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4526106
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Lafayette College, Easton, PA, April 1, 1968
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4526106
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Lafayette College, Easton, PA, April 1, 1968
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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
Speeches
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Presidential campaigns
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
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4526106
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1968-04-30
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4
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1968
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1968-04-01
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4
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1968
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The original documents are located in Box D24, folder "Lafayette College, Easton, PA,
April 1, 1968" of the Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the
Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
Copyright Notice
The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of
photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted material. The Council donated to the United
States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.
Works prepared by U.S. Government employees as part of their official duties are in the public
domain. The copyrights to materials written by other individuals or organizations are presumed to
remain with them. If you think any of the information displayed in the PDF is subject to a valid
copyright claim, please contact the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library.
President Spuch
Demos H.
mc Carthern
IAFAYETTE COLLEGE
.NOTES
Burched red
Easton, Pa
Republicans -
Rapped Grow
4/1/68
Wallace I
I. AMERICA HAS COME TO A CROSSROADS IN VIETNAM, AND PRES. JOHNSON HAS TAKEN THE
RIGHT TURN.
A. DECISIONHAD TO BE MADE WHETHER TO HOLD U.S. TROOP STRENGTH AT ROUGHLY THE
EXISTING LEVEL OR ESCALATE IT BY 100,000 OR 200,000.
Tmp why
B. THE PRESIDENT SET THE CEILING AT: FIGURE WHICH INDICATES
NOT INTENTION TO MAKE ANY FURTHER SUBSTANTIAL U.S. TROOP INCREASES IN
DEFENSE SECRETARY CLARK CLIFFORD NOW HAS AFFIRMED THE CHANGE IN POLICY
VIETNAM. / (The new ceiling is 549,500. This is the old figure of 525,000
Anlin
futh
THE DEFINITE PLAN TO DE-ESCALATE U.S. INVOLVEMENT IN THE VIETNAM WAR AND
plus 11,000 Marines and airborne troops airlifted to Vie tnam some weeks ago,
TO SPEED UP THE EQUIPPING OF SOUTH VIETNAMESE FORCES so THAT THEY CAN TAKE
plus a newly announced figure of 13,500 support troops.)
OVER MORE OF THE BURDEN AND WE CAN BEGIN TO "PHASE OUT. THE JONNSON*HUMPHREY
ADMINISTRATION HAS PREVIOUSLY TALKED OF SHIFTING THE BURDEN TO THE SOUTH
VIETNAMESE BUT HAS PAIDIX ONLY LIP SERVICE TO SUCH AIMS. LET US HOPE THEY
NOW MEANSX BUSINESS.
2/ LEFAYETTE NOTES
IIV PRACE
MAY
BUT
LDJ HAS TO SHIPT MORE OF THE BURDEN TO SOUTH VIRITNAM
shift
HAVE IIIII LONG BEEN URGING.
burden
M
HAS
MADE
IT
CLEAR
THAT
was
SOUTHVIETNAME
IN THE FINAL ANALYSIS
WILL SURVIVE AS A FREE AND INDEPENDENT NATION ONLY IF THE PEOPLE
HAVE THE WILL AND CAPACITY TO MAKE IT so. THIS I HAVE FREQUENTLY POINTED OUT.
III. LBJ'S PEACE INITIATIVE IS WELCOME BUT RAISES TROUBLESOME QUESTIONS.
has
A. IT COMES AT A TIME WHEN SOME 500,000 SOUTH VIETNAMESE HAVE BEEN RENDERED
Enemy initiative
HOMELESS BY THE TET OFFENSIVE OF JAN. 31.
B, IT COMES AT A TIME WHEN THE INITIATIVE IN THE VIETNAM
WAR ans LIES WITH THE VISTCONG AND THE
NORTH VIETNAMESE.
Digitized from Box D24 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
3/ LAFAYETTE NOTES
C.
IT IS UNDERMINED BY THE FACT THAT THE PRESIDENT SIMULTANEOUSLY
ANNOUNCED HIS DECISION NOT TO SEEK REELECTION.
IN OTHER
WORD
IT'S
same Duck A
LAME DUCK PEACE OFFENSIVE.
Pres
D.
HANOI
MAY
DECIDE IT IS BETTER TO WAIT
IN THE HOPE THAT BOBBY
KENNEDY OR GENE X MCCARTHY ELECTED PRESIDENT AND HANOI MAY GET A BETTER DEAL.
willbe
IV. THIS IS NOT A TOTAL BOMBING HALT.
A. LBJ PROPERLY XXXXO DID NOT INCLUDE AN AREA NORTH OF THE "DMZ" DEEMED
Timited
VITAL TO SAFETY OF U.S.A TROOPS.
Combing
B. HANOI MAY SEIZE ON THIS AS A LOOPHOLE, A REASON NOT TO AGREE TO PEACE TALKS
halt.
AFTER HAVING EARLIER SAID THAT TALKS WOULD BEGIN ONCE THE BOMBING STOPPED.
GERA
LIBRARY
h/LAFAYETTE NOTES
Talks no assurance June
IF TALKS START, THIS DOESI NOT
MEAN THAT PEACE WILL QUICKLY FOLLOW.
A. FIGHTING MAY GO ON FOR] MONTHS OR EVEN YEARS.
AMERICANS
B. AS IN KOREA, THOUSANDS OF MIGHT BE KILLED III AFTER THE TALKS BEGIN.
VI. IT MUST BE ASSUMED THAT LBJ DECISION TO DE*ESCALATE IS A RESULT OF THE "A TO Z"
REEVALUATION HE AND HIS TOP AIDES HAVE MADE OF VIETNAM POLICY.
VII. SOME ARE SAYING JOHNSON HAS THROWN IN THE
TOWEL IN VIETNAM.
A. I FEEL CERTAIN THIS IS NOT TRUE THAT HE IS DETERMINED TO ACHIEVE
AN HONORABLE PEACE BUT WITHOUT FURTHER ESCALATION OF THE U.S. TROOP COMMITMENT.
success
MAY from move a more B THE
JOHNSON MAY WELL FEEL, HOWE VER, THAT HIS POLICY OF GRADUAL ESCALATION OF
VIETNAM WAR EFFORT HAS BEEN A FAILURE. ADD THAT IS MY JUDGMENT OF HIS POLICY
to
GRADUALISM mility ,Mita
Affort
5/LAFAYETTE NOTES
XXXT!
SUBJECTIVE
C.
Americans IS NO cau only TO JOHNSON WOULD
ACCEPT A KENNEDY MCCARTHY TMPE
SOLUTION TO THE VIETNAM WAR.
DEESCALATION DOES NOT ELIMINATE OUR
VIII.
BiLLon
WAS
BUDGETARY PROBLEMS.
A. The high costs continue, including The Soul
BiLOJus
TALKED OF INCREASED VIETNAM WAR COSTS M2.
Budget
BUT DECLINED TO X SPELL OUT HOW HIS BUDGET SHOULD BE REDUCED TO OFFSET THE
INCREASES.
B.
HE
THE BUDGET*CUTTING JOB AT CONGRESS ALTHOUGH HE AND HIS BUDGET
FORD
BUREAU ARE IN MUCH BETTER POSITION TO SAY WHETHER THE CUTS SHOULD BE MADE.
C.
HE AGA-IN FOR # HIGHER TAXES BUT REFUSE TO OFFER BUDGET CUTS IN
LIBRARY
ORDER TO GENERATE CONGRESSIONAL SUPPORT FOR A TAX INCREASE.
6/ LAFAYETTE NOTES MILITARY - BUDGET
DRAFT 2 Volunteer army.
D. HE ADMITION THAT EXPENDITURE CONTROL IS NECESSARY TO SAVE THE DOLLAR BUT
REFUSED TO ASSUME DIRECT RESPONSIBILITY FOR SUCH CONTROL.
IX. IT IS DIFFICULT TO SEE HOW JOHNSON'S
DECISION NOT TO SEEK REELECTION
WILL PRODUCE UNITY IN THE NATION.
A. THE DIVISIONS WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND WITHIN THE NATION OVER
VIETNAM CONTINUE, DESPITE THE INITIATIVE TOWARD PEACE,
# This is roade apparent by M&Carthy's continued
on Vietnam,
B
THE NATION DESPERATELY NEEDS UNITY NOT ONLY ON VIETNAM BUT OTHER KEY
PROBLEMS.
7/LAFAYETTEEX NOTES
KERNER
Ant
Business
X WHAT LIES AHEAD FOR THE NATION?
A. AMERICAN PEOPLE MUST COME TO GRIPS WITH THE REALITIES IF THE NATION IS
valit is industry
is is Phetost TO SURVIVE of trained Hhe bestprovider
B.
THE
RACES
WHITE
AND BLACK. .MUST COMMUNICATE TO LIVE.
1. THE GAP OF GENERATIONS BETTER SCHOOLING, TRAINING, JOBS AND
HOUSING FOR NEGROES. MUST BE FILLED AS RAPIDLY AS POSSIBLE.
2. THIS GAP CAN ONLY BE FILLED BY MEN OF GOODWILL, AND ONLY IF
THE
THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY EXHIBITS REAL LEADERSHIP IN PARTNERSHIP WITH
GOVERNMENT AT ALL LEVELS, STATE, FEDERAL AND LOCAL.
FORD
C. UNITED STATES MUST the REVISE ITS GOALS AND
COMMITMENTS AND
LIBRARY
ITS APPROACH TO PROBLEM*SOLVING BOTH AT HOME AND ABROAD.
8/LAFAYETTE ******* NOTES
1. PROBLEM-SOLVING TECHNIQUES EMPLOYED WITH SOME SUCCESS DURING THE GREAT
DEPRE SSION AREI NOT WORKING IN THE LATE SIXTIES IN THE ATTACK ON POVERTY.
2.
THE TOTAL GOV'T APPROACH MUST GIVE WAY TO THE CREATIVITY EMPLOYED BY
BUSINESS IN PROBLEMESOLVING. MUST RECOGNIZE THAT INDUSTRY IS THE BEST
TRAINER
D.
LEARNING FROM VIETNAM, THE U.S. MUSTI INSIST THAT IF OTHER NATIONS
WANT TO REMAIN FREE, THEY MUST RISE IN THEIR OWN
DEFENSE AND NOT EXPECT THE
U.S. TO FIGHT THEIR BATTLES
FORE
THEM.
1. this IS NOT
ISOLATIONISM.
2. THIS IS SIMPLY RECOGNITION THAT A
NATION'S FREEDOM
CANNOT BE PRESERVED IF THE PEOPLE OF THAT NATION ARE UNWILLING TO FIGHT FOR
THEMSELVES.
9/IAFAYETTE NOTES
BII. OTHER LE SSONS TO BE LEARNED FROM VIETNAM.
A. THE U.S.
SHOULD NOT FIGHT A WAR WITHOUT PAYING FOR IT.
B. NO NATION, NO MATTER HDW RICH ORE POWERFUL, CAN CONTINUOUSLY INVITE
INFIATION WITHOUT INVITING DISASTER.
XIII. WE MUST GET ABOUT THE TASK OF PUTTING OUR ACCOUNTS IN ORDER. HUMAN AND
FINANCIAL.
A. THE ANSWERS LIE IN SHARING. SHARING OF POWER AND RESPONSIBILITY
1. A SHARING BY GOVERNMENT AND INDUSTRY OF RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE
SOLUTION OF LOCAL, STATE AND NATIONAL PROBLEMS AT HOME.
2. A SHARING WITH OTHERN NATIONS OF THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PEACEKEEPING
IN THE FREE WORLD.
10/LAFAYETTE NOTES
B. A SHARING OF FEDERAL INCOME TAX
REVENUE WITH THE STATES AND
LOCAL COMMUNITIES SO THEY CAN TACKLE THEIR PROBLEMS ON THE BASIS OF THEIR
OWN PRIORITIES.
business
XIV. MUCH WILL DEPEND UPON AMERICA'S YOUNG PEOPLE, THEIR
the BREALISM, development THEIR ENTHUSIASM,
Socialcouscionsnessawong THEIR TREMENDOUS DRIVE Pay adoptional The Theme
That The people is business is the business of Gusiness,
acArs The Nation have
xv. I FEEL SANGUINE ABOUT THE FUTURE BECAUSE I HAVE SPOKEN ON MANY COLLEGE CAMPUSES
X
-AND COME INTO CONTACT WITH THE INQUIRING MINDS
OBSERVATION
Chrichill
.I SHARE WITH ARISTOTLE THE THAT "ALL WHO HAVE MEDITATED
ON THE ART OF GOVERNING MANKIND HAVE BEEN CONVINCED THAT THE FATE
OF EMPIRES
DEPENDS ON THE EDUCATION OF YOUTH.
Democracy
XVI. AND so I URGE YOU TO BECOME POLITICAL ACTIVISTS. TO LIVE POLITICS, NOT
JUST TO OBSERVE IT, TO BECOME PLAYERS AND NOT JUST SPECTATORS. THE GAME IS WORTH IT. ##)