Tom Harkin: “Mr. President, let me continue for a little bit to talk some more about the aspects of this treaty and why it is so…”

“Mr. President, let me continue for a little bit to talk some more about the aspects of this treaty and why it is so important that we ratify it this year. Again, to recap, 34 years ago today, on June 10, 1963, President Kennedy made a historic speech at American University here in Washington, DC. He talked about the need for a test ban treaty to limit the number of nuclear weapons tests. Four months after that, President Kennedy negotiated with the Soviet Union, signed and secured ratification from the United States Senate for the limited test ban treaty that banned all atmospheric tests of nuclear weapons. So, since October 1963, the two nations have had no atmospheric tests of nuclear weapons. But President Kennedy's goal was not just atmospheric tests. His goal was to ban all nuclear weapons tests. As President Kennedy said on June 10, a comprehensive test ban treaty 'would check the spiraling arms race in one of its most dangerous areas. It would place the nuclear powers in a position to deal more effectively with one of the greatest hazards * * * the further spread of nuclear arms.'”