That alliance is one of our great assurances that the failures of the first half of our century will not be repeated in the last half of our century.
Lyndon Johnson
The Public Record
Lyndon Baines Johnson was the 36th President of the United States, serving from 1963 to 1969. A member of the Democratic Party, he was born in Texas and began his political career as a U.S. Representative in 1937, later becoming a U.S. Senator in 1949. Johnson ascended to the presidency following the assassination of John F. Kennedy, and his administration is noted for significant domestic policies, including the Great Society programs aimed at eliminating poverty and racial injustice. His legislative achievements included the Civil Rights Act of 1964 and the establishment of Medicare and Medicaid.
Whether it be in Viet-Nam, where a brave people struggle for their own freedom, or whether it is in the Dominican Republic, where the spoilers of freedom have plundered and killed, this Nation--your country--will do what is right, and will…
Once our promise is broken in one place, even though it is a little country called South Viet-Nam, America's promise is worthless in all places.
We are giving that help, we are giving it because of our commitments, because of our principles, and because we believe that our national interest demands it.
I did not fully appreciate that my uniform completely concealed my status as a Congressman.
For all of my public life, when I am in need of light I turn to the REA.
We will do, though, what must be done and we will do only what must be done.
Therefore, I am giving serious consideration to asking the Congress to appropriate at an early date an additional $700 million to meet the mounting military needs primarily in Viet-Nam and such expenses as we have had in the Dominican…
I am convinced that when the history of the 30th century is finally written it will be a century remembered throughout all the ages for the constructive efforts toward peace, rather than for the destructive enterprises of war.
We know that we must find some way, somehow, a path to peaceful settlement.
This is the firm and the irrevocable commitment of our people and our Nation, whatever the risk and whatever the cost.
South Viet-Nam has been attacked by North Viet-Nam. It has asked our help.
I have just come from a meeting with the leaders of both parties in the Congress which was held in the Cabinet Room in the White House.
We hope to see a government freely chosen by the will of all the people.
The American nations cannot, must not, and will not permit the establishment of another Communist government in the Western Hemisphere.





