LBJ and Barry Goldwater, 8/4/64, 10.06p.

thank you very much senator goldwater I know thank you I don't know just what time it'll be but it'll probably be when we're sure that their radar screen has picked up our plane as president commander-in-chief it's my duty the American people through the port that renewed hostile actions against us ships on the high seas and the Gulf of Tonkin have all today required me to order the military forces the United States to take action and reply the initial attack on the destroyer Maddox on August 2nd was repeated today by a number of hospital vessels attacking to us destroyers with torpedoes the destroyers the supporting aircraft acted at once on the orders given by me after the initial act of aggression we believe at least two of the attacking vote for some there were no u.s. losses the performance of commanders and crews and this engagement is the highest tradition of the United States Navy but repeated acts of violence against the armed forces of the United States must be met not only with alert defense but with positive reply reply is being given in the large sense this new act of aggression aimed directly at our own forces must bring home to all of us again the importance to us in the United States the struggle for peace and security in Southeast Asia now when I say the reply is being given by I may elaborate on that a little bit depending on how safe I can be at the time I deliver the state you follow me aggression by terror against the peaceful villagers of South Vietnam has now been joined by open aggression on the high seas against the United States of America the determination of all Americans to carry out our full commitment to the people and government South Vietnam will be redoubled by this outrage yet our response to the president will be limited in fitting we Americans know although others appear to forget the risk of spreading conflict we still seek no wider war I've instructed secretary of state to make this position totally clear to France to adversaries and indeed all I've instructed that Master Stevenson to raise this matter immediately and urgently before the Security Council the United Nation finally today met with the leaders of both parties the Congress the United States and I have informed them that I shall immediately request the Congress to pass a resolution making it clear that our government is united in its determination to take all necessary measures in support of freedom and in defense of peace in Southeast Asia I have been given given encouraging assurance by these leaders at such a resolution the proper energy is freely and expeditiously debated and passed I hope with overwhelming support it is a solemn responsibility to have to order even limited military action by forces whose overall strength is as vast and as awesome as those of the United States of America but is my considered conviction shared throughout your government that firmness and the right is indispensable toour today for peace that firmness will always be measured its mission is peace that's it well we're just very confidentially we're going to take all the boats out that we can and all the bases which they come I think you and I I wanted you to know about it then we had a good meeting here and I didn't want to say anything until I was able to reach you all right Thank You Bella you

Channel: TheLBJLibrary

Views: 44,693

Keywords: Vietnam

Id: bIQFBj1UrJk

Length: 5min 36sec (336 seconds)

Published: Sat Jul 21 2012