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…

This is the firm and the irrevocable commitment of our people and our Nation, whatever the risk and whatever the cost.

In this situation hesitation and vacillation could mean death for many of our people, as well as many of the citizens of other lands.

That is why the hopes and the concern of this entire hemisphere are, on this Sabbath-Sunday, focused on the Dominican Republic.

But we do not intend to be buried.

This is such a time for the American nations.

The American nations cannot, must not, and will not permit the establishment of another Communist government in the Western Hemisphere.

We hope to see a government freely chosen by the will of all the people.

You are needed to help shape that future.

Our forces, American forces, were ordered in immediately to protect American lives.

I know that no American serviceman wants to kill anyone.

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.

There is a special urgency for signing this measure immediately.

This means there will be no delayed checks for any of our citizens.

I want to express the great appreciation to those Members of the Congress who gave their support and their cooperation on this action in this deficiency bill.

Unless the bill becomes law today, on this last day of April, the lives of these 8 million across the Nation would be very adversely affected.

I am this afternoon signing into law the Second Supplemental Appropriation Act of 1965, appropriating $2,227,000,000 which has just been approved by the Congress.

I want you to know I am very grateful to each of you for the sacrifices you have made in assuming these responsibilities.