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Rotary Club, Lowell, MI, August 26, 1970
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4526307
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document
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Rotary Club, Lowell, MI, August 26, 1970
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Gerald R. Ford Congressional Papers
Speeches
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Nixon, Richard M. (Richard Milhous), 1913-1994
International relations
Vietnam War, 1961-1975
Vietnamization
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1970-08-31
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1970
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1970
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The original documents are located in Box D30, folder "Rotary Club, Lowell, MI, August
26, 1970" 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States of America his copyrights in all of his unpublished writings in National Archives collections.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.
an Special 8/24/70
Office Copy
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
--FOR RELEASE AT 12 NOON--
Wednesday, August 26, 1970
Excerpts from a Speech By Rep. Gerald R. Ford before the Lowell Rotary Club
We have turned the corner into a new era in foreign affairs.
We are embarked on a foreign policy program that can provide the framework
for a durable peace. We are pursuing a policy that contains great promise and hope
for future generations.
I am speaking of the foreign policy doctrine enunciated by President Nixon
when he said we will help those of our friends who are willing to help themselves.
The Monroe Doctrine said to Europe, "Stay out of the western hemisphere."
The Truman Doctrine said to the Soviet Union, "Stay out of countries that want to
remain non-Communist." The Nixon Doctrine says, "The nations of each part of the
world should assume the primary responsibility for their own well-being; and we will
help them do that."
The Monroe, Truman and Nixon Doctrines were enunciated at critical turning
point in our history. The Monree and Truman Doctrines were right for their time; the
Nixon Doctrine is right for our time.
The Nixon Doctrine says: "We shall be faithful to our treaty commitments,
but we shall reduce our involvement and our presence in other nations' affairs."
Our Vietnam policy corresponds with the Nixon Doctrine. It is part and
parcel of it. It fits into a special niche in the general framework of our new
foreign policy.
Today there is much talk about reordering our priorities. We are doing
just that domestically and in foreign affairs.
One of the priorities high on everyone's list is getting American manpower
and dollar commitments out of the war in Southeast Asia. Where there is disagreement,
it involves the speed and circumstances under which we should withdraw.
When President Nixon took office he was faced with three alternatives in
Vietnam
One was further escalation of the war in an effort to
"win it." The second choice was immediate withdrawal. The third choice was to
attempt to build up the ability of the South Vietnamese to maintain their own defense
while American forces in Vietnam were withdrawn over a period of months.
The President chose the middle course, a policy of Vietnamizing the war, a
policy which would not write off the previous investment of American lives and treasure
Digitized from Box D30 of The Ford Congressional Papers: Press Secretary and Speech File at the Gerald R. Ford Presidential Library
-2-
in Vietnam but would end the U.S. ground combat role in Southeast Asia.
The policy of Vietnamisation involved the ability of the North Vietnamese
to frustrate the plan. This is why the United States was forced to make a sweep of
the Communist sanctuaries in Cambodia even while a policy of winding down the war
was being followed in Vietnam.
The fighting in South Vietnam has dropped to a very low level. American
casualties are at the lowest point in four years. We have withdrawn 110,000 mon
from Vietnam and will withdraw another 150,000 by next spring, bringing the total
withdrawals to 260,000. We have also reaffirmed our proposals for a negotiated peace
in Vietnam and have named a new chief negotiator with fresh instructions.
As for Vietnamization, it is not just a word. Those who wanted us to pull
our immediately are being proved wrong even while they continue with their calls for
"peace now and never mind the price."
The Cambodian Operation was a tremendous success despite the domestic furor
it caused. The Communists lost vast stores of supplies, a which is reflected
in the current low level of fighting in Vietnam. And now the Communists see a
marshaling of South Vietnamese, Cambodian and Thai forces to resist the reestablishment
of Communist sanctuaries in Cambodia while U.S. air power continues to interdict their
supply routes.
Events in Cambodia have not widened the war. It has been an Indochina War
ever since the Communists violated the neutrality of Laos and Cambodia to pursue their
designs on South Vietnam. What has been widened is the commitment of the people of
Cambodia and Thailand to resist a threat to their own security which had been tolerated
too long.
We have seen the meaning of the Nixon Doctrine spelled out dramatically. It
is more than just words, A serious threat to the safe withdr ava of U.S. troops from
South Vietnam has been overcome. Nations which must accept more responsibility for their
own survival under the Nixon Doctrine have shown a willingness to do exactly that.
The Nixon Doctrine also is working in the Middle East. While the cease-fire
there is only a first step toward peace and a tenuous one at that, it is a highly
important first step. And it came as a result of Nixon Administration initiative.
Now WO must work terribly hard to bring about a peace agreement--an agreement which is
fair and lasting.
What all of these developments mean is that we have adopted a foreign policy
with a new sense of purpose--a steadfast spirit that is carrying us toward stability in
the Far East and throughout the World.
######
District distribution only
0 office Copy
CONGRESSMAN
NEWS
GERALD R. FORD
HOUSE REPUBLICAN LEADER
RELEASE
-FOR RELEASE AT 12 NOON--
Wednesday, August 26, 1970
Excerpts from a Speech By Rep. Gerald R. Ford before the Lowell Rotary Club
We have turned the corner into a new era in foreign affairs.
We are embarked on a foreign policy program that can provide the framswork
for a durable peace. We are pursuing a policy that contains great promise and hope
for future generations.
I am speaking of the foreign policy doctrine enunciated by President Nixon
when he said we will help those of our friends who are willing to help themselves.
The Monroe Doctrine said to Europe, "Stay out of the western hemisphere."
The Truman Doctrine said to the Soviet Union, "Stay out of countries that want to
remain non-Communist." The Nixon Doctrine says, "The nations of each part of the
world should assume the primary responsibility for their own well-being; and we will
help them do that."
The Monroe, Truman and Nixon Doctrines were enunciated at a critical turning
point in our history. The Monroe and Truman Doctrines were right for their time; the
Nixon Doctrine is right for our time.
The Nixon Doctrine says: "We shall be faithful to our treaty commitments,
but we shall reduce our involvement and our presence in other nations' affairs."
Our Vietnam policy corresponds with the Nixon Doctrine. It is part and
parcel of it. It fits into a special niche in the general framework of our new
foreign policy.
Today there is much talk about reordering our priorities. We are doing
just that--domestically and in foreign affairs.
One of the priorities high on everyone's list is getting American manpower
and dollar commitments out of the war in Southeast Asia. Where there is disagreement,
it involve the speed and circumstances under which we should withdraw.
When President Nixon took office he was faced with three alternatives in
Vietnam-all of them bad. One was further escalation of the war in an effort to
"win it." The second choice was immediate withdrawal. The third choice was to
attempt to build up the ability of the South Vietnamese to maintain their own defense
while American forces in Vietnam were withdrawn over a period of months.
FORD
The President chose the middle course, a policy of Vietnamizing
the war, a LIBRARY
policy which would not write off the previous investment of American lives and treasure
-2-
in Vietnam but would end the U,S. ground combat role in Southeast isia.
The policy of Vietnamigation involved the ability of the North Vietnamese
to frustrate the plan. This is why the United States was forced to make a sweep of
the Communist sanctuaries in Cambodia even while a policy of winding down the war
was being followed in Vietnam.
The fighting in South Vietnam has dropped to a very low level. American
casualties are at the lowest point in four years. We have withdrawn 110,000 men
from Vietnam and will withdraw another 150,000 by next spring, bringing the total
withdrawals to 260,000. We have also reaffirmed our proposals for a negotiated peace
in Vietnam and have named a new chief negotiator with fresh instructions.
As for Vistnamization, it is not just a word. Those who wanted us to pull
our immediately are being proved wrong even while they continue with their calls for
"peace now and never mind the price."
The Cambodian Operation was a tremendous success despite the domestic furor
it caused. The Communists lost vast stores of supplies, a fact which is reflected
in the current low level of fighting in Vietnam. And now the Communists see a
marshaling of South Vietnamese, Cambodian and Thai forces to resist the reestablishment
of Communist sanctuaries in Cambodia while U.S. air power continues to interdict their
supply routes.
Events in Cambodia have not widened the war. It has been an Indochina War
ever since the Communists violated the neutrality of Laos and Cambodia to pursue their
designs on South Vietnam. What has been widened is the commitment of the people of
Cambodia and Thailand to resist a threat to their own security which had been tolerated
too long.
We have seen the meaning of the Nixon Doctrine spelled out dramatically. It
is more than just words, A serious threat to the safe withdr aval of U.S. troops from
South Vietnam has been overcome. Nations which mustraccept more responsibility for their
own survival under the Nixon Doctrine have shown a willingness to do exactly that.
The Nixon Doctrine also is working in the Middle East. While the cease-fire
there is only a first step toward peace and a tenuous one at that, it is a highly
important first step. And it came as a result of Nixon Administration initiative.
Now we must work terribly hard to bring about a peace agreement--an agreement which is
fair and lasting.
What all of these developments mean is that we have adopted a foreign policy
with a new sense of purpose--a steadfast spirit that is carrying us toward stability in
the Far East and throughout the World.
FORD & LIBRARY
######