OR DEMANDED; IT MUST BE DEMONSTRATED.
LEADERSHIP REQUIRES FORMULATING WORTHY
GOALS, PERSUADING OTHERS OF THEIR VIRTUE,
AND CONTRIBUTING ONE'S SHARE OF THE COMMON
EFFORT AND THEN SOME. LEADERSHIP TAKES
TIME, IT TAKES PATIENCE, IT TAKES WORK.
INSERT ON CONGRESS
- 15 -
THIS IS WHAT THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION
HAS TRIED TO DO. WHEN SADDAM HUSSEIN
INVADED KUWAIT, IT WAS THE UNITED STATES
THAT GALVANIZED THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL
TO ACT AND THEN MOBILIZED THE SUCCESSFUL
COALITION ON THE BATTLEFIELD. THE PATTERN
WAS SIMILAR IN SOMALIA: FIRST THE UNITED
STATES UNDERSCORED THE IMPORTANCE OF
ALLEVIATING THE GROWING TRAGEDY, THEN WE
ORGANIZED HUMANITARIAN EFFORTS DESIGNED TO
BRING HOPE, FOOD AND PEACE.
- 16 -
AT TIMES, REAL LEADERSHIP REQUIRES A
WILLINGNESS TO USE MILITARY FORCE. FORCE
CAN BE A USEFUL BACKDROP TO DIPLOMACY, A
COMPLEMENT TO IT -- OR, IF NEED BE, A
TEMPORARY ALTERNATIVE.
- 17 -
AS COMMANDER IN CHIEF, I HAVE MADE
THE DIFFICULT CHOICE TO USE MILITARY
FORCE. I DETERMINED WE COULD NOT ALLOW
SADDAM'S FORCES TO RAVAGE KUWAIT AND HOLD
THIS CRITICAL REGION AT GUNPOINT. I
THOUGHT THEN, AND I THINK NOW, THAT USING
MILITARY FORCE TO IMPLEMENT THE
RESOLUTIONS OF THE U.N. SECURITY COUNCIL
WAS IN THE INTEREST OF THE UNITED STATES
AND THE WORLD COMMUNITY. THE NEED TO USE
FORCE AROSE AS WELL IN THE WAKE OF THE
GULF WAR, WHEN WE CAME TO THE AID OF THE
PEOPLES OF BOTH NORTHERN AND SOUTHERN
IRAQ.
- 18 -
MORE RECENTLY, I DETERMINED THAT ONLY
HUMAN
THE USE OF FORCE COULD STEM THE TRAGEDY IN
SOMALIA. THE UNITED STATES SHOULD NOT
STAND BY WITH SO MANY LIVES AT STAKE AND
WHEN A LIMITED DEPLOYMENT OF U.S. FORCES,
BUTTRESSED BY THE FORCES OF OTHER
COUNTRIES AND ACTING UNDER THE FULL
AUTHORITY OF THE UNITED NATIONS, COULD
MAKE AN IMMEDIATE AND DRAMATIC
DIFFERENCE -- AND DO SO WITHOUT EXCESSIVE
LEVELS OF RISK AND COST. OPERATIONS
PROVIDE COMFORT AND SOUTHERN WATCH IN
IRAQ, AND OPERATION RESTORE HOPE IN
SOMALIA, ALL BEAR WITNESS TO THE WISDOM OF
SELECTED USE OF FORCE FOR SELECTIVE
PURPOSES.
- 19 -
SOMETIMES THE DECISION NOT TO USE
FORCE -- TO STAY OUR HAND -- IS JUST AS
DIFFICULT AS THE DECISION TO SEND OUR
SOLDIERS INTO BATTLE. THE FORMER
YUGOSLAVIA HAS BEEN SUCH A SITUATION.
THERE ARE, WE ALL KNOW, IMPORTANT
HUMANITARIAN AND STRATEGIC INTERESTS AT
STAKE. BUT UP TO NOW IT HAS NOT BEEN
CLEAR THAT THE APPLICATION OF LIMITED
AMOUNTS OF FORCE BY THE UNITED STATES AND
ITS TRADITIONAL FRIENDS AND ALLIES WOULD
HAVE HAD THE DESIRED EFFECT GIVEN THE
NATURE AND COMPLEXITY OF THE SITUATION.
- 20 -
OUR ASSESSMENT OF THE SITUATION IN THE
FORMER YUGOSLAVIA COULD WELL CHANGE IF AND
AS THE SITUATION CHANGES. THE STAKES
COULD GROW; THE CONFLICT COULD THREATEN TO
SPREAD. INDEED, WE ARE CONSTANTLY
REASSESSING OUR OPTIONS, AND ARE ACTIVELY
CONSULTING WITH OTHERS ABOUT STEPS THAT
MIGHT BE TAKEN TO CONTAIN THE FIGHTING,
PROTECT THE HUMANITARIAN EFFORT, AND DENY
SERBIA THE FRUITS OF AGGRESSION.
. 21 -
MILITARY FORCE IS NEVER A TOOL TO BE
USED LIGHTLY OR UNIVERSALLY; IN SOME
CIRCUMSTANCES IT MAY BE ESSENTIAL, IN
OTHERS COUNTER-PRODUCTIVE. I KNOW THAT
MANY PEOPLE WOULD LIKE TO FIND SOME
FORMULA TO APPLY, TO TELL US WITH
PRECISION WHEN AND WHERE TO INTERVENE WITH
FORCE. ANYONE LOOKING FOR SCIENTIFIC
CERTITUDE IS IN FOR A DISAPPOINTMENT. IN
THE COMPLEX NEW WORLD WE ARE ENTERING,
THERE CAN BE NO SINGLE OR SIMPLE SET OF
FIXED RULES FOR USING FORCE.
- 22 -
INEVITABLY, THE QUESTION OF MILITARY
INTERVENTION REQUIRES JUDGMENT; EACH AND
EVERY CASE IS UNIQUE. TO ADOPT RIGID
CRITERIA WOULD GUARANTEE MISTAKES
INVOLVING AMERICAN INTERESTS AND AMERICAN
LIVES. IT WOULD GIVE WOULD-BE
TROUBLEMAKERS A BLUEPRINT FOR DETERMINING
THEIR OWN ACTIONS; IT COULD SIGNAL U.S.
FRIENDS AND ALLIES THAT OUR SUPPORT WAS
NOT TO BE COUNTED UPON.
- 23 -
SIMILARLY, WE CANNOT ALWAYS DECIDE IN
ADVANCE WHICH INTERESTS WILL REQUIRE OUR
USING MILITARY FORCE TO PROTECT THEM. THE
RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF AN INTEREST IS NOT
A GUIDE: MILITARY FORCE MAY NOT BE THE
BEST WAY OF SAFEGUARDING SOMETHING VITAL,
WHILE USING FORCE MIGHT BE THE BEST WAY TO
PROTECT AN INTEREST THAT QUALIFIES AS
IMPORTANT BUT LESS THAN VITAL.
- 24 - -
BUT TO WARN AGAINST A FUTILE QUEST
FOR A SET OF HARD AND FAST RULES TO GOVERN
THE USE OF MILITARY FORCE IS NOT TO SAY
THERE CANNOT BE SOME PRINCIPLES TO INFORM
OUR DECISIONS. SUCH GUIDELINES CAN PROVE
USEFUL IN SIZING AND SHAPING OUR FORCES
AND IN HELPING US TO THINK OUR WAY THROUGH
THIS KEY QUESTION.
- 25 -
USING MILITARY FORCE MAKES SENSE AS A
POLICY WHERE THE STAKES WARRANT; WHERE AND
WHEN FORCE CAN BE EFFECTIVE; WHERE NO
OTHER POLICIES ARE LIKELY TO PROVE
EFFECTIVE; WHERE ITS APPLICATION CAN BE
LIMITED IN SCOPE AND TIME; AND WHERE THE
POTENTIAL BENEFITS JUSTIFY THE POTENTIAL
COSTS AND SACRIFICE.
- 26 -
ONCE WE ARE SATISFIED THAT FORCE MAKES
SENSE, WE MUST ACT WITH THE MAXIMUM
POSSIBLE SUPPORT. THE UNITED STATES CAN
AND SHOULD LEAD, BUT WE WILL WANT TO ACT
IN CONCERT, WHERE POSSIBLE INVOLVING THE
UNITED NATIONS OR OTHER MULTINATIONAL
GROUPING.
- 27 -
THE UNITED STATES CAN AND SHOULD
CONTRIBUTE TO THE COMMON UNDERTAKING IN A
MANNER COMMENSURATE WITH OUR WEALTH AND
STRENGTH. BUT OTHERS SHOULD ALSO
CONTRIBUTE MILITARILY, BE IT BY PROVIDING
COMBAT OR SUPPORT FORCES, ACCESS TO
FACILITIES AND BASES, OR OVERFLIGHT
RIGHTS. SIMILARLY, OTHERS SHOULD
CONTRIBUTE ECONOMICALLY; IT IS
UNREASONABLE TO EXPECT THE UNITED STATES
TO BEAR THE FULL FINANCIAL BURDEN OF
INTERVENTION WHEN OTHER NATIONS HAVE A
STAKE IN THE OUTCOME.
-28-
28
CUT
[ HALF A CENTURY AGO, FDR JUSTIFIED
AMERICA'S LAND-LEASE PROGRAM BY SAYING
WHEN YOUR NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE IS ON FIRE, AND
YOU'VE GOT A HOSE, PRUDENT POLICY DICTATES
THAT YOU PASS THE HOSE OVER THE FENCE TO
YOUR NEIGHBOR.
TODAY, WHEN CONFLICT FLARES, WE WILL
LOOK FIRST TO THOSE IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF
THE CRISIS TO ACT ON THEIR OWN -- OR AT
THE VERY LEAST IN CONCERT WITH US. IT IS
DIFFICULT TO SEE HOW OTHERS WILL EXPECT TO
PERSUADE THE UNITED STATES TO ACT WHEN
DANGER IS DISTANT WHILE THEY REFRAIN WHEN
DANGER IS HAND. ]
- 29 -
A DESIRE FOR INTERNATIONAL SUPPORT
MUST NOT BECOME A PREREQUISITE FOR ACTING.
SOMETIMES, A GREAT POWER HAS TO ACT ALONE.
I MADE THE TOUGH DECISION TO USE MILITARY
FORCE IN PANAMA, WHEN AMERICAN LIVES AND
THE SECURITY OF THE CANAL APPEARED TO BE
THREATENED BY OUTLAWS WHO STOLE POWER IN
THE FACE OF FREE ELECTIONS. SIMILARLY, WE
MOVED SWIFTLY TO SAFEGUARD DEMOCRACY IN
THE PHILIPPINES.
- 30 -
BUT IN EVERY CASE INVOLVING THE USE OF
FORCE, IT WILL BE ESSENTIAL TO HAVE A
CLEAR AND ACHIEVABLE MISSION; A REALISTIC
PLAN FOR ACCOMPLISHING THE MISSION; AND
CRITERIA NO LESS REALISTIC FOR WITHDRAWING
U.S. FORCES ONCE THE MISSION IS COMPLETE.
ONLY IF WE KEEP THESE PRINCIPLES IN MIND
WILL THE POTENTIAL SACRIFICE BE ONE THAT
CAN BE EXPLAINED AND JUSTIFIED. WE MUST
NEVER FORGET THAT USING FORCE IS NOT SOME
POLITICAL ABSTRACTION, BUT A REAL
COMMITMENT OF OUR FATHERS AND MOTHERS,
SONS AND DAUGHTERS, BROTHERS AND SISTERS,
FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS.
- 31 -
IN ORDER EVEN TO HAVE THE CHOICE, WE
MUST HAVE AVAILABLE ADEQUATE MILITARY
FORCES TAILORED FOR A WIDE RANGE OF
CONTINGENCIES, INCLUDING PEACEKEEPING.
INDEED, LEADING THE EFFORT TOWARD A NEW
WORLD ORDER WILL REQUIRE A MODERN, CAPABLE
MILITARY, IN SOME AREAS NECESSITATING MORE
RATHER THAN LESS DEFENSE SPENDING.
- 32 -
AS PRESIDENT, I HAVE SAID THAT MY
ABILITY TO DEPLOY FORCE ON BEHALF OF U.S.
INTERESTS ABROAD WAS MADE POSSIBLE BECAUSE
PAST PRESIDENTS -- IN PARTICULAR, MY
PREDECESSOR, RONALD REAGAN -- AND PAST
SECRETARIES OF DEFENSE SUSTAINED A STRONG
MILITARY. CONSISTENT WITH THIS SACRED
TRUST, I AM PROUD TO PASS ON TO MY
SUCCESSOR A MILITARY SECOND TO NONE.
- 33 -
YET IT IS ESSENTIAL TO RECOGNIZE THAT
AS IMPORTANT AS SUCH FACTORS ARE, ANY
MILITARY IS MORE THAN SIMPLY THE SUM OF
ITS WEAPONS OR THE STATE OF ITS
TECHNOLOGY. WHAT MAKES ANY ARMED FORCE
TRULY EFFECTIVE IS THE QUALITY OF ITS
LEADERSHIP, THE QUALITY OF ITS TRAINING,
AND THE QUALITY OF ITS PEOPLE.
- 34 -
WE HAVE SUCCEEDED ABROAD IN NO SMALL
PART BECAUSE OF OUR PEOPLE IN UNIFORM.
THE MEN AND WOMEN IN OUR ARMED FORCES HAVE
DEMONSTRATED THEIR ABILITY TO MASTER THE
CHALLENGES OF MODERN WARFARE. AT THE SAME
TIME, AND WHETHER ON THE BATTLEFIELD OF
IRAQ OR IN SOME SMALL VILLAGE IN SOMALIA,
AMERICA'S SOLDIERS HAVE ALWAYS BROUGHT A
QUALITY OF CARING AND KINDNESS TO THEIR
MISSION.
- 35 -
WHO WILL EVER FORGET THOSE TERRIFIED
IRAQI SOLDIERS SURRENDERING TO AMERICAN
TROOPS? WHO WILL FORGET THE WAY THAT
AMERICAN SOLDIER HELD OUT HIS ARMS AND
SAID, "IT'S OKAY -- YOU'RE ALRIGHT NOW."
OR IN SOMALIA, THE YOUNG MARINE, EYES
FILLED WITH TEARS, HOLDING THE FRAGILE ARM
OF AN EMACIATED CHILD.
THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT ABOUT IT:
THE ALL VOLUNTEER FORCE IS ONE OF THE TRUE
SUCCESS STORIES OF MODERN DAY AMERICA.
- 36 -
IT IS INSTRUCTIVE TO LOOK AT JUST WHY
THIS IS so. AT ITS HEART, A VOLUNTARY
MILITARY IS BASED UPON CHOICE: THE
DECISION FREELY TAKEN BY YOUNG MEN AND
WOMEN TO JOIN, THE DECISION BY MORE MATURE
MEN AND WOMEN TO REMAIN.
- 37 -
THE INSTITUTION OF THE ARMED FORCES
HAS THRIVED ON ITS COMMITMENT TO
DEVELOPING AND PROMOTING EXCELLENCE. IT
IS MERITOCRACY IN ACTION. RACE AND
RELIGION AND WEALTH AND BACKGROUND COUNT
NOT. INDEED, THE MILITARY OFFERS MANY
EXAMPLES FOR THE REST OF SOCIETY, SHOWING
WHAT CAN BE DONE TO ERADICATE THE SCOURGE
OF DRUGS, TO BREAK DOWN THE BARRIERS OF
RACIAL DISCRIMINATION, TO OFFER EQUAL
OPPORTUNITY TO WOMEN.
- 38 -
THIS IS NOT JUST A RESULT OF SELF-
SELECTION. IT ALSO REFLECTS THE
MILITARY'S COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION AND
TRAINING. PEOPLE SPEAK OF DEFENSE
CONVERSION, THE PROCESS BY WHICH DEFENSE
FIRMS RETOOL FOR CIVILIAN TASKS. WELL,
DEFENSE CONVERSION WITHIN THE MILITARY
HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS. IT IS THE
CONSTANT PROCESS OF TRAINING AND
RETRAINING, WHICH THE MILITARY DOES SO
WELL, THAT ALLOWS INDIVIDUALS TO KEEP UP
WITH THE LATEST TECHNOLOGY, TAKE ON MORE
CHALLENGING ASSIGNMENTS, AND PREPARE FOR
LIFE ON THE OUTSIDE.
- 39 -
OUT OF THIS CULTURE OF MERIT AND
COMPETITION HAVE EMERGED HUNDREDS OF
THOUSANDS OF HIGHLY SKILLED MEN AND WOMEN
BRIMMING WITH REAL SELF-CONFIDENCE. WHAT
THEY POSSESS IS A SPECIAL MIX OF
DISCIPLINE -- A WILLINGNESS TO ACCEPT
DIRECTION -- AND CONFIDENCE, A WILLINGNESS
TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. TOGETHER,
DISCIPLINE AND CONFIDENCE PROVIDE THE
BASIS FOR WINNING, FOR GETTING THE JOB
DONE.
- 40 -
THERE IS NO HIGHER CALLING, NO MORE
HONORABLE CHOICE, THAN THE ONE YOU HERE
TODAY HAVE MADE. TO JOIN THE ARMED FORCES
IS TO BE PREPARED TO MAKE THE ULTIMATE
SACRIFICE FOR YOUR COUNTRY AND FOR YOUR
FELLOW MAN.
- 41 -
WHAT YOU HAVE DONE, WHAT YOU ARE
DOING, SENDS AN IMPORTANT MESSAGE, ONE
THAT I FEAR SOMETIMES GETS LOST AMIDST
TODAY'S OFTEN MATERIALIST, SELF-INTERESTED
CULTURE. IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER, IT
IS IMPORTANT TO DEMONSTRATE, THAT THERE IS
A HIGHER PURPOSE TO LIFE BEYOND ONE'S
SELF. I SPEAK OF FAMILY, OF COMMUNITY, OF
IDEALS. I SPEAK OF DUTY, HONOR, COUNTRY.
- 42 -
THERE ARE MANY FORMS OF CONTRIBUTING
TO THIS COUNTRY, OF PUBLIC SERVICE. YES,
THERE IS GOVERNMENT. THERE IS
VOLUNTEERISM, THE THOUSAND POINTS OF
LIGHT. AND THERE ARE THE DAILY TASKS THAT
REQUIRE DOING -- IN OUR CLASSROOMS, OUR
HOSPITALS, OUR CITIES, OUR FARMS. ALL CAN
AND DO REPRESENT A FORM OF SERVICE. IN
WHATEVER FORM, SERVICE BENEFITS OUR
SOCIETY AND ENNOBLES THE GIVER. IT IS A
CHERISHED AMERICAN CONCEPT, ONE WE SHOULD
CONTINUE TO PRACTICE AND PASS ON TO OUR
CHILDREN.
- 43 -
THIS WAS WHAT I WANTED TO SHARE ON
THIS OCCASION. YOU ARE BEGINNING YOUR
SERVICE TO COUNTRY; I AM ENDING MINE.
EXACTLY HALF A CENTURY AGO, IN JUNE, 1942,
WE WERE AT WAR. I WAS GRADUATING FROM
SCHOOL. THE SPEAKER THAT DAY AT ANDOVER
WAS SECRETARY OF WAR HENRY STIMSON. HIS
MESSAGE WAS ONE OF PUBLIC SERVICE, BUT
WITH A TWIST -- ON THE IMPORTANCE OF
FINISHING ONE'S SCHOOLING BEFORE GOING OFF
TO FIGHT FOR ONE'S COUNTRY.
- 44 -
I LISTENED CLOSELY TO WHAT HE HAD TO
SAY, BUT I DIDN'T TAKE HIS ADVICE. THAT
DAY WAS MY EIGHTEENTH BIRTHDAY. WHEN THE
COMMENCEMENT CEREMONY ENDED, I WENT TO
BOSTON, AND ENLISTED IN THE NAVY AS A
SEAMAN 2ND CLASS. AND I NEVER REGRETTED
IT.
YOU, Too, HAVE SIGNED UP. YOU, Too,
WILL NEVER REGRET IT. I SALUTE YOU FOR
IT.
- 45 -
FORTUNATELY, BECAUSE OF THE SACRIFICES
MADE IN YEARS BEFORE AND STILL BEING MADE,
YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO COMPLETE THIS PHASE
OF YOUR EDUCATION. A HALF CENTURY HAS
PASSED SINCE I LEFT SCHOOL TO SERVE MY
COUNTRY; A HALF CENTURY HAS PASSED SINCE
THAT DAY WHEN STIMSON SPOKE OF THE
CHALLENGE OF CREATING A NEW WORLD.
YOU WILL ALSO BE ENTERING A NEW WORLD,
ONE FAR BETTER THAN THE ONE I CAME TO KNOW
-- A WORLD WITH THE POTENTIAL TO BE FAR
BETTER YET. THIS IS THE CHALLENGE, THIS
IS THE OPPORTUNITY, OF YOUR LIFETIMES. I
ENVY YOU FOR IT, AND WISH YOU GODSPEED.
# # #
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
SCHEDULE OF THE PRESIDENT AND MRS. BUSH
FOR
WEST POINT, NEW YORK
JANUARY 5, 1993
EVENTS:
Viewing of Gift from King Fahd
Luncheon with Corps of Cadets
Reception at Superintendent's Residence
Address Corps of Cadets
DRESS:
Men
- Business Suit
Women
- Day Dress
CONTACTS:
Presidential Advance Office
Edward Murnane
- 202/456-7565
Trip Coordinator
Anne Mincy
- 202/456-7565
West Point, New York
- 914/446-0576
*96 38 000
ADVANCE:
Brad Blakeman
- LEAD
Brad Edgar
- SITE
Kim Fuller
- PRESS
Lenny Cherson
- SITE
Rick Bartee
- USSS
John Meyers
- PRESS
Rusty Schorsch
- MIL. AIDE
Frank Valdez
- WHCA
Pat Ash
- AF1
Glenn Graham
- HMX
WEATHER:
Rain/Low 50's
SCHEDULE OF THE PRESIDENT AND MRS. BUSH
FOR
WEST POINT, NEW YORK
JANUARY 5, 1993
GUEST AND STAFF INSTRUCTIONS:
9:10 am Vans depart West Basement
en route Andrews Air Force
Base.
9:45 am Those with own transportation
should arrive Andrews Air Force
Base Distinguished Visitor's
Lounge at this time.
9:40 am
THE PRESIDENT and Mrs. Bush board Marine One and
depart White House en route Andrews Air Force
Base.
MARINE ONE MANIFEST:
THE PRESIDENT
Mrs. Bush
Gen. Scowcroft
M. Fitzwater
M. Dannenhauer
D. Valdez
Doctor
Mil. Aide
2 USSS
(Flying Time: 10 Minutes)
9:50 am
THE PRESIDENT and Mrs. Bush arrive Andrews Air
Force Base and proceed to Hangar 3.
EVENT:
VIEWING OF GIFT FROM KING FAHD
CLOSED PRESS
9:55 am
THE PRESIDENT and Mrs. Bush arrive Hangar 3 and
begin viewing gift from King Fahd.
NOTE:
The gift is a gold statue from King Fahd
of Saudi Arabia.
10:00 am
THE PRESIDENT and Mrs. Bush conclude viewing gift,
depart Hangar 3 and board Motorcade.
10:05 am
THE PRESIDENT and Mrs. Bush depart Hangar 3 en
route Air Force One.
MOTORCADE ASSIGNMENTS:
Lead
Spare
M. Dannenhauer
Doctor
LIMO
THE PRESIDENT
Mrs. Bush
Follow-Up
Control
Gen. Scowcroft
Mil. Aide
Support
M. Fitzwater
E. Murnane
P. Swift
Official Photographer
Medic
(Drive Time: 5 Minutes)
Page Two
10:10 am
THE PRESIDENT and Mrs. Bush arrive Air Force One
and board.
10:15 am
THE PRESIDENT and Mrs. Bush depart Andrews Air
(E.S.T.)
Force Base en route Newburgh, New York.
(Flying Time: 55 Minutes)
(Interchange: No)
(Time Change: None)
(Food Service: Beverage Service)
11:10 am
THE PRESIDENT and Mrs. Bush arrive Stewart Air
(E.S.T.)
National Guard Base, Newburgh, New York and board
Marine One.
GREETERS:
Met by:
Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Maguire, Jr.
Acting Group Commander, Stewart Air National Guard
Base
Lieutenant Colonel E. Michael Perry
Deputy Garrison Commander, Stewart Air National
Guard Base
Lieutenant Colonel Tom Bremb
Site Commander, Stewart Air National Guard Base
The Honorable William J. Larkin, Jr.
New York State Senator
The Honorable Joseph Holland
New York State Senator
The Honorable Steve Saland
New York State Senator
The Honorable Nancy Calhoun
New York State Assemblywoman
The Honorable John Bonacic
New York State Assemblyman
Mr. Clifford M. Barber
Chairman, Orange County Republican Committee
Mr. William R. Steinhaus
Dutchess County Executive
Page Three
Mr. Fredrick W. Scoralick
Sheriff, Dutchess County
Mr. Vincent Reda
Republican Chairman, Rockland County
11:20 am
THE PRESIDENT and Mrs. Bush depart Stewart Air
National Guard Base en route Parade Ground Landing
Zone, United States Military Academy, West Point,
New York.
HELICOPTER ASSIGNMENTS
Marine One:
THE PRESIDENT
Mrs. Bush
Gen. Scowcroft
M. Fitzwater
M. Dannenhauer
D. Valdez
Mil. Aide
Doctor
2 USSS
Nighthawk II:
J. Lindsey
S. Lindsey
S. McKenzie
J. Gaughan
Col. Hawes
WHCA PCO
8 USSS
Nighthawk III:
R. Porter
R. Haas
E. Murnane
B. Blakeman
C. Martin
S. Biddle
8 Press
2 USSS
Medic
Page Four
Nighthawk IV:
J. Herrick
J. Meyers
M. Busch
13 Press
WHCA A/V
2 WHTV
1 USSS
(Flying Time: 15 Minutes)
GUEST AND STAFF INSTRUCTIONS:
Upon arrival at the United States Military
Academy, Guests and Staff will be
escorted to the Washington Mess Hall
Dining Tables or Holding Rooms.
Upon conclusion of luncheon, Guests
and Staff will be escorted to
Superintendent's Residence Holding Rooms.
Please board Motorcade no later than
1:00 pm for transport to Eisenhower Hall.
11:35 am
THE PRESIDENT and Mrs. Bush arrive Parade Ground
Landing Zone, United States Military Academy, West
Point, New York and proceed to Washington Mess
Hall (via foot.)
Coluters:
Met by:
Secretary of the Army
(Borgar)
Brad
The Honorable Michael P. W. Stone
General Gordon R. Sullivan
Chief of the Staff of the Army
Lieutenant General and Mrs. Howard D. Graves
(Gracie)
Superintendent, United States Military Academy
Page Five
Cadet Shawn Daniel
First Captain, United States Corps of Cadets
11:40 am
THE PRESIDENT and Mrs. Bush arrive Washington Mess
Hall and proceed to Off-Stage Announcement Area.
11:43 am
THE PRESIDENT and Mrs. Bush arrive Off-Stage
Announcement Area and hold briefly.
Met by:
Brigadier General Robert Foley
MOREAS:
Commandant, United States Military Academy
Brigadier General Gerald R. Galloway
Dean, United States Military Academy
Colonel Ronald F. Massey
Garrison Commander, United States Military
Academy
Colonel Michael P. Peters
Chief of Staff, United States Military Academy
EVENT:
LUNCHEON WITH CORPS OF CADETS
EXPANDED POOL (at beginning only)
RUFFLES AND FLOURISHES
OFF-STAGE ANNOUNCEMENT
HAIL TO THE CHIEF
NATIONAL ANTHEM
LUNCHEON
11:45 am
THE PRESIDENT and Mrs. Bush, accompanied by
General and Mrs. Graves and Cadet Daniel, are
announced into Washington Mess Hall and proceed
onto Stage.
Page Six
NOTE:
General and Mrs. Graves and Cadet Daniel
will accompany THE PRESIDENT and Mrs.
Bush throughout the visit.
11:47 am
THE PRESIDENT and Mrs. Bush arrive Stage and
remain Standing.
11:48 am National Anthem is played by the West
Point Army Band.
11:50 am
THE PRESIDENT and Mrs. Bush depart Stage and
proceed to Poop Deck.
11:52 am
THE PRESIDENT and Mrs. Bush arrive Poop Deck and
wave to Corps of Cadets.
Met by:
Cadet Eugenia Guilmartin
Brigade Adjutant, United States Military Academy
NOTE:
THE PRESIDENT and Mrs. Bush are
announced to Corps of Cadets by Cadet
Guilmartin at this time.
11:55 am
THE PRESIDENT and Mrs. Bush depart Poop Deck and
proceed to Luncheon Table.
NOTE:
Mrs. Bush, accompanied by Mrs. Graves,
proceed to separate luncheon table at
this time.
11:57 am
THE PRESIDENT arrives Luncheon Table and begin
participation in Luncheon.
Met by:
Captain Frank Shields
Officer in Charge, Cadet Mess, United States
Military Academy
Page Seven
12:35 pm
THE PRESIDENT and Mrs. Bush conclude participation
in Luncheon, depart Washington Mess Hall and
proceed to Superintendent's Residence (via foot).
NOTE:
The Corps of Cadets will be called to
rise for THE PRESIDENT and Mrs. Bush's
departure by Cadet Guilmartin, at this
time.
EVENT:
RECEPTION AT SUPERINTENDENT'S RESIDENCE
CLOSED PRESS
MIX AND MINGLE
12:40 pm
THE PRESIDENT and Mrs. Bush arrive
Superintendent's Residence and begin participation
in Reception.
NOTE:
Coffee and dessert will be served at
this time.
1:05 pm
THE PRESIDENT and Mrs. Bush conclude participation
in Reception, depart Superintendent's Residence
and board Motorcade.
NOTE:
THE PRESIDENT and Mrs. Bush will sign
two guest books and be presented with a
1992 Howitzer (Cadet Yearbook) at this
time.
1:10 pm
THE PRESIDENT and Mrs. Bush depart
Superintendent's Residence en route Eisenhower
Hall.
MOTORCADE ASSIGNMENTS:
Lead
B. Blakeman
Page Eight
Spare
M. Dannenhauer
Doctor
LIMO
THE PRESIDENT
Mrs. Bush
Follow-Up
Control
Gen. Scowcroft
Mil. Aide
Support
M. Fitzwater
E. Murnane
Official Photographer
Medic
WHCA
J. Gaughan
Superintendent's
LTG Graves
Car
Camera I
J. Herrick
Camera II
Guest and Staff
All Guests and
Mini Bus
Remaining Staff
Wire Van
Press Mini Bus
M. Busch
(Drive Time: 5 Minutes)
GUEST AND STAFF INSTRUCTIONS:
Upon arrival at Eisenhower Hall, Guests
and Staff will be escorted to Viewing
Area or Holding Rooms.
Please board Motorcade no later than
1:50 pm for transport to Parade
Ground Landing Zone.
Page Nine
1:15 pm
THE PRESIDENT and Mrs. Bush arrive Eisenhower Hall
and proceed to Holding Room.
1:20 pm
THE PRESIDENT and Mrs. Bush arrive Holding Room
and hold briefly.
1:25 pm
THE PRESIDENT and Mrs. Bush depart Holding Room
and proceed to Off-Stage Announcement Area.
1:27 pm
THE PRESIDENT and Mrs. Bush arrive Off-Stage
Announcement Area and hold briefly.
EVENT:
ADDRESS CORPS OF CADETS
OPEN PRESS
OFF-STAGE ANNOUNCEMENT
REMARKS
TELEPROMPTER
GIFT PRESENTATION
1:28 pm
THE PRESIDENT and Mrs. Bush are announced onto
Stage, proceed to Seats and are Seated.
NOTE:
Dais participants are already on Stage
at this time.
POTUS INTRO:
1:30 pm
THE PRESIDENT is introduced for Remarks by General
-
Graves, Superintendent, United States Military
Academy.
1:32 pm
THE PRESIDENT makes Remarks.
Page Ten
1:52 pm
THE PRESIDENT concludes Remarks and remains
Standing at Podium.
NOTE:
THE PRESIDENT is presented with a Cadet
Jacket by Cadet First Captain Shawn
Daniel.
1:55 pm
THE PRESIDENT concludes participation in Gift
Presentation and, with Mrs. Bush, departs Stage
and boards Motorcade.
NOTE:
THE PRESIDENT and Mrs. Bush bid farewell
to Secretary Stone, General Sullivan and
Cadet Daniel at this time.
Six Police Photos will be taken at this
time.
2:00 pm
THE PRESIDENT and Mrs. Bush depart Eisenhower Hall
en route Parade Ground Landing Zone.
MOTORCADE ASSIGNMENTS:
Same as on Arrival.
(Drive Time: 5 Minutes)
2:05 pm
THE PRESIDENT and Mrs. Bush arrive Parade Ground
Landing Zone and board Marine One.
NOTE:
THE PRESIDENT and Mrs. Bush bid
farewell to General and Mrs. Graves at
this time.
2:10 pm
THE PRESIDENT and Mrs. Bush depart Parade Ground
Landing Zone, United States Military Academy en
route Stewart Air National Guard Base.
Page Eleven
HELICOPTER ASSIGNMENTS:
Same as on Arrival.
(Flying Time: 15 Minutes)
2:25 pm
THE PRESIDENT and Mrs. Bush arrive Stewart Air
National Guard Base and board Air Force One.
2:35 pm
THE PRESIDENT and Mrs. Bush depart Newburgh, New
(E.S.T.)
York en route Andrews Air Force Base.
(Flying Time: 1 Hour)
(Interchange: No)
(Time Change: None)
(Food Service: Sandwiches Available)
3:35 pm
THE PRESIDENT and Mrs. Bush arrive Andrews Air
(E.S.T.)
Force Base and board Marine One.
3:45 pm
THE PRESIDENT and Mrs. Bush depart Andrews Air
Force Base en route White House.
MARINE ONE MANIFEST:
THE PRESIDENT
Mrs. Bush
Gen. Scowcroft
M. Fitzwater
M. Dannenhauer
D. Valdez
Doctor
Mil. Aide
2 USSS
(Flying Time: 10 Minutes)
Page Twelve
3:55 pm
THE PRESIDENT and Mrs. Bush arrive White House.
Page Thirteen
West Point/draft 4/Haass-McGroarty/1/04/93-1300
Army Navy Game
Dec! 5, 1992
Let me begin with the hard part: It is difficult for a Navy
X X X
x
man to come up to West Point after that game a month ago. Losing
is never easy--trust me, I know--but if you have to lose, that's
the way to do it. Fight with all you have. Give it your best
shot. And win or lose, learn from it and get on with life and
what really matters.
I am about to get on with the rest of my life. But before I
do, I want to share with you some of my thinking, both about the
world you will soon be called upon to enter and the life you have
chosen.
Any President has several functions. He speaks for and to
the Nation. He must faithfully execute the law. He must lead.
But no function, none of the President's hats, is more
important than his role as Commander in Chief. For it is as
Commander in Chief that the President confronts and makes
decisions that one way or another affect the lives of everyone in
this country as well as many others abroad.
I have had many occasions to don this most important of
hats. Over the past four years, the men and women who proudly
and bravely wear the uniforms of the U.S. armed services have
been called upon to go in harms way--and have discharged their
duty with honor and professionalism.
I wish I could say that such demands were a thing of the
past, that with the end of Cold War the calls upon the United
2
States would diminish. I cannot. Yes, the Cold War's end is a
blessing. Thanks to historic treaties such as the START II pact
just reached with Russia, we no longer live in the shadow of
nuclear holocaust. But this does not mean there are no shadows
to take its place, no threats to be reckoned with.
In the wake of the Cold War, we find ourselves in a new
world. And already we see disturbing signs of what this new
world could become if we become passive and aloof. We would risk
the emergence of a world characterized by violence and chaos, one
in which dictators and tyrants threaten their neighbors, build
arsenals brimming with weapons of mass destruction, and ignore
the welfare of their own men, women and children. And we would
see a horrible increase in international terrorism, with American
citizens more at risk than ever.
We cannot and need not allow this to happen. Our objective
must be to continue to transform this new world into a new world
order, one of governments that are democratic, tolerant, and
economically free at home, and committed abroad to settling
inevitable differences peacefully, without the threat or use of
force.
Unfortunately, not everyone subscribes to these principles.
We see leaders bent on denying fundamental human rights and
seizing territory regardless of the human cost. No, an
international society, one more attuned to the enduring
principles that have made this country a beacon of hope for so
3
many for so long, will not just emerge on its own. It must be
built.
Several weeks ago, at Texas A&M, I spoke of the folly of
isolationism and of the importance--morally, economically, and
strategically--of the United States remaining involved in the
world's affairs. This nation's foreign policy has always been
more than simply an expression of American interests. It is an
extension of American ideals. This moral dimension of American
policy requires us to remain active, engaged in the world. Many
times, that means trying to chart a moral course through a world
of lesser evils. That's the real world: not black and white;
very few moral absolutes--enormous potential for error.
With the end of the Cold War, we have an unparalleled
opportunity to bring about a world more hospitable to American
interests and ideals. But this impulse--this moral dimension to
American foreign policy--does not make the United States the
world's policeman. We need not respond by ourselves to each and
every outrage or act of violence. There is no support abroad or
at home for us to play this role. Nor should there be. We would
exhaust ourselves, in the process wasting precious resources
needed to address those problems at home and abroad that we
cannot afford to ignore.
The fact that America can act does not mean that it must.
Idealism does not nullify interest. Nor does principle displace
prudence.
4
Two hundred years ago, another departing President warned of
the dangers of what he described as "entangling alliances". His
was the right course for a new nation at that point in history.
But what was "entangling" in Washington's day is now essential.
We must engage ourselves if a new world order is to emerge. Even
more, we must lead.
Leadership takes many forms. It can be political or
diplomatic, it can be economic or military, it can be moral or
spiritual. Leadership can take any one of these forms--or it can
be a combination of them.
In the wake of the Cold War, where we are the sole remaining
superpower, it must be the policy of the United States to marshal
its moral and material resources to promote a democratic peace.
It is our responsibility--it is our opportunity--t to lead. No one
else can provide it. The fact is, if the United States does not
provide leadership, the job probably won't get done.
But leadership cannot be simply asserted or demanded; it
must be earned. Leadership requires formulating worthy goals,
persuading others of their virtue, and contributing one's share
of the common effort and then some. Leadership takes time, it
takes patience, it takes work.
This is what the Bush Administration has done when it had
to. When Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait, it was the United States
that galvanized the UN Security Council to act and then mobilized
the successful coalition on the battlefield. We are seeing much
the same in Somalia: first the United States raised the
5
importance of alleviating the growing tragedy, then we organized
the humanitarian effort designed to bring hope, food and peace.
At times, however, real leadership also means a willingness
to use force. Force can be a useful backdrop to diplomacy, a
complement to it--or, if need be, a temporary alternative.
As Commander in Chief, I have made the difficult choice to
ok 1/5/93 BOND/BACKUP
use military force (a number of times. I determined we could not
allow Saddam's forces to ravage Kuwait and hold this critical
region at gunpoint. I thought then, and I think now, that
ordering our military to implement the resolutions of the UN
Security Council was the best and only choice available to the
United States. The need to use force arose as well in the wake
of the Gulf war, when we came to the aid of the peoples of both
northern and Southern Iraq. More recently, it became necessary
to act in Somalia. I determined that the United States should
not stand by with so many lives at stake and when a limited
deployment of U.S. forces, buttressed by the forces of other
countries and acting under the full authority of the United
Nations, could make an immediate and dramatic difference--and do
so without excessive levels of risk and cost. Operations Provide
Comfort and Southern Watch in Iraq, and Operation Restore Hope in
Somalia, all bear witness to the wisdom of selected use of force
for selective purposes.
Sometimes the decision not to use force--to stay our hand--
is just as difficult as the decision to send our soldiers into
battle. The former Yugoslavia has been such a situation. There
6
are, we all know, important humanitarian and strategic interests
at stake. But up to now it has not been clear that the
application of limited amounts of force by the United States
would have had the desired effect given the potential adversary,
the complexity of the situation, and the assistance we could
expect from our traditional friends and allies, many of whom
stand closer to this conflict and are more directly affected by
its outcome than ourselves.
Half a century ago, FDR justified America's Lend-Lease
FOR-LEASE
program by saying when your neighbor's house is on fire, and
SPEACH
you' ve got a hose, prudent policy dictates that you pass the hose
MARCH1 11,
over the fence to your neighbor.
Today, when conflict flares, we will look first to those in
the neighborhood of the crisis to act on their own--or at the
very least in concert with us. It is difficult to see how others
will expect to persuade the United States to act when danger is
distant while they refrain when danger is at hand.
Our assessment of the situation in the former Yugoslavia
could well change. The stakes could rise, the conflict could
threaten to spread, potential coalition partners might decide to
increase what they would be prepared to contribute. Indeed, we
are reassessing our options, and are actively consulting with
others about additional military steps that might be taken to
contain the fighting, protect the humanitarian effort, and deny
Serbia the fruits of aggression.
7
Military force is never a tool to be used lightly or
universally; in some circumstances it may be essential, in others
counter-productive. I know that many people would like to find
some formula to apply, to tell us when and where to intervene
with force. But in the complex new world we are entering, there
can be no single or simple set of fixed rules for using force.
Inevitably, the question of military intervention requires
judgment; each and every case is unique. To adopt rigid criteria
would guarantee mistakes involving American interests and
American lives. It would give would-be troublemakers a blueprint
for determining their own actions; it would signal U.S. friends
and allies that our support was not to be counted upon.
Similarly, we cannot always decide in advance which
interests will require our using military force to protect them.
The relative importance of an interest is not a guide: military
force may not be the best way of safeguarding something vital,
while using force might be the best way to protect an interest
that qualifies as important but less than vital.
But to warn against a futile quest for a set of hard and
fast rules to govern the use of military force is not to say
there cannot be some principles to inform our decisions. Such
guidelines can prove useful in sizing and shaping our forces and
in helping us to think our way through this key question.
Using military force makes sense as a policy where the
stakes warrant; where and when force can be effective; where no
other policies are likely to prove as effective; where its
8
application can be limited in scope and time; and where the
potential benefits justify the potential costs and sacrifice.
Once we are satisfied that force makes sense, we must exert
sufficient leadership to see that it is used with the maximum
possible support. We will almost always need some military
contribution from others--be it combat or support forces, access
to facilities and bases, overflight rights. We will also likely
require economic contributions. It is unreasonable to expect the
United States to bear the full financial as well as military
burden of intervention when other nations share in the success of
our efforts. We will also want diplomatic support, where
possible involving the United Nations or some other multinational
grouping.
A desire for international support should not be allowed to
become a prerequisite for acting. Sometimes, a great power has
to act alone. I made the tough decision to use military force in
Panama, when American lives and the security of the Canal
appeared to be threatened by outlaws who stole power in the face
of free elections. Similarly, we did what we had to to safeguard
democracy in the Philippines.
But in every case involving the use of force, it will be
essential to have a clear and achievable mission; a realistic
plan for accomplishing the mission; and criteria no less
realistic for withdrawing U.S. forces once the mission is
complete. Only if we keep these principles in mind will the
potential sacrifice be one that can be explained and justified.
9
We must never forget that using force is not some political
abstraction, but a real commitment of our fathers and mothers,
sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, friends and neighbors.
In order even to have the choice, we must have available
adequate military forces tailored for a wide range of
contingencies, including peacekeeping. Indeed, leading the
effort to bring about a new world order will require a modern,
capable military, in some areas necessitating more rather than
le
less defense spending. As President, I have said that my ability
to deploy force on behalf of U.S. interests abroad reflects
countless decisions of past presidents- in particular, my
predecessor, Ronald Reagan--and past secretaries of defense.
Consistent with this sacred trust, I am proud to pass on to my
successor a military second to none. 11
Yet it is essential to recognize that as important as such
factors are, any military is more than simply the sum of its
weapons or the state of its technology. What makes any armed
force truly effective is the quality of its leadership, the
quality of its training, and the quality of its people.
We have succeeded abroad in no small part because of our
people in uniform. The men and women in our armed forces have
demonstrated their ability to master the challenges of modern
warfare. At the same time, and whether on the battlefield of
Iraq or in some small village in Somalia, America's soldiers have
always brought a quality of caring and kindness to their mission.
Who will ever forget those terrified Iraqi soldiers surrendering
d Its ohays
10
to American troops? Who will forget the way that American
you'ver
after
soldier held out his arms and said, "We will not hurt you. Or
in Somalia, the young marine, eyes filled with tears, holding the
fragile arm of an emaciated child.
There can be no doubt about it: the All Volunteer Force is
one of the true success stories of modern day America.
It is instructive to look at just why this is so. At its
heart, a voluntary military is based upon choice: the decision
freely taken by young men and women to join, the decision by more
mature men and women to remain.
The institution of the armed forces has thrived on its
commitment to developing and promoting excellence. It is
meritocracy in action. Race and religion and wealth and
- wayne : Earth Earth -
background count not. Indeed, the military offers many examples
for the rest of society, showing what can be done to eradicate
the scourge of drugs, to break down the barriers of racial
discrimination, to offer equal opportunity to women. And I have
no doubt that with time the military will set the standard for
the enlightened treatment of other minorities.
This is not just a result of self-selection. It also
reflects the military's commitment to education and training.
People speak of defense conversion, the process by which defense
firms retool for civilian tasks. Well, defense conversion within
the military has been going on for years. It is the constant
process of training and retraining, which the military does so
well, that allows individuals to keep up with the latest
11
technology, take on more challenging assignments, and prepare for
life on the outside. (of what)
Out of this culture of merit and competition have emerged
hundreds of thousands of highly skilled men and women brimming
with real self-confidence. What they possess is a special mix of
discipline--a willingness to accept direction--and confidence, a
]oûr
willingness to accept responsibility. Together, discipline and
confidence provide the basis for winning, for getting the job
done.
There is no higher calling, no more honorable choice, than
Makes it grund like they decided today
the one you here today have made. To join the armed forces is to
be prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice for your country and
for your fellow man. The fact that you have chosen to do so,
that you have volunteered to be where you are today, only makes
it that much more worthy.
What you have done, what you are doing, sends an important
message, one that I fear sometimes gets lost amidst today's often
materialist, self-interested culture. It is important to
remember, it is important to demonstrate, that there is a higher
purpose to life beyond one's self. I speak of family, of
community, of ideals. I speak of duty, honor, country.
There are many forms of contributing to this country, of
public service. Yes, there is government. There is
volunteerism, the thousand points of light. And there are the
daily tasks that require doing--in our classrooms, our hospitals,
our cities, our farms. All can and do represent a form of
12
service. But none is greater or more worthy than yours.
This was what I wanted to share on this occasion. You are
beginning your service to country; I am ending mine. Exactly
X
X
X
X
half a century ago, in June, 1942, I was graduating from high
X
X
X
X
school. The speaker that day at Andover was Henry Stimson then
Secretary of War His message was one of public service, but
with a twist--on the importance of finishing one's schooling
before going off to fight for one's country.
I listened closely to what he had to say; I examined
carefully the arguments he advanced. He may have been right, but
I chose to ignore him--just as I expect a few of you might ignore
me today. You see, that day was my eighteenth birthday. When
the commencement ceremony ended, I put off plans for college,
went to Boston, and enlisted in the Navy. And I never regretted
it. 11
You, too, have signed up. You, too, will never regret it.
I salute you for it.
Fortunately, because of the sacrifices made in years before
and still being made, you should be able to complete this phase
of your education. A half century has passed since I left school
to serve my country; a half century has passed since that day
when Stimson spoke of the challenge of creating a new world.
You will also be entering a new world, one far better than
the one I came to know a world with the potential to be far
better yet. This is the challenge, this is the opportunity, of
your lifetimes. I envy you for it, and wish you Godspeed.
WESTPOINT ACKS:
DAIS:
FLOTUS
MRS. [GRACIE] GRAVES
CADET FIRST CAPTAIN SHAWN DANIEL, First Captain, US
Corps of Cadets
SEC. of Army [MICHAEL] STONE, Secretary of the Army
GEN. [GORDON] SULLIVAN, Chief of Staff of the Army
Brad Blakeman said add:
GEN. SCOWCROFT [Westpoint alum, added to
dais]
GEN. [ROBERT] FOLEY, Commandant of the
Cadets
GEN. [GERALD] GALLOWAY, Dean of the
Military Academy
POTUS INTRO: GEN. HOWARD GRAVES, Superintendent, US Military
Academy
GENERIC: and the members of the Board of Visitors -- and of
course -- the Corps of Cadets
Blabam Brad
Acks:
(Pusty)
Asec. of Army stone
Van. Sulliva
6m 5 Mrs Grans
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Gen. Coallown/ the
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Corn. Scowerft
Alim
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6-12-42
signal up for
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on 18th birth
Jan 12, 1942
lookin
10:30 o'clock
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Common Orogram
sworn-in 6-12-42
on the sam day of
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EXECUTIVE OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT
OFFICE OF ADMINISTRATION
Boston Area
\
-papers
Fim
- yale Univ. (203)432-1775 Libiany
1
3611
vetok, Dennis
L
(probably "special collections)
Has his mss. mane/archives
[-No - speecher writings 7 Ia. ton (2032-1744
- andover that, Society Bill Massa
(508) 475-2236
after Ipm.
12on Mon.
Dolti Baily Peg Hughes.
- memorial VOUNTEER stall Lebrary (andover)
(508) 475-6960
"local history 1/
-' VIC GOLD - WHITE ADUSE OPERATOR
(202) 296-3600
703-998-7711
THE 14, 1942
1
-TWAR DEPARTMENT @ STATE DEPT.
DOD- - OLD WAR DEPT. DEPT- OF ARMY
HISTORICAL SECTION
TAB I
WEST POINT, NEW YORK
Eisenhower Hall
Address Corps of Cadets
Dais Diagram
Tuesday, January 5, 1993
and the Corps of Cachts
Cadet Seating
Cadet Seating
Cadet Seating
12 3 4 5
67
West Point
United States
Faculty
X
Military Academy
Band
not cadets
BOARD OF FRUSTEES
VISITORS
Teleprompter
1. Mrs. Bush
2. Mrs. Graves (GRACIE)
3. Cadet First Captain Shawn Daniel
4. THE PRESIDENT
5. General Graves
6. Secretary Stone
7. General Sullivan
KEY:
8. Gen. Scrowcroft (alum)
THE PRESIDENT
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
January 4, 1993
MEMORAMDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
FROM:
DAN MC GROARTY Dur
SUBJECT:
GRADUATION DAY FROM ANDOVER
Imagine my relief: It was June 12.
Please see the attached.
Jan 2708]
Adm.
Speech@
Gen. Stimson- Andover
transangst of talk/commencerne.nT
- 1942-
Vic Gold
-
]
general account
Phings A Academy
Jan Primisks
Melica Tavilla
Spine adreans atmissions Director
(Phillips (Andover)
Frank Diclementin GB Sociol Coach
store wises then
508-475-3222
- Don MCNemar-
(Headmaster 528-475-3460 ) yearbook
Jam Monroe
Stimson Advises Waiting For Draft
War Secretary Praises Morale, Awards Phillips
Remember
Diplomas To 213; Clark Wins Scholastic Prize
Thirteen local boys, the largest
and when the great function falls
local representation in a Phillips
to you.
Academy graduating class in sev-
"I wish you good luck, and may
eral years, were among the 213 re-
ceiving their diplomas from Secre-
meeting."
JUNE
DAD
God bless you all at this, our last
tary of War Henry L. Stimson at
1500 BOYS IN SERVICE
the commencement exercises in
Cochran chapel last Friday morn-
Dr. Claude M. Fuess, speaking a
ing. They were William S. Barn-
final word to the class after the
Day
ard, George Brown, Jr., Lincoln D.
presentation of diplomas to student
Clark, Willet L. Eccles, Jr., Gordon
marshals by Secretary Stimson,
B. Elliot, Jr., Warren Arthur
told them that "more than 1500
Practico
Lewis, Russell H. Lord, Jr., James
boys whose diplomas I have signed
McMahon, Allan L. Northam, Frank
are now being tested on many
Gifts
R. Strong, Philip R. Toohey, Gerard
fronts for loyalty and courage, and
N. Twomey, and Vasco E. Nunez,
they are nobly meeting their re-
Jr.
sponsibilities. Your own class of
Choose from many Ties of true distinction
1942 is warm in my heart, for we
Lincoln D. Clark of 4 Stirling
50c,
street received one of the five ma-
have gone through much together.
Four years ago, we were lukewarm
jor awards made annually at Phil-
to world affairs, but now we are all
Summer Weight Pajamas
lips on Commencement Day, win-
keenly interested in a modern and
Button front or pullover middy styles
ning the Faculty prize, awarded to
momentous crusade for the great-
the member of the graduating class
est issue the world has ever
Broadcloth Sport Shirts
who has maintained the highest
known."
average in scholarship.
"This is no time for sentiment
Men's Socks 29c pr., 4 pr. $1.00. Also
Among 17 boys initiated into
or tears," he concluded, "and I say
Regular length or anklets with elastic tops
Cum Laude, Phillips honorary
again: you are no Lost Generation,
scholastic society, was William S.
you will never complain or retreat.
Men's Shirts
Barnard of Andover. Seniors
Be strong in the Lord and in
What better gift and look at the price.
elected to the society earlier in the
His might. You will not. fail your
year included Lincoln D. Clark,
country, and you will be true to
Russell H. Lord, Jr., and Gerard N.
MANY MORE GIFTS FOR FATH
yourselves and worthy of this
Twomey of Andover.
great school."
Mr. Stimson, in his first visit here
Billfolds - Key Cases - Shaving Se
since the outbreak of the war, de-
DR. SEYMOUR'S ADDRESS
livered a rather surprising message
President Charles Seymour of
Fountain Pens - Handkerchiefs
to the assembly, advising the new.
Yale, delivering the Cum Laude ad-
graduates not to volunteer for ac-
dress, said that "there is only one
tive service, but to wait their call
topic worthy of discussion, the way,
from "a step in legislation we have
the men graduating today should
taken which did not exist in earlier
meet their new obligations Yet
The Irma Beene SH
days, the selective service law,
no man, old or young, can answer
drawn with great care to actually
the question, 'how am I to live my
Jain Street
select citizens for the most useful
life' for another. The answer must
part they can play in this great test
be given by the individual, based
of war." Mentioning that the gradu-
on his circumstances, good or
ating class members were un-
bad."
doubtedly "straining at the leash
Sketching the details of the
to get into the fray," he told them
achievements of St. Francis of As-
Pleasant Scents to Pleas
that "you, with all our young men,
sisi, Joan of Arc and Lawrence of
are face to face with the approach
Arabia, all of whom did unpre-
Ever catch the old man, when he thought he was
of that most difficult and danger-
cedented things and achieved an
kind of idling through mom's perfume bottles?
ous, but noble task of citizenship-
almost unbelievable success, Dr.
the service of your country in war."
a typical American Dad, you have. Well, that she
Seymour said that such careers
all you need, to know that he does like pretty
Saying that the problems of war
were to be viewed, not as physical
and though he wouldn't like to be caught buyin
had grown more complicated as our
miracles or grand adventures, but
for himself, he'll bless you for some of the pl
civilization has grown so, Mr.
as the results of long and rig-
masculine-scented shaving accoutrements listed
Stimson warned that such problems
orous processes of self-discipline.
could not be solved by having
"Though separated by centuries,
Old Spice Shave Soap-in Pottery Mug
everyone rush into, for instance,
these three people were great be-
Old Spice Shave Set-Shave Soap, After-shavin
the field of aviation. "We have a
cause they dared to reject conven-
Lotion, Talcum
future America to think of" he said.
tions and win their own personal
Old Spice After-shaving Lotion
"The problem of the creation of a
freedom, not by luck or courage,
Old Spice Set-Lotion and Shave Cream
new world, now crumbling around
but by the development of their per-
Yardley Shaving Bowl
us, awakens the need- for trained
sonal characteristics.
Yardley After-shave Lotion
men to build it up again."
"There was never a time when
the country SO needed men of char-
Domestic and Havana Cigars-Boxes of 25 and
TRAINED MEN NEEDED
acter to make its decisions. As
favorite Tobacco.
"For now," he continued, "do
what is chosen for you by others,
General Hugh Drum has said, 'the
army needs resourceful and highly-
and do not act on your own im-
THE HARTIGAN PHARM
educated men, simply because they
pulses. We are all needed, and you,
know how to think.'
THE REXALL STORE
as trained men, will be better
equipped than those without train-
TO WIN THE PEACE
You May Pay Your Telephone Bill Here
ing."
"If we are to beat the Axis, we
"When you do go into the service
must have first-rate men as well as
of your country, you will go as
first-rate machines. This is even
members of a splendid fellowship.
more true of the peace to follow,
The present army of the United
which we must also win. The after-
SEVEN ROOM COLONIAL HOUSE
Hallm
States is a grand army. Even now,
math of the last war was not due to
before leaving this country, they
the treaty of peace; the opportu-
Centrally located; 2 car gar-
GREETING
are performing a great service.
nity might have been capitalized.
age; all modern conveniences;
Only a year ago, people were ask-
The ideals of individual freedom
choice bargain for early buyer.
foi
ing 'how good is the morale of our
were lost in the easy-going mater-
army?' Now they refrain from ask-
ialism of the 20's, a period in which
ing such a question, since the army
men forgot that freedom must be
Father
is giving morale to the nation.
paid for."
"An American soldier has very
"This war must result in a guar-
W. S. BARNARD
high standards; he is brave with-
anteed freedom for all nations to
out descending to brutality and
Cor. Main and Barnard Streets
live their own lives. A price must
cruelty, self-confident to the high-
TEMP
be paid. We cannot choose the
Telephone 66
est extent, but not boastful and
arrogant. Keep this in mind if
(Continued on Page 4)
Published Thursday by Elmer J. Grover' at The Townsman Press, Inc., 4 Park Street, Andover, Mass. Assoc
THE ANDOVER TOWNSMAN C. Moynihan. Entered as Second Class Matter at the Andover Post Office. Price, 5 cents per copy, $2.00 a
ANDOVER TOWNSMAN, JUNE 18, 1942.
Provided by Ms. Dorothy E. Bailey,
Andover Historical Society
97 Main Street, Andover, MA 01810
(508) 475-2236
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
January 4, 1993
MEMORANDUM FOR THE PRESIDENT
FROM:
DAN MC GROARTY Dmr
SUBJECT:
GRADUATION DAY FROM ANDOVER
Imagine my relief: It was June 12.
Please see the attached.
THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
January 4, 1993
MEMORANDUM FOR DAN MC GROARTY
FROM:
JEANNIE BUNTON
SUBJECT:
POTUS GRADUATION / NAVY SWEARING-IN DATES
The following information is documented by the attached:
6/12/42: George Bush's 18th birth date. GB signed up for
the Naval Reserves. Sworn in by Walter Levering in Boston. He
was home for the summer.
["President George Bush's Navy Days," drafted
by Desiree Thompson, updated by Don Rhodes
and Lt. Curry Graham / from Jan Burmeister
records.]
The Phillips Academy "Order of Exercises" program for the
President's graduation is dated June 12, 1942. [See attached /
from Jan Burmeister records.]
Also, Sec. Stimson's notes for his remarks at Andover,
provided to me by Andover Archives are dated June 12, 1942. [See
attached.]
"June 12, 1942: Sec. of War Stimson, an alumnus of Andover,
spoke at our commencement
on the same day, my 18th
birthday, I was sworn into the Navy as a Seaman Second
Class "* [See attached.]
[Summer 1989 article in Life Magazine
entitled, "A Boy Goes to War,' under the
President's by-line. From Jan Burmeister
records.]
* Similar reference is made on page 30 of Looking Forward.
Andover
Phillips Academy Andover, Massachusetts 01810-4166 Telephone: (508) 749-4000
FAX TRANSMITTAL
PHILLIPS ACADEMY, ANDOVER, MASSACHUSETTS
DATE: December 3,1992
TIME: 11:15 AM
TO:
Jeannie Bunton
FROM:
Melissa Tavilla
NUMBER OF PAGES (INCLUDING THIS COVER SHEET):
2
DESCRIPTION OF MATERIAL BEING FAXED:
Remarks made by Admiral Henry Stimson,
Secretary of War, at Phillips Acadery's
commencement exercises in 1942.
FAX NUMBER BEING SENT TO:
202-456-6218
FAX NUMBER BEING SENT FROM:
508-749-4010
OPERATOR:
Melissa Tavilla
IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS TRANSMISSION,
PLEASE CALL 508-749-4001
2
1
In advence of Special Hasm:
Since last talk war
await call.
are straining on leash
That is general rule of daty
Honorable impulse
what when you go
nothing but praise
But - Word of caution
En in oplendid company
Expand. Effict on
End of was is not End
tyme- citizens and Elders.
of problems or duty
Characters his of am. Soldri
Future americas needs
Brave writiont Bruial.
Educated men
wishout Boashing
Sad case foll morons
Bromes a part of irrestible
object of Selective Sensie
might without Coasing taink
in indusidual lebaring
To fit Each man according
qualtyr Q
to call of duty -
w with yin
america does not need acc
aviators
NOTES OF HLS FOR TALK AT COMMENCEMENT
EXERCISES AT PHILLIPS ACADEMY ON
JUNE 12, 1942.
IE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON
TO WAR
ES
GOES
A BOY
KIVSHZAINNY
experiences by President Bush.
Descr:Exact documation of WWII and Navy
Date:Summer Summer 1989
War. by: George Bush
Article: LIFE Magazine A Boy Goes to
FOR
over,
IR
August
1945, 59 nations had been drawn into the struggle The supprise
dented carnage extended from Europe and the Soriel Union to Am-
OR and Azia in six years more than 45 million were killed and the
lises of millions more were catastrophically durupled The work
immediate aftermath NEW & skill in the international balance of
power and 6 reconstitution of the political map. On the assistersary
ofthis last great war, B natable U.S. seleran recalls his experience.
AB
by GEORGE BUSH
December 7. 1941
I was walking across the campus at Andover when I heard the
news. 1 was 17. It came as a shock-a joil-an swakening. I
did not fully comprehend world affairs. My interests were our
undefeated soccer season just finished. basketball-baseball
GO
coming up. Christmas vacation only a couple of weeks away.
graduation. then college. Things changed instantly. I knew
right then that 1 wanted to go into the service.
December 8, 1941
Our headmaster. a great historian and tough disciplinariar.
summoned us all into George Washington Hall. the school's
assembly place. There was the normal joking. kidding. sloppy
TO
posture. Dr. Claude M. Fuess called to order the 800 students
by saying something like this: "Your country IS at war. We
have just played The Star-Spangled Banner.' From now or
when The Star-Spangled Banner' 13 played you will stand E:
attention, hands at your sides, and you will show respect."
From that day on. without fail, I have stood at attention
when the national anthem IS played.
June 12. 1942
Secretary of War Henry Sumson. an alumnus of Andover.
spoke at our commencement. He encouraged the graduating
class to get some college education before serving. I was deter
mined not to go on to college but to become a Navy pilot. See-
retary Stimson was a towering world figure. but 1 wondered
about this call of his
On the same day, my 18th birthday. I was sworn IDIC
the Navy as a Seaman Second Class. the first step toward
becoming 3 pilot. I was a scared. nervous kid. The Novy had
just changed the rules. It no longer required two years of cut
lege before becoming a pilot; pilots were urgently needec
Walter Levering, Lieutenant USNR. swore me in at Bostor
FIFTY YEAR
I went on active duty as an aviation cadet Augus! 6. 1942.
August 6, 1942
BEGAN. PRI
I climbed on a southbound train at Penn Station. My dad was
a big. strong guy. He put his arm around me and said good-
THE LAST II
bye. I'd never seen my dad shed a tear before. We arrived n.
Chapel Hill, N.C., and I met The Splendid Splinter." Teo
Williams of the Boston Red Sox, who later became a grea:
TO FIGHT IN
friend. We all stood in awe of the famous hitter who was #
the same program.
June 1943
Having been stationed at Chapel Hill for preflight. Minne
apolis for primary training and Corpus Christi for advanced
I received my Navy wings and ensign's commission June 9.)
was still 18 years old. 1 wanted to fly in combat. All my class-
mates wanted to as well 1 fell in love early on with the "los
and slow" torpedo bombers. The Grumman Avenger carriec
2,000 pounds of bombs. the biggest single-engine aircraft a
Opposite Late in 15:41
the fleet. It had a crew of three. I went off to For Lauder-
combol citizen 1931
dale to learn to fly it Training up and down the East Coast
was part of a haval'air's
dropping torpedoes off Cape Cod. dummy bombs and torpe-
filled out his Hightleg 2
ORDER OF EXERCISES
AT
EXHIBITION
PHILLIPS ACADEMY
Andover, Massachusetts
JUNE 12, 1942, AT 10:30 o'CLOCK A.M.
ONE HUNDRED AND SIXTY-FOURTH YEAR
THE ANDOVER PRESS
1942
AWARDING OF DIPLOMAS
A FINAL WORD TO THE CLASS
CLAUDE MOORE FUESS
CLASS OF 1942
Aaron, Henry Osborne
defferenneille, Ind.
Adams, William Alexander, Jr.
Shanghai, China
Aikman, William Oakley
Cazenoria, N. I.
Ames, Richard McCurdy
Old Lyme, Conn.
Andrews, Edwin Carlos, Jr.
Buffalo, N. Y.
Arnold, Stuart
Briardif Manor, N. I'.
Bacon, Carter Smith
Hinnetka, III.
Badger, Carlton Mills
Greenwich, Conn.
Bailey, George Raney, Jr.
Englewood. N. J.
Bancker, Robert Kirkus
Summit, N.J.
Barnard. William Sprague
Andone-
Barrett, Norman Whitton
Clavemont, Calif.
Barrow, Thomas Davies
Houston, Texas
Batchelor, Dudley Bowman
Kansas City, Mo.
Bauman, William Allen
New Rochelle, N. I.
Beck. Alfred Elwin. Jr.
Lawrence
Beggs, James Judson
Portland. Ore.
Bentley. William Bancroft Anderton
Laurence. L. 1., N. I.
Biglow, Lucius Horatio, Jr.
Old Lyme, Conn.
Bissell, Charles Spencer, Jr.
Suffield, Conn.
Bitting. Kenneth Hills, Jr.
Clayton, Mo.
Bixby, William Keeney, 2d
Clayton, Mo.
Blackall, Frederick Steele, 3d
Woonsocket, R. I.
Boone, Olin Pickett
Bayside, L. 1., N. Y.
Brady. Frank
Wellesley Hills
Brayton. James Flint
Englemood. N. J.
Brown, David Williams
Dorer, N. H.
Brown. George Gibson, Jr.
Andorer
Brown, William Farrar
Lawrence
Bush, George Herbert Walker
Greemwich, Conn.
Butler, Stuart Markle, Jr.
St. Lowis, Mo.
Calder. Benjamin Glanton
Bronzeille, N. Y.
Carr. John Wesley, 2d
Flushing. L. 1., N. Y.
Carrington, James Harrison Hewes
Riverside, Conn.
Carter, John Avery
Nashwa. N.H.
Chavchavadse, David
Wallflect
Clark, Lincoln Dufton
Andoser
Cochran, John Thomes
Canovanas, Puerto Rico
Coffin, William Sloane
Yarmouthport
Contarino, Angelo Robert
Methuen
LOOKING
ABOUT THE CO-AUTHOR
VICTOR GOLD is a Washington journalist and author who served
as a senior consultant on Vice President Bush's staff during the
FORWARD
1980 and 1984 presidential campaigns.
George Bush
with Victor Gold
b
TM
BANTAM BOOKS
NEW YORK TORONTO . LONDON . SYDNEY AUCKLAND
June 1942
Looking Forward
31
30
George Bush
trainees-the youngest aviator in the Navy when I got my
When the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, December 7,
wings. To make matters worse, I looked younger than I
1941, there wasn't any doubt which branch of the service I'd
actually was-enough to make me self-conscious. When
join. My thoughts immediately turned to naval aviation.
Barbara came to visit-she was on her way to school in
College was coming up the following fall, but that would
South Carolina-I even asked her to stretch the calendar,
have to wait. The sooner I could enlist, the better.
add a few months to her age, and tell anybody who asked
Six months later I got my diploma from Phillips Acad-
that she was eighteen, not seventeen.
emy Andover. Secretary of War Henry Stimson came from
We'd met six months before, at a Christmas dance. I'm
Washington to deliver the commencement address. He told
not much at recalling what people wear, but that particular
members of our graduating class the war would be a long
occasion stands out in my memory. The band was playing
one, and even though America needed fighting men, we'd
Glenn Miller tunes when I approached a friend from Rye,
serve our country better by getting more education before
New York, Jack Wozencraft, to ask if he knew a girl across
getting into uniform.
the dance floor, the one wearing the gréen-and-red holiday
After the ceremony, in a crowded hallway outside the
dress. He said she was Barbara Pierce, that she lived in Rye
auditorium, my father had one last question about my fu-
and went to school in South Carolina. Would I like an intro-
ture plans. Dad was an imposing presence, six feet four,
duction? I told him that was the general idea, and he intro-
with deep-set blue-gray eyes and a resonant voice.
duced us, just about the time the bandleader decided to
"George," he said, "did the Secretary say anything to
change tempos, from fox trot to waltz. Since I didn't waltz,
we sat the dance out. And several more after that, talking
change your mind?"
"No, sir," I replied. "I'm going in."
and getting to know each other.
Dad nodded and shook my hand.
It was a storybook meeting, though most couples that
On my eighteenth birthday, I went to Boston and was
got serious about each other in those days could say the
sworn into the Navy as a Seaman Second Class. Not long
same about the first time they met. Young people in the late
thereafter, I was on a railway coach headed south for Navy
1930s and early '40s were living with what modern psychol-
ogists call heightened awareness, on the edge. It was a time
preflight training in North Carolina.
of uncertainty, when every evening brought dramatic radio
newscasts-Edward R. Murrow from London, William L.
I'd joined up to fly, and like the piano student who
Shirer from Berlin-reporting a war we knew was headed
didn't see why he couldn't begin his lessons playing Rhap-
our way.
sody in Blue, I was gung ho to strap on the leather helmet
In the eight months that passed from that first meeting
and goggles the day I arrived at Chapel Hill. Because of the
until her visit to Chapel Hill, Barbara and I had progressed
pilot shortage, the Navy had trimmed its aviator training
from simply being "serious," to meeting and spending time
course to ten months, but there weren't any shortcuts. It
with each other's families-a fairly important step for teen-
would be months before I'd finally climb into a Stearman
agers in those days. After I got my wings and went into
N-2S trainer-the Navy's "Yellow Peril," a two-cockpit,
advanced flight training, we took the next important step. In
August of 1943, she joined the Bush summer convocation in
open-air special. Even then I got the impression that my
Maine where, between boating and fishing excursions, we
instructor thought I was still too fuzz-faced to trust with an
were secretly engaged. Secret, to the extent that the German
expensive piece of Navy equipment.
and Japanese high commands weren't aware of it. That De-
Looking through old scrapbooks at photos taken at the
cember we went public with our engagement, though we
time, I can't say I blame him. I was younger than the other
PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH'S NAVY DAYS
in chronological
order
Drafted by: Desiree Thompson, updated by: Don Rhodes & Lt. Curry Graham
6/12/42
George Bush's 18th birth date. GB signed. up for the Nava
reserves. Sworn in by Walter Levering in Boston. He was
home for the summer.
8/5/42 - to
Reported for pre-flight training at Chapel Hill North
11/1/42
Carolinia. Lived on University of North Carolina Campus
in Lewis Hall.
11/2/42
Took 3 days for rest and travel for next assignment.
11/5/42
Was sent to Wold Chamberlain Field in Minneapolis, MN
for flight training.
11/10/42
1st flight took place in Minnesota.
2/1/43
1st night-time solo flight.
2/19/43
Total flying hours out of MN 82.5 hours and 61 flights.
3/43 - to
Advanced flight training in Texas NAS Corpus Christi-
6/9/43
to begin checkout in SNV-1 Vultee AKA "Vibrator".
Practiced: precision landings, acrobatic flying, division
tactics, gunnery, advanced fixed gunnery, etc.
3/11/43
Soloed in the SNC-1 Vultee "Vibrator".
6/9/43
Received his Gold Wings and officially became a Naval
Aviator at age: 18 years, 11 months, 27 days.
6/11/43 - to
Was sent to Aviation Training Department at NAS Fort
8/23/43
Lauderdale, FL. There he learned to fly and operate
Gruman 44. TBF torpedo "Avenger". He was with flight squadror
6/18/43 - to
8/43
Accumulated 91 hours of TBF "Avenger" training.
8/24/43
With in a 2 day period, GB was qualified for carrier land-
ings aboard a paddlewheel carrier called the USS Sable, or.
Lake Michigan. There he practiced deck run takeoffs and
carrier landings. Total flight hours were 234.7 hours.
con't
9/19/43
Assigned to VC-51 (VC stands for Aviation Composite),
and VF ( Aviation Fighter) 13 pilots - 32 total enlisted
men.
9/43
Reported to his 1st Fleet Squadron VC-51 based at NAS
Norfolk, flying TBF's - TBM-IC's - TMB "Avenger". Assign
as Photo Graphic Officer during coming months of combat.
9/19/43
Under command of Lt. Commander Donald J. Melvin USNR.
GB began Squadron Flying.
9/43 - to
VT-51 Torpedo Squadron was moving from Norfolk to various
11/43
set east coast bases for additional training: Chincoteagu-
Virginia on 9/27. Hyannis, MA and Charlstown RI.
11/1/43
While flying in Hyannis MA (?), GB had his first aircraft
accident. "The wheels collapsed upon landing".
11/15/43
GB was joined by radioman Second Class Jack Delaney from
Rhode Island who would fly as his radioman.
11/17/43
Leo W. Nadeau also joined the George Bush crew as his
gunner.
12/43
VT-51 was assigned to fast light carrier the USS San Jaci:
1/24/44
Made 3 carrier landings on San Jacinto, two more the
following day and another Jan. 28th.
3/24/44
Returned to Norfolk, Virginia.
3/44
Made 2 night carrier landings on small escort carrier
called USS Charger.
3/44
VT-51 was then moved aboard San Jacinto through Panama
Canal to Pacific arriving in Hawaii.
4/20/44
GB flew to Kaneohe, via Ford Islands.
5/15/44
Returned to San Jacinto to under take first combat mission
The Essex and Wasp were supporting cruisers and destroyers
5/15/44
Enroute, VT-51 suffered first operational loss in combat
area. Ensign J.J. Wykes and Air Crewman R.E. Whelan and
C.I. Haggard declared MIA when their "Avernger" failed
to return.
5/18&19/44
GB made 1st combat flights attacking targets on Marcus
Island and May 23rd targets on Wake Island.
6/13/44
Pre-dawn lanch from San Jacinto, GB experienced a complete
board. hydraulic failure and made and emergency landing back on
Cont
E748
583H63
WH
THE
COLONEL
The Life and Wars of
Henry Stimson
1867-1950
Godfrey Hodgson
X
Alfred A. Knopf
New York
1990
THE COLONEL
ed of the furnishings"
rerely. But he acknowl-
VI
ality and that their in-
ing through luncheon
) New York, was "very
The
mmediate question of
Organizer of
bing Republican Secre-
ratic President on the
Victory*
Manchuria to disarma-
Philippines. Roosevelt,
subjects he discussed,
Gabriel, lead forth to Battel these my sons
[ was to grow into the
Invincible, lead forth my armèd Saints
Stimson's life.
By Thousands and by Millions rang'd for fight.
ert Hoover up on the
Milton, Paradise Lost, Book VI, 11. 46-48
Stimson they would
Geographically and historically Bolero [the code name
it knowing it, as the
for a frontal attack on Germany across the English
shield, he had begun
Channel] was the easiest road to the center of our
ration to the next.
chief enemy's heart.
Henry L. Stimson, Diary, June 19, 1942
My faith rests upon my belief that there is a Power
in the universe that makes for righteousness and that
Power cannot allow such a clear issue of right and
wrong to go the wrong way.
Henry L. Stimson, Diary, July 1942
I
n the fateful month of June 1940, as German Panzers entered Paris
and Marshal Pétain formed a government and went to Hitler for an
armistice, Henry Stimson took a week off from his legal work that, at
least for him, was also to be fateful. On June 12, which was a Wednes-
day, he took the train from New York via Boston to his old school at June
14th,
1942
Andover, Massachusetts. The next day he wrote the commencement
address he had been asked to give, and on Friday he delivered it to an
audience of boys who included the future President George Bush. He
told them that a civilization built up over four centuries was under
*Lazare known Carnot, one of the members of the Directory which governed France from
the was as l'organisateur de la victoire after his arrest was ordered and a deputy cried 1795 to out 1797 in
Assembly: "Will you dare to lay hands on the man who has organized victory?"
214
THE COLONEL
The Organizer of Victory
attack, and that in particular the Christian principle of the equal value
of every human personality was in danger. But, he said, when he looked
he had, and Stimson th
at their faces, he was filled not with pity but with the desire to con-
indicated that he had n
gratulate them that they had been placed at a moment of great oppor-
his Assistant Secretary. T
tunity to choose between good and evil.
Henry Stimson, a lifelor
That night Stimson flew back to Long Island and worked on an
two and in a Democrat
address for the students at Yale on compulsory military training. On
had last accepted twenty
Sunday he and his wife went to New Haven, where they stayed with
Mrs. Stimson's niece, Mrs. Daggett. On Monday he gave his speech
In the summer of
and began work on a talk to be broadcast on Tuesday over NBC radio
from the Daggetts' house on Prospect Street. This radio speech on
grandee. Since 1936 he H
"America's Interest in Britain's Fleet" developed Stimson's by now
lawsuit of his legal career
well-worn theme that the United States could not afford to let Britain
and Transport Company. S
follow France into defeat, not for any sentimental reason'l because
his immigrant father Lo:
America would then be the Nazis' next target. On Wednesday Lune ib
Company, which marke
the Stimsons were driven back to New York, to their rented apartment
trademark, but which wa
in the Hotel Pierre, looking out over Central Park from Fifth Avenue.
panies for those products
It was at his office, at three o'clock that afternoon, that the new call
to Pan American Oil. Ii
to duty came.
would be minority share
It was the President of the United States on the phone. FDR came
hold the majority of the
straight to the point and offered Stimson the job of Secretary of War
give effect to this plan, b
Indiana in effect tore it U
in his Cabinet. As usual, he was pleasant, even ingratiating. He needed
Stimson in his Cabinet as a stabilizing influence, he said, because "ev-
not by Pan American Oil
erybody in Washington was running round at loose ends." He did not
of the modern Exxon).
The Blausteins retai
add that the reason they were doing so lay in his own inspired system
of intentional confusion, which made everyone compete with someone
vised that, while there Wa
else and no one feel safe in his job.
of contract, the Standard
Stimson asked for time to consult a few close friends, and dis-
cessfully sued for breach d
cussed the offer with his wife and with his partners Bronson Winthrop
represented by one of th
and George Roberts. They all urged him to accept. At about seven
John W. Davis, also coun
o'clock he telephoned the White House and asked the President three
ocratic presidential candic
questions.
tally, was Samuel I. Rosen
Had he heard the New Haven radio speech? The President said
favorite speechwriter.)
he had already read it and agreed with it. Did he know that Stimson
The case took four
favored compulsory military service? He did, and he conveyed, with
prising, since it involved r
Rooseveltian evasiveness, the notion that he was "in sympathy" on
of pretrial examinations a
the issue. Finally Stimson asked the President to confirm that Frank
*Patterson, a robust opponent of is
Knox, another strongly anti-isolationist Republican to whom the Pres-
had fought in France in World W.
ident had offered the Navy secretaryship, had accepted. Roosevelt said
German soldier he had killed there
tOn Blaustein, see Winthrop, Stimse
THE COLONEL
The Organizer of Victory
215
principle of the equal value
he had, and Stimson then said yes, too. For good measure, he also
Sut, he said, when he looked
indicated that he had no objection to Judge Robert P. Patterson* as
but with the desire to con-
his Assistant Secretary. Those were the circumstances in which Colonel
t a moment of great oppor-
Henry Stimson, a lifelong Republican, became-at the age of seventy-
two and in a Democratic administration-Secretary of War, a job he
g Island and worked on an
had last accepted twenty-nine years before.
ulsory military training. On
en, where they stayed with
Monday he gave his speech
In the summer of 1940 Henry Stimson was a tired and troubled
on Tuesday over NBC radio
grandee. Since 1936 he had been involved in the biggest and longest
creet. This radio speech on
lawsuit of his legal career. This was Blaustein V. Pan American Petroleum
eveloped Stimson's by now
and Transport Company. Stimson's client was Jacob Blaustein, who, with
ould not afford to let Britain
his immigrant father Louis Blaustein, had founded the American Oil
timental reason but because
Company, which marketed petroleum products under the Amoco
rget. On Wednesday June 19
trademark, but which was dependent on the major oil-producing com-
k, to their rented apartment
panies for those products. The Blausteins had therefore sold their stock
tral Park from Fifth Avenue.
to Pan American Oil. It would be an integrated oil company; they
afternoon, that the new call
would be minority shareholders, and Standard Oil of Indiana would
hold the majority of the stock. An elaborate contract was drawn up to
tes on the phone. FDR came
give effect to this plan, but the moment it was signed, Standard Oil of
the job of Secretary of War
Indiana in effect tore it up, arranging for oil to be shipped and refined
even ingratiating. He needed
not by Pan American Oil, but by Standard Oil of New Jersey (ancestor
uence, he said, because "ev-
of the modern Exxon).
d at loose ends." He did not
The Blausteins retained Stimson, who for technical reasons ad-
y in his own inspired system
vised that, while there was little hope of winning an action for breach
yone compete with someone
of contract, the Standard Oil of Indiana management might be suc-
cessfully sued for breach of their obligations as directors. Standard was
1 few close friends, and dis-
represented by one of the leaders of the American bar at the time,
partners Bronson Winthrop
John W. Davis, also counsel to Standard Oil of New Jersey and Dem-
1 to accept. At about seven
ocratic presidential candidate in 1924. (The judge in the case, inciden-
and asked the President three
tally, was Samuel I. Rosenman, President Roosevelt's close adviser and
favorite speechwriter.)
o speech? The President said
The case took four years to come to trial. That was hardly sur-
C. Did he know that Stimson
prising, since it involved more than 1,000 exhibits, 2,686 printed pages
did, and he conveyed, with
of pretrial examinations and 2,900 pages of printed briefs.t When it
it he was "in sympathy" on
sident to confirm that Frank
*Patterson, a robust opponent of isolationism and a man of the "neo-Hamiltonian" tendency,
tepublican to whom the Pres-
had fought in France in World War I and wore around his waist as a memento the belt of a
German soldier he had killed there.
had accepted. Roosevelt said
tOn Blaustein, see Winthrop, Stimson, Putnam and Roberts: A History of a Law firm, PP. 35-37- I
ANDOVER HISTORICAL SOCIETY
December 8, 1992
Hi,
Just for your information, this article was found in the
ANDOVER TOWNSMAN of June 18, 1942.
Hope this is the information you were searching for.
Good Luck,
Dainy EBailey
Dorothy E. Bailey
97 Main Street
Andover, Massachusetts 01810
(508) 475-2236
Andover Historical Society
97 Main Street
Andover, Massachusetts 01810
08 ESSEX PM DEC 810 MA
Splash
into an
of Fu
1992
Colle
Stamp
29
Ms. Jeannie Bunton
Room 111.5
O. E. O. Building
White House
Washington, D.C.
20500
PAGE 1
27 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 257
Let us learn from them as well. Let us honor those who have served us by
serving others. Let us honor them as individuals -- men and women of every
race, all creeds and colors -- by setting the face of this nation against
discrimination, bigotry, and hate. Eliminate them.
I'm sure that many of you saw on the television the unforgettable scene of
four terrified Iraqi soldiers surrendering. They emerged from their bunker --
broken, tears streaming from their eyes, fearing the worst. And then there was
an American soldier. Remember what he said? He said: "It's okay. You're all
right now. You're all right now." That scene says a lot about America, a lot
about who we are. Americans are a caring people. We are a good people, a
generous people. Let us always be caring and good and generous in all we do.
Soon, very soon, our troops will begin the march we've all been waiting for
-- their march home. And I have directed Secretary Cheney to begin the
immediate return of American combat units from the Gulf. Less than 2 hours from
now, the first planeload of American soldiers will lift off from Saudi Arabia,
headed for the U.S.A. It will carry men and women of the 24th Mechanized
Infantry Division bound for Fort Stewart, Georgia. This is just the beginning
of a steady flow of American troops coming home. Let their return remind us
that all those who have gone before are linked with us in the long line of
freedom's march.
LEVEL 1 - 1 OF 1 DOCUMENT
Public Papers of the Presidents
Address Before a Joint Session of the Congress on the
Cessation of the Persian Gulf Conflict
27 Weekly Comp. Pres. Doc. 257
#APRD# #100T920723SPRDA01#
March 6, 1991
LENGTH: 2792 words
Speaker Foley. Mr. President, it is customary at joint sessions for the Chair to
present the President to the Members of Congress directly and without further
comment. But I wish to depart from tradition tonight and express to you on
behalf of the Congress and the country, and through you to the members of our
Armed Forces, our warmest congratulations on the brilliant victory of the Desert
Storm Operation.
Members of the Congress, I now have the high privilege and distinct honor of
presenting to you the President of the United States.
EXIS:NEXIS®
LEXIS·NEXIS®
LEXIS®NEXIS®
rvices of Mead Data Central, Inc.
R6
1940
WHAC
THE PUBLIC PAPERS
AND ADDRESSES OF
FRANKLIN D.
ROOSEVELT
WITH A SPECIAL INTRODUCTION
AND EXPLANATORY NOTES BY
PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT
PLURIBUS
UNUM
Soo
1940 Volume
WAR-AND AID TO DEMOCRACIES
THE MACMILLAN COMPANY . NEW YORK . 1941
145. Seven Hundred and Second Press Conference
145
The Seven Hundred and Second Press
Conference. December 17, 1940
(Inaugural plans - Building up productive facilities in aiding Great
Britain - Lending arms as a neighbor would lend garden hose to put
out a fire - Construction of naval destroyers - Hours of labor in de-
fense industries.)
THE PRESIDENT: When I came back yesterday I began to note
intimations that this inaugural party was getting out of
hand - all these chairmen, et cetera, trying to make a real
party out of it, and I was trying not to. In other words, sim-
plicity, I still think, should be the keynote; and I am trying
to catch up and find out what people have been doing while
I was away.
Outside of that I have been trying to catch up on quite
a number of other things.
I don't think there is any particular news, except possibly
one thing that I think is worth my talking about. In the
present world situation of course there is absolutely no doubt
in the mind of a very overwhelming number of Americans
that the best immediate defense of the United States is the
success of Great Britain in defending itself; and that, there-
fore, quite aside from our historic and current interest in
the survival of democracy. in the world as a whole, it is equally
important from a selfish point of view of American defense,
that we should do everything to help the British Empire to
defend itself.
I have read a great deal of nonsense in the last few days
by people who can only think in what we may call traditional
terms about finances. Steve [Mr. Early] was asking me about
it this morning, and I thought it was better that I should
talk to you than for Steve to talk to you; but I gave him one
line which he would have used this morning if anybody had
asked him, and that was this: In my memory, and your
604
145. Seven Hundred and Second Press Conference
memory, and in all history, no major war has ever been won
or lost through lack of money.
I remember 1914 very well, and I will give you an illus-
tration: In 1914 I was up at Eastport, Maine, with the fam-
ily the end of July, and I got a telegram from the Navy De-
partment that it looked as if war would break out in Europe
the next day. Actually it did break out in a few hours, when
Germany invaded Belgium. So I went across from the island
and took a train down to Ellsworth, where I got on the Bar
Harbor Express. I went into the smoking room. The smok-
ing room of the Express was filled with gentlemen from
banking and brokerage offices in New York, most of whom
were old friends of mine; and they began giving me their
opinion about the impending world war in Europe. These
eminent bankers and brokers assured me, and made it good
with bets, that there wasn't enough money in all the world
to carry on a European war for more than three months-
bets at even money; that the bankers would stop the war
within six months - odds of 2 to 1; that it was humanly im-
physically impossible - for a European war to last
for six months-odds of 4 to 1; and so forth and so on.
Well, actually, I suppose I must have won those - they were
small, five-dollar bets - I must have made a hundred dollars.
I wish I had bet a lot more.
There was the best economic opinion in the world that
the continuance of war was absolutely dependent on money
in the bank. Well, you know what happened.
Now we have been getting stories, speeches, et cetera, in
regard to this particular war that is going on, which go back
a little bit to that attitude. It isn't merely a question of doing
things the traditional way; there are lots of other ways of
doing them. I am just talking background, informally; I
haven't prepared any of this - I go back to the idea that the
one thing necessary for American national defense is addi-
tional productive facilities; and the more we increase those
605
145. Seven Hundred and Second Press Conference
facilities - factories, shipbuilding ways, munition plants, et
cetera, and so on - the stronger American national defense is.
Orders from Great Britain are therefore a tremendous
asset to American national defense; because they automati-
cally create additional facilities. I am talking selfishly, from
the American point of view - nothing else. Therefore, from
the selfish point of view, that production must be encour-
aged by us. There are several ways of encouraging it - not
just one, as the narrow-minded fellow I have been talking
about might assume, and has assumed. He has assumed that
the only way was to repeal certain existing statutes, like the
Neutrality Act and the old Johnson Act and a few other
things like that; and then to lend the money to Great Britain
to be spent over here - either lend it through private bank-
ing circles, as was done in the earlier days of the previous
war, or make it a loan from this Government to the British
Government.
Well, that is one type of mind that can think only of that
method somewhat banal.
There is another one which is also somewhat banal - we
may come to it, I don't know - and that is a gift; in other
words, for us to pay for all these munitions, ships, plants,
guns, et cetera, and make a gift of them to Great Britain. I
am not at all sure that that is a necessity, and I am not at all
sure that Great Britain would care to have a gift from the
taxpayers of the United States. I doubt it very much.
Well, there are other possible ways, and those ways are
being explored. All I can do is to speak in very general terms,
because we are in the middle of it. I have been at it now three
or four weeks, exploring other methods of continuing the
building up of our productive facilities and continuing au-
tomatically the flow of munitions to Great Britain. I will just
put it this way, not as an exclusive alternative method, but as
one of several other possible methods that might be devised
toward that end.
It is possible- - I will put it that way - for the United
606
145. Seven Hundred and Second Press Conference
States to take over British orders, and, because they are es-
sentially the same kind of munitions that we use ourselves,
turn them into American orders. We have enough money to
do it. And thereupon, as to such portion of them as the mili-
tary events of the future determine to be right and proper for
us to allow to go to the other side, either lease or sell the
materials, subject to mortgage, to the people on the other
side. That would be on the general theory that it may still
prove true that the best defense of Great Britain is the best
defense of the United States, and therefore that these mate-
rials would be more useful to the defense of the United
States if they were used in Great Britain, than if they were
kept in storage here.
Now, what I am trying to do is to eliminate the dollar sign.
That is something brand new in the thoughts of practically
everybody in this room, I think - get rid of the silly, foolish
old dollar sign.
Well, let me give you an illustration: Suppose my neigh-
bor's home catches fire, and I have a length of garden hose
four or five hundred feet away. If he can take my garden
hose and connect it up with his hydrant, I may help him to
put out his fire. Now, what do I do? I don't say to him before
that operation, "Neighbor, my garden hose cost me $15; you
have to pay me $15 for it." What is the transaction that goes
on? I don't want $15-1 want my garden hose back after
the fire is over. All right. If it goes through the fire all
right, intact, without any damage to it, he gives it back to
me and thanks me very much for the use of it. But suppose
it gets smashed up holes in during the fire; we don't
have to have too much formality about it, but I say to him,
"I was glad to lend you that hose; I see I can't use it any
more, it's all smashed up." He says, "How many feet of it
were there?" I tell him, "There were 150 feet of it." He says,
"All right, I will replace it." Now, if I get a nice garden hose
back, I am in pretty good shape.
In other words, if you lend certain munitions and get the
607
145. Seven Hundred and Second Press Conference
munitions back at the end of the war, if they are intact -
haven't been hurt - you are all right; if they have been dam-
aged or have deteriorated or have been lost completely, it
seems to me you come out pretty well if you have them re-
placed by the fellow to whom you have lent them.
I can't go into details; and there is no use asking legal ques-
tions about how you would do it, because that is the thing
that is now under study; but the thought is that we would
take over not all, but a very large number of, future British
orders; and when they came off the line, whether they were
planes or guns or something else, we would enter into some
kind of arrangement for their use by the British on the
ground that it was the best thing for American defense, with
the understanding that when the show was over, we would
get repaid sometime in kind, thereby leaving out the dollar
mark in the form of a dollar debt and substituting for it a
gentleman's obligation to repay in kind. I think you all get it.
Q. Mr. President, that suggests a question, all right; Would the
title still be in our name?
THE PRESIDENT: You have gone and asked a question I have told
you not to ask, because it would take lawyers much better
than you or I to answer it. Where the legal title is would de-
pend largely on what the lawyers say. Now, for example, if
you get mixed up in the legal end of this, you get in all kinds
of tangles. Let me ask you this simple question: You own,
let us say, a house, a piece of property, a farm, and it is not
encumbered in any way - there is no mortgage on it - but
you have had some troubles, and you want to borrow four
or five thousand dollars on it. You go to the bank and you
say, "I want to borrow four or five thousand dollars on my
house or my farm." They say, "Sure; give me a mortgage."
You give them a mortgage, if you think you will be able
to pay it off in three or four years. In your mind you still
think you own your own house; you still think it is your
house or your farm; but from the strictly legalistic point of
view, the bank is the owner. You deed your house over to
608
145. Seven Hundred and Second Press Conference
the bank; you pledge it, like going to the pawnbroker. Let's
take the other side of it: The title to your gold watch is
vested in the pawnbroker. You can redeem it; you can pay
off your mortgage and get title to your house.
On this particular thing-let's say it's a ship - I haven't
the faintest idea at this moment in whom the legal title of
that particular ship would be. I don't think that makes any
difference in the transaction; the point of the transaction is
that if that ship were returned to us in first-class condition,
after payment of what might be called a reasonable amount
for the ship during that time - the other people might
have had a legal title or the title might have remained in us;
I don't know, and I don't care.
Q. Let us leave out the legal phase of it entirely; the question I
have is whether you think this takes us any more into the war
than we are?
THE PRESIDENT: No, not a bit.
Q. Even though goods that we own are being used?
THE PRESIDENT: I don't think you go into a war for legalistic rea-
sons; in other words, we are doing all we can at the present
time.
Q. Mr. President, did you mean naval craft?
THE PRESIDENT: No, no! I am talking about merchant ships.
Q. It is my understanding that this is all for purposes of back-
ground, but at one point here I was wondering whether you
would attribute this to the necessity for facilities and for en-
couragement of production?
THE PRESIDENT: I think you can attribute this - what we have
been talking about - to me.
Q. Mr. President, would we take our own goods abroad?
THE PRESIDENT: What do you mean - take our own goods?
Q. As long as this is being made to our account and we are lend-
ing it to Great Britain, would we deliver the goods in Great
Britain that are going to be used in that way?
THE PRESIDENT: Oh, I suppose it would depend on what flag was
flying at the stern of the ship. You can work it out any way
609
145. Seven Hundred and Second Press Conference
you want. It might be even a Bolivian flag. That question is
a detail.
Q. Would it be an American flag?
THE PRESIDENT: Not necessarily. That would bring up another
subject; that would bring up a subject which might be a
dangerous one, quite frankly, of American sailors and Amer-
ican passengers, et cetera, taking the American flag into a
war zone. You need not worry about that one bit, because
you don't have to send an American flag and an American
crew on an American vessel.
Q. I was backing into the question that this whole theory of
yours doesn't involve amendment of the Neutrality Act.
THE PRESIDENT: Right!
Q. You referred to future orders in this connection; as I under-
stand it, the orders the British have given would go ahead on
the basis of existing contracts and would be paid for?
THE PRESIDENT: Yes, I think so. They have plenty of exchange,
you know. There doesn't seem to be very much of a problem
about payment for existing orders, but there might be a
problem about paying for additions to those orders or for
replacement of those orders now.
Q. Is this a safe conclusion on what you have said, that what the
British are interested in is to have us lend them the supplies?
THE PRESIDENT: That's the point. I am trying to eliminate the
dollar mark.
Q. Does this require Congressional approval?
THE PRESIDENT: Oh, yes, this would require various types of
legislation, in addition to appropriation. Let me give you
an example: Let's take anything - a shell factory; and the
present shell factories are all filled up with orders a year -
two years - ahead; but the British need more shells now, and
the shell manufacturers say, "That is all very well, but we
have got to get a new factory." And the United States Gov-
ernment has ordered several new factories and put up the
money through the R.F.C. or some other way for the capital.
Well, if the British wanted a new factory for additional shells,
610
145. Seven Hundred and Second Press Conference
or went above present orders, if we take that order over we
would do the financing of the factory just the way we have
done it for ourselves, thereby increasing the productive ca-
pacity for turning out shells.
Q. Mr. President, before you loan your hose to your neighbor
you have to have the hose. I was wondering, have you any
plans to build up supplies? There has been a good deal of
discussion about lack of authority to tell a manufacturer he
should run two or three shifts a day. There is no one now
that has that authority.
THE PRESIDENT: Isn't there?
Q. I don't believe so.
THE PRESIDENT: I think so, yes. After all, you have to follow cer-
tain laws of the land. Of course the law is, and always was
that contracts by the Navy, for instance (I used to place a
great many of them in the World War) - should be signed by
the Secretary of the Navy or the Assistant Secretary of the
Navy. Never, in the history of the United States, has that
power been taken away from the two main contracting de-
partments.
That is a pretty important thing to remember. A lot of
people in the last week or two have forgotten that fact. There
never has been one individual in this country, outside of the
Army or Navy, who could do anything more than recom-
mend very strongly that they do thus and so, and supervise
it supervise keeping the program up to date. If the program
is not kept up to date, there are lots of things that have been
done in the past, and would be done in the future. That is
what was done in the World War.
The number of perfectly crazy assertions that have been
made in the last couple of weeks by some people who didn't
grow up until after the World War is perfectly extraordi-
nary. They have assigned all kinds of authorities and powers
to people in the World War that never existed, except in
the figment of their imagination. I went through it; I hap-
pen to know.
611
145. Seven Hundred and Second Press Conference
Q. Mr. President, on your statement that we never would get
into war for legalistic reasons - would you amplify that a
little?
THE PRESIDENT: Only this, that I would not try, from what I
have said, to make it appear - who was it who asked that
question a while ago?
MR. EARLY: Jim Wright.
THE PRESIDENT: Jim Wright asked whether any of these steps
would be a greater danger to the United States of getting
into war than the existing situation, and the answer is: "No,
of course not." In other words, we are furnishing everything
we possibly can at the present moment. This will make easier
a continuation of that program. That's all there is to it.
Q. Mr. President, it is interesting about taking over the future
orders for the British, but Mr. Knudsen says that the first
half of that is crucial. Can you do anything more than you
are doing?
THE PRESIDENT: Except efficient people; that's what he is trying
to do- push them.
Q. Mr. President, has the division of orders been changed? It
was 50-50 the last time.
THE PRESIDENT: That was a rule of thumb. In some places it is
40-60, and in others 60-40.
Q. Mr. President, do any production delays at the present time
indicate any need for authority to take over plants?
THE PRESIDENT: That is a thing I asked Steve [Mr. Early] to look
up this morning.
MR. EARLY: No one is reporting today, sir.
THE PRESIDENT: That is a thing I asked Steve to report on. No
one reported today. But I think it is fair to say there are two
or three companies under investigation.
Q. Mr. President, do you expect to place this general idea be-
fore this session of Congress?
THE PRESIDENT: Either that or something similar.
Q. Within a few days?
612
145. Seven Hundred and Second Press Conference
THE PRESIDENT: No, probably not until the 3rd, because the
thing has not only to be worked out here, but in London too.
Q. Mr. President, is there any plan under consideration for
building up our Defense Program because of this?
THE PRESIDENT: Well, that's a pretty general question; on what,
for example?
Q. I wondered if you had any specific program for building up
any phase of defense.
THE PRESIDENT: You can't answer a general question like that.
If you ask about an article that is coming along in good shape,
the answer is No. It depends on what you are talking about.
Before I left, I think we talked about the Navy destroyer pro-
gram which, in my judgment, was completely insufficient be-
cause a lot of the planned destroyers could not be laid down
except in turn. In other words, after No. 1 Destroyer had
been built and launched from the ways, then they would
start No. 31 of the destroyers on the same ways, build that and
launch it, and after that was launched they would put No. 61
on the same ways, so that No. 61 would not be launched for
perhaps four years from now.
Well, now, the answer to that program, which was laid
down by the Navy Department, was that in my judgment it
was too darned slow. And how can you speed it up? By build-
ing more ways. So that was an illustration of how the pro-
gram as laid down proved insufficient, and we are now study-
ing how we can build more destroyer ways.
Q. Mr. President, Mr. Knudsen said the whole Defense Pro-
gram was lagging pretty severely; do you see anything in this
picture that would require you to extend the present limited
emergency?
THE PRESIDENT: No; that again is largely a legalistic problem. It
is a great question whether it would speed it up or not - a
great technical question.
Q. Mr. President, when the Government refuses to take in a
union man on a defense project, don't you think it is because
the unions ask exorbitant fees?
613
145. Seven Hundred and Second Press Conference
THE PRESIDENT: You would have to give me the name of the
man and information about the case.
Q. How about eliminating the Friday to Monday blackout?
THE PRESIDENT: It depends entirely on the particular type of in-
dustrial plant and the conditions in the locality, and the type
of workmen that are used. There is no generalization that is
possible; and the one thing we have to avoid, all of us, is
generalization. Now for example - you take down here in the
Washington Navy Yard, there are certain very, very skilled
trades; and there is a shortage of labor in those trades. Be-
cause there is a shortage, because there is no relief, no addi-
tional labor in that trade, we probably have to employ the
people in that particular trade, more than 40 hours; and for
the extra hours they will get time and a half for overtime.
You take the other extreme - common labor; there's plenty
of it. For common labor it is not necessary in that particular
yard to work men overtime; and yet you can run the yard six
days a week, or even seven days a week. It takes a lot more
planning on the part of management to work it out, but you
can employ one group of common laborers the first five days
in the week, 40 hours - that is, 8 hours a day; and then
another group you can employ on Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday, Friday and Saturday and give them Sunday and
Monday off; and another group you can employ Wednesday,
Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and give them Mon-
day and Tuesday off; and in that way you can keep a plant
going seven days a week if you want to. It takes a little more-
what shall I say? - figuring out on a sheet of paper, a little
more trouble.
In that way some people will get their holiday in the mid-
dle of the week for a while, and others will get it at the
end of the week; but it can be done, and it is being done- -
that is the point of it - in a great many plants in the United
States. It is being done; and that can be extended to a great
many other plants. It is a nuisance from the point of view of
plant management; we all know that.
614
145. Seven Hundred and Second Press Conference
There is still another point to consider - there are plants
which obviously could not run seven days a week; the plant
that has to be laid up for repairs one day out of seven; or a
part of a particular plant that has to be laid up for repairs
and closed down one day out of seven. You see you can't
apply a general rule. It's just plain immature to try to do it.
The people that understand manufacturing will be the first
to say you can't apply a general rule to this question.
Q. Mr. President, one argument that is advanced is where it is
necessary for a man to work 55 hours a week, a trained man,
and he can't be replaced; and since the public is begging for
this armament, that is putting undue stress on the public's
shoulders - time and a half.
THE PRESIDENT: In the case of that particular man that is irre-
placeable working 55 hours a week, we are trying, as you
know, to train other people to fit into those positions. It
takes time to do it, but gradually we are getting a large num-
ber of people trained to do these specialized jobs.
Q. Mr. President, on this defense setup, do we understand you
to mean that you are not interested in appointing a chair-
man of the national defense?
THE PRESIDENT: I would not draw any inferences on a detail.
That is a pure detail.
Q. One more question: I believe Mr. Knudsen referred to the
blackout of machine time rather than human time. I believe
he was referring quite specifically to the fact that the ma-
chines were shut down between Friday and Monday.
THE PRESIDENT: You have to tell me the machine, and the trade
that runs the machine.
Q. He didn't say.
THE PRESIDENT: In some cases, yes; in some cases, no. The ob-
jective is to keep all the machines that will run seven days
a week in operation seven days a week.
(See note to Item 152, this volume, for discussion of the Lend-Lease
Act, the principles of which are discussed in the foregoing press con-
ference.)
615
PAGE
2
5TH STORY of Level 1 printed in FULL format.
Copyright 1988 The Executive Speaker Co.
The Executive Speaker (R)
January, 1988
SECTION: IN BETWEEN; Vol. 9, No. 1; Pg. 5
LENGTH: 278 words
SOURCE: 2268. Remarks to the Chemical Industry Institute of Toxicology, R. G.
Wallace, Phillips Petroleum Company, delivered at Annual Meeting, Res. Triangle
Pk, North Carolina, March 11, 1987 - (11 pages). Keywords: SCIENCE; CHEMICAL
INDUSTRY; COMMUNICATION; GOVERNMENT; PUBLIC AFFAIRS; CREDIBILITY
BODY:
In a discussion on the importance of the chemical industry improving its
communication with both the political and public sectors through greater
involvement, R. Wallace, president, Phillips 66 Company, offers four imperatives
for that involvement: be credible, be clear, be realistic, and be proud. In the
section on clarity, he uses an example from American history to illustrate
exactly how something can be communicated clearly, simply and effectively even
though the subject is both complex and controversial:
"The benefits of telling our story in clear and simple terms are worth the
extra time and effort.
"Probably no one knew this better than Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Exactly
46 years ago today, on March 11, 1941, he signed the Lend-Lease Law.
"It provided aid to England and other nations fighting Nazi Germany, without
sending U.S. soldiers overseas.
"It was a controversial and complex law. And several months before its
passage, FDR faced the press to explain it.
"Here's what he said:
"'Suppose my neighbor's house catches fire, and I have a garden hose. If
he can take my garden hose and connect it up with his hydrant, I may help him
put out the fire
"'If the garden hose goes through the fire all right, without damage, then
my neighbor gives it back to me and thanks me very much for the use of it
"'If the hose is destroyed, he replaces it.'
"From that simple story, FDR launched his successful drive for passage of
Lend-Lease.
"Most Americans didn't know a thing about weapons or commerce. But they all
had garden hoses, and they all had neighbors.
"Be clear. That's our second imperative." (2268)
LEXIS:NEXIS®
LEXIS-NEXIS®
LEXIS·NEXIS®
Services of Mead Data Central, Inc.
14. Seven Hundred and Twenty-fifth Press Conference
and died. This faith he commemorated by leaving his modest
fortune to the Government as the representative and the agent
of the people of the United States. We do well to cherish the life
and memory of this great man as part of our national heritage.
NOTE: On the 92nd birthday of
Holmes, and the President's appre-
Mr. Justice Oliver Wendell Holmes
ciation of the magnificent contribu-
- four days after President Roose-
tions which Justice Holmes made
velt had been inaugurated in 1933
on the United States Supreme
- the President paid a call on Jus-
Court. (See Item 23, pp. 93-94, 1935
tice Holmes. This was rather un-
volume, for the President's state-
usual and unprecedented, inasmuch
ment on the death of Justice
as the President rarely if ever visits
Holmes; see Item 46, pp. 130-131,
other individuals, but receives cal-
1935 volume, for the President's
lers instead at the White House.
message to the Congress following
Yet it was not unusual in the light
Justice Holmes's will bequeathing
of the long and useful service
his estate to the Treasury of the
rendered to the Nation by Justice
United States Government.)
14 The Seven Hundred and Twenty-fifth
Press Conference (Excerpt). March 11, 1941
(Approval of the Lend-Lease Act.)
THE PRESIDENT: At quarter to four or ten minutes to four, the
[Lend-Lease] Bill [H. R. 1776] was duly signed in the pres-
ence of the press photographers and the picture people; and
immediately thereafter - after they left the room - the sec-
ond step happened. After talking the thing over with the
Army and Navy authorities, the first list of material was ap-
proved - Army and Navy material which will go, the greater
part of it, to Britain; a portion of it will go to the Greeks.
The items, of course, involved must of necessity and fairness
be kept secret until such time that the disclosure of their
military identity will not be of benefit to anybody else.
At the meeting this morning on that line, I told the Senate
and House members of the Committee - we talked it over -
and I made the suggestion that they appoint from the two
48
14. Seven Hundred and Twenty-fifth Press Conference
modest
Appropriations Committees a small subcommittee that
he
agent
would feel entirely free to come down here at any time and
the
life
be kept in complete and constant touch with everything that
heritage.
is being done under Bill No. 1776.
Of course, there is nothing that could not be disclosed
appre-
except some of these things which probably we should defer
contribu-
made
announcing - the type of material or amounts involved - for
Supreme
purely military reasons for a reasonably short time. This par-
3-94,
1935
ticular list of items relates both to the Army and Navy. It is
state-
not a very large amount. I only have at the present time the
Justice
figures showing the total original cost, because you will
130-131,
understand that that does not necessarily mean the billing
President's
following
price for the reason that a great many of these articles are
queathing
out of date or surplus and haven't got the same monetary
of
the
value that they had when they were manufactured a good
many years ago.
And then I - well, you saw the gentlemen when they went
out; they told you about the letter tomorrow which will be
the usual - I have forgotten whether it is deficiency or sup-
plemental estimate letter - to the Speaker. It is not a message
to the Congress, because this is an appropriation bill and it
goes in in the form of a deficiency or supplemental estimate
the
to the Speaker, and, under the rules of the House, it is re-
the
pres-
ferred by him to the Appropriations Committee; and then
and
they start hearings, I think, the day after. My letter will go
the
sec-
up at noon tomorrow, and they will start the hearings on
with
the
Thursday; so there is no waste of time in this procedure.
was
ap-
Q. Mr. President, you said you had a total of the value; are you
greater
going to tell us what that is?
Greeks.
THE PRESIDENT: No.
fairness
Q. Mr. President, you called these supplemental or deficiency -
of
their
THE PRESIDENT: (interposing) I don't know whether they call it
deficiency or supplemental.
Senate
Q. Usually supplemental is for the current year; is this for the
over
-
current year?
the
two
THE PRESIDENT: No.
49
14. Seven Hundred and Twenty-fifth Press Conference
Q. What I am getting at, will there be another one for next
year?
THE PRESIDENT: I don't know. You better ask them on the Hill
what they want to call it; really, it is an appropriation bill
under H. R. 1776.
Q. Mr. President, you have indicated that this list of stuff is cur-
rent material, surplus, et cetera.
THE PRESIDENT: Yes.
Q. I haven't read the bill lately; that bill mentioned a certain
amount.
THE PRESIDENT: Up to a billion, three hundred million; the
amount arrived at - the value of this stuff - will come out of
that billion, three hundred million.
Q. I was going to ask you further, sir, if you will permit me, if
there have been any terms or any dicker; have you made a
deal with these people?
THE PRESIDENT: No.
Q. Will that be made public at any time you do so?
THE PRESIDENT: As soon as it is proper. Of course the Congres-
sional people will know about it, but it won't be made public
until the items themselves are made public. You couldn't do
any figuring on dollars and cents unless you knew what the
items were.
Q. Mr. President, is this a lending or a leasing procedure?
THE PRESIDENT: I give it up; I'm not interested.
Q. Mr. President, could you tell us when the proposed aid to
China may be forthcoming?
THE PRESIDENT: The what?
Q. Aid for China; I heard you mention Britain and Greece.
THE PRESIDENT: That's all I've done today! (Laughter)
Q. Will there be aid to China?
THE PRESIDENT: Oh, I guess so.
Q. Would it depend, sir, on the report that Lauchlin Currie
makes to you?
THE PRESIDENT: That might have something to do with it; I
wouldn't say it would depend on it.
50
Conference
15. Request for $7,000,000,000 for Lend-Lease
er one for next
Q. Mr. President, will some of this be out of the 1942 budget?
THE PRESIDENT: There is not much we can talk about yet be-
em on the Hill
cause it is still in the process of working out on the Hill as to
propriation bill
whether certain types of things taken out by anticipation,
things already ordered but not yet delivered, already appro-
st of stuff is cur-
priated for and ordered and which would fall into the one-
billion-three-hundred-million-dollar category - as to whether
they should be deducted, or any portion of them, from the
tioned a certain
seven-billion-dollar appropriation or not. That is a thing that
is really a legislative matter and we hadn't worked it out this
ed million; the
morning. There are too many categories of things in there to
will come out of
make an over-all statement; some might and some might
not.
ill permit me, if
Q. Is it proper for you to say whether any of this equipment is
ave you made a
now on the way?
THE PRESIDENT: Oh, no, none of it is on the way - at least it
wasn't until five minutes to four, because I didn't approve it
so?
until then. We work fast, but there are limitations! (Laugh-
rse the Congres-
ter)
t be made public
NOTE: For accounts of the genesis
Items 15, 17, 28, 37, 52, 76, 82, 96,
You couldn't do
of Lend-Lease, and the operation
105, 111, 123 and notes, this vol-
1 knew what the
of the lend-lease program, see the
ume; Item 31, 1942 volume; Items
following references: Item 145, pp.
30, 98, 119 and 124, 1943 volume;
procedure?
606-615, 1940 volume; Item 152 and
and Items 25 and 31, 1944-1945 vol-
note, pp. 668-678, 1940 volume;
ume.
proposed aid to
Item 157, p. 710, 1940 volume;
15
The President Requests an Appropriation
and Greece.
ughter)
of $7,000,000,000 to Finance the Lend-Lease
Program. March 12, 1941
Lauchlin Currie
My dear Mr. Speaker:
THIS Nation has felt that it was imperative to the security of
to do with it; I
America that we encourage the democracies' heroic resistance to
aggressions, by not only maintaining but also increasing the flow
51
15. Request for $7,000,000,000 for Lend-Lease
of material assistance from this country. Therefore, the Congress
has enacted and I have signed H.R. 1776.
Through this legislation, our country has determined to do its
full part in creating an adequate arsenal of democracy. This
great arsenal will be here in this country. It will be a bulwark
of our own defense. It will be the source of the tools of defense
for all democracies who are fighting to preserve themselves
against aggression.
While the defense equipment produced under H. R. 1776 re-
mains under the control of the United States until it is ready for
disposition, it is the fixed policy of this Government to make for
democracies every gun, plane, and munition of war that we pos-
sibly can.
To accomplish these objectives, I am transmitting an estimate
in the amount of $7,000,000,000, the details of which are set
forth in the accompanying letter from the Director of the Bureau
of the Budget. I strongly urge the immediate enactment of this
appropriation.
Respectfully,
Honorable Sam Rayburn,
Speaker, House of Representatives,
Washington, D. C.
NOTE: There can be little ques-
cluded principles of international
tion that the lend-lease program
economics, the desirability of speed-
was at once one of the most bril-
ing up war production in the
liantly conceived and most impor-
United States, the necessity for
tant contributions of President
building up American defenses, and
Roosevelt to ultimate victory. The
the need to find a way of evolving
concept of lend-lease was evolved
a workable plan which would be
by the President late in 1940 as a
wholeheartedly supported by the
means of defending the United
Congress and the American people.
States by furnishing striking power
As early as October, 1937, in his
to those who were resisting the Nazi
"quarantine" speech at Chicago
and Fascist forces. Many factors
(see Item 128, pp. 406-411, 1937
played a role in the President's de-
volume) the President had taken a
termination to propose the plan
courageous (although, from the
of lend-lease. These factors in-
point of view of the American peo-
5 2
Lease
15. Request for $7,000,000,000 for Lend-Lease
:, the Congress
ple as a whole, still premature)
ation at Dunkirk (see note to Item
stand against the spread of aggres-
152, pp. 673-674, 1940 volume).
nined to do its
sive imperialism. Many times there-
Even before the outbreak of the
after, the President proclaimed the
European war, Great Britain and
mocracy. This
need for curbing aggressor Nations.
France had placed many orders for
be a bulwark
His public pronouncements were
munitions and aircraft in this
bols of defense
supplemented by a series of affirma-
country. Concurrently, between
ve themselves
tive actions designed to stem the
1938 and 1940, the Export-Import
increasing international lawless-
Bank of Washington made loans to
H. R. 1776 re-
ness. After the outbreak of the war
China totaling $120,000,000. These
in 1939, the President realized that
loans made possible the purchase
1 it is ready for
the existing embargo on the ship-
by China of American trucks, tires,
nt to make for
ment of arms and munitions to bel-
gasoline, metals, machinery, and
ar that we pos-
ligerent countries aided the dicta-
electrical equipment. (For an ac-
tors at the expense of those coun-
count of financial aid to China see
ng an estimate
tries fighting aggression. Accord-
Item 140 and note, pp. 587-595,
ingly, at his request, the Congress
1940 volume.) Through these for-
which are set
in extraordinary session repealed
eign purchases, American defense
of the Bureau
the embargo (see Item 130, 1939
industries started to expand, to de-
ctment of this
volume). This permitted the sale of
velop the "know-how" which so
arms and ammunition to belliger-
greatly aided the United States to
ent Nations on a cash-and-carry
mobilize its war industry and later
basis; i.e., the purchasers would
to reach the high level of produc-
send their ships here for the goods
tion which it did.
and pay cash for them.
Several days after the passage of
During 1939 and 1940, the Presi-
the Neutrality Act of 1939 (Nov.
dent took several other drastic steps
4, 1939), a British Purchasing Com-
of international
to aid the democracies and to keep
mission established headquarters in
rability of speed-
luction in the
war away from the United States.
this country to expedite the pur-
e necessity for
Outstanding among those measures
chase of necessary war materials for
Great Britain. The British assisted
can defenses, and
was the transfer of 50 over-age de-
American defense expansion not
way of evolving
stroyers to Great Britain in Septem-
only by direct purchases but by ad-
which would be
ber, 1940, and, in exchange there-
vancing capital for plant construc-
pported by the
for, the acquisition of naval and air
tion, lending the necessary machine
American people.
bases on British territory, reaching
tools, and otherwise investing in
ber, 1937, in his
from Newfoundland to the Carib-
American manufacturing facilities.
ch at Chicago
bean area; and the supply of over
British orders made a substantial
). 406-411, 1937
$40,000,000 worth of surplus stocks
contribution to the expansion of
!ent had taken a
of rifles, machine guns, field artil-
American machine-tool production,
ough, from the
lery, ammunition, and aircraft to
shipbuilding, tanks, and aircraft.
e American peo-
Great Britain following the evacu-
The British and other purchas-
53
15. Request for $7,000,000,000 for Lend-Lease
ing countries were assisted by the
had few goods available to export.
work of the Interdepartmental
By the end of 1940, it was apparent
Committee for Coordination of
that British dollar resources could
Foreign and Domestic Military Pur-
not last much beyond January,
chases. More popularly known as
1941.
"the President's Liaison Commit-
The President was well aware of
tee," it had been created by a letter
the perilous economic position of
from the President on December 6,
Great Britain late in 1940. Accord-
1939, to the Secretaries of War,
ingly, he began to give attention to
Navy, and the Treasury. This Liai-
some means of solving this grave
son Committee cooperated with the
problem in order that American
foreign missions in placing con-
munitions and material could con-
tracts with American industries. It
tinue to assist Great Britain in
also helped create new facilities for
holding off Axis onslaughts and in
the production of munitions in the
this way protect America's first line
United States, and it stimulated the
of defense in Europe.
interchange of plans and blueprints
Several weeks after his reelection
for aircraft and munitions.
for a third term in November, 1940,
After the fall of France, the Brit-
the President left on a cruise on
ish took over all of the French con-
the Tuscaloosa. In the course of
tracts for the purchase of matériel
this cruise, which took him through
in the United States. By the au-
the British West Indies area and
tumn of 1940, British purchases of
enabled him to inspect sites for the
munitions in the United States rose
new naval and air bases recently ac-
to a total of over $3,000,000,000 -
quired from the British, the Presi-
a small figure when contrasted with
dent had an opportunity to
ultimate American wartime ex-
consider various alternatives for ac-
penditures, but a very large figure
tion which would continue the flow
when contrasted with American
of American war materials to Brit-
prewar defense expenditures.
ain. He concluded that the Con-
Late in 1940, however, as the
gress and American public opinion
British needs for American material
would not support an outright re-
became even more urgent, Britain
peal of provisions of the Neutrality
was experiencing increasing diffi-
Act without a long and bitter polit-
culty in making payments. Her dol-
ical battle. He felt that even if leg-
lar and gold supply had become
islation could be enacted which
seriously depleted. It was impossi-
would permit direct loans to Brit-
ble for her to replenish her supply
ain to improve her dollar supply,
of dollars by the export of British
this would be only a temporary
goods to the United States because
stopgap and would raise the same
so much of British production was
diplomatic frictions which accom-
being devoted to war that Britain
panied war debt settlement discus-
54
15. Request for $7,000,000,000 for Lend-Lease
to
export.
sions following the first World
hose" metaphor pointing out that
was apparent
War. On the other hand, outright
if a neighbor's home caught fire,
resources
could
gifts of munitions and war matériel
you would lend him your garden
January,
not only would be politically inex-
hose to help put out the fire, with-
pedient in the United States, but
out thought of charging for its use
well aware of
also might be distasteful to the
but rather in the hope and expecta-
position of
British people.
tion of getting it back after the fire
1940. Accord-
During his cruise, the President
is out. The President indicated
attention to
received a remarkable 4,000-word
that the defense of Great Britain
this grave
letter on December 9 from Prime
was the best defense of the United
hat American
Minister Churchill, reviewing in
States, and that it was in the self-
could
con-
some detail the British military po-
interest of the United States to
Britain
in
sition and financial situation. This
lend-lease war materials to Great
laughts and in
letter, which Churchill after the
Britain as they came off American
first line
war termed one of the most impor-
production lines, eliminating the
tant he ever wrote, posed no solu-
dollar sign from the transaction.
his
reelection
tion to the problem of how to al-
In his fireside chat on national
ovember, 1940,
leviate Britain's financial squeeze.
security, delivered on December 29,
a
cruise
on
Nevertheless, it aided the President
1940, the President announced to
he course of
in his thinking on the subject dur-
the world that America would be
him through
ing the quiet weeks he spent on the
"the great arsenal of democracy."
area
and
deck of the Tuscaloosa. Toward the
(See Item 149, pp. 633-644, 1940
sites for the
end of his cruise, the President one
volume.) Lend-lease was to be the
recently ac-
evening unfolded the lend-lease
mechanism by which this objective
the
Presi-
idea in a conversation with Harry
was to be attained.
ortunity to
Hopkins. All that remained was to
On January 6, 1941, the Presi-
natives
for
ac-
reduce the concept to legislative
dent in his annual message to the
the flow
terms, and to explain it to the
erials to Brit-
Congress on the State of the Union
country with simplicity and in a
the
Con-
outlined in more detail the prin-
way which would capture the
opinion
ciples of lend-lease (see Item 152,
imagination. The former was ac-
outright re-
pp. 663-678, and note, 1940 vol-
complished with the aid of brilliant
he
Neutrality
individuals like Oscar Cox; the lat-
ume). On January 10, 1941, H. R.
bitter
polit-
ter was done by Roosevelt himself.
1776 and its companion bill in the
even
if
leg-
Senate were introduced in both
After his return to the United
acted which
States, the President in his historic
houses of the Congress. (See note to
to Brit-
press conference of December 17,
Item 152, P. 674, 1940 volume, for
ollar supply,
1940, advanced the concept of lend-
the legislative history of the Lend-
a
temporary
lease for the first time in public
Lease Act, which the President
the same
(see Item 145, pp. 604-615, 1940
approved on March 11, 1941 - 55
hich
accom-
volume). This was the occasion at
Stat. 31; see also note to Item 152,
discus-
which he used his famous "garden
pp. 675-678, for an account of the
55
15. Request for $7,000,000,000 for Lend-Lease
provisions and initial administra-
30, 1944. Subsequent enactments ex-
tion of the Lend-Lease Act.)
tended the Lend-Lease Act to June
Prompt Congressional action fol-
30, 1946, after which a three-year
lowed the President's request of
period to liquidate lend-lease affairs
March 12, 1941, set out in the fore-
was provided.
going message, recommending that
Including the amount appro-
$7,000,000,000 be appropriated for
priated in the Defense Aid Supple-
the administration of the lend-
mental Appropriation Act, 1941,
lease program. The House of Rep-
approximately $62,413,000,000 were
resentatives passed, by a vote of
made available for lend-lease pur-
336-55, a bill appropriating this full
poses from all appropriations (ex-
amount for lend-lease purposes, and
cluding funds available for the
the Senate approved the bill by
leasing of ships). As of V-J Day, the
67-9; the President signed the bill
United States Government under
on March 27, 1941 (55 Stat. 53).
the lend-lease program had supplied
The new appropriation act, known
to its allies American materials and
as the "Defense Aid Supplemental
labor representing a total cost of
Appropriation Act, 1941," appro-
$48,665,000,000.
priated $7,000,000,000 to remain
For about two months after the
available until June 30, 1943, for
passage of the first Lend-Lease Act,
the procurement of defense articles,
the President's Liaison Committee
and for testing, inspecting, improv-
had charge of its administration. On
ing, repairing, outfitting, recondi-
May 2, 1941, the President by the
tioning, or otherwise placing in
issuance of Executive Order No.
good working order any defense
8751 established the Division of De-
articles on behalf of foreign Nations
fense Aid Reports for the adminis-
whose defense was vital to ours. Sub-
tration of the Lend-Lease Act. The
sequent appropriations vastly in-
Office of Lend-Lease Administra-
creased these sums available.
tion was established by Executive
In 1943, the Congress, by over-
Order No. 8926 on October 28,
whelming votes of 407-6 in the
1941. (See Items 28, 37, 52, 96, 105
House of Representatives and 82-0
and notes, this volume, for addi-
in the Senate, approved the exteñ-
tional accounts of the administra-
sion of the Lend-Lease Act to June
tion of the Lend-Lease Act.)
5 6