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Eternally, our biggest problem--the biggest problem
that the United States faces--is the containment of Communist
aggression. I think you all are probably aware chat I have
been somewhat less than an avid backer of the President of
the United States on many domestic matters. But, I should
say that when it comes to his basic policy in desiring to
protect and guarantee the independence of South Vietnam, and
in his announced determination not to abandon Southeast Asia
to Communist domination, I support my President 100 percent,
and I trust that all of you do, too.
I think we must understand that in current circumstances,
the President of the United States is a very lonely man. He
has to make difficult decisions that only he can make. He is
surrounded by advisors and by experts, but in the final
analysis he must make the decisions that result in sending
men to risk their lives and all too often lose them.
It was my privilege to report to the President a few days
ago on the results of a trip I took to Southeast Asia for a
period of 17 days, in which I visited Korea, Taiwan, Hong
Kong, Thailand, and spent six says in South Vietnam. And,
I think the President has the right instincts insofar as the
prosecution of the war is concerned.
I think it is manifest on us, those of us in public
office--that includes those of you here in the Legislature of
the great State oz Texas--to manifest our sentiments and our nurm
support for this splendid effort that's being carried out by
American boys many thousand miles from home.
We are in Vietnam because we want to reduce the likelihood
that we'll have to fight on a broader front at a greater cost
in human life and material resources later on. We are there
because if we were not there by this time all of Southeast Asia
woulo have fallen to Communist nomination; and if any countries
remained, they would be inviting us to move ourselves else-
where to avoid risking the embarrassment of United States
presence with Communist conquest imminent.
By a show of determination, by a show of resolution, by
a show of military force, I think we have convinced most of
the free nations of Asia that we are there to stay, and we
have strengthened their will to resist Communist aggression
and Communist intrusion.
We must understand that as the most powerful nation in
the free world we are the free world's first line of defense
against Communism. And, if we fail anc if we weaken, then we
can expect that the offensive perimeter of Communism will be
moved further away from Russian and Chinese shores and closer
to our shores. It is incumbent on us to keep that perimeter
as far away from our shores as possible.
Now we possess very great military might. But, that
military might is worth nothing to us if we co not have the
strength and determination to use it when necessary.
We have tried to achieve peaceful settlement of the
strife in Southeast Asia. This Administration was patient for
18 months. Then finally we found it necessary to put American
troops ashore in Southeast Asia. We were restrained in our
bombing in the North until it became necessary for us to inter-
dict the supply lines of the enemy. We declared moratoriums
on bombing and we conducted peace offensives, but it is
apparent the enemy will not be willing to make peace in a
rational way until we have convinced him that war is too
costly an implement of national policy to employ.
This basically is why we have resumed our efforts in
Vietnam in bombing the North and increased the pressure of our
ground troops on the main force Viet Cong and North Vietnamese
units in South Vietnam.
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