AmericanRhetoric.

com
RonaldReagan
ATime forChoosing

Delivered27October1964,LosAngeles,CA

AUTHENTICITYCERTIFIED:Textversionbelowtranscribeddirectlyfromaudio

Thankyouandgoodevening.Thesponsorhasbeenidentified,butunlikemosttelevision programs,theperformerhasn'tbeenprovidedwithascript.Asamatteroffact,Ihavebeen permittedtochoosemyownwordsanddiscussmyownideasregardingthechoicethatwe faceinthenextfewweeks. IhavespentmostofmylifeasaDemocrat.Irecentlyhaveseenfittofollowanothercourse. Ibelievethattheissuesconfrontinguscrosspartylines.Now,onesideinthiscampaignhas beentellingusthattheissuesofthiselectionarethemaintenanceofpeaceandprosperity. Thelinehasbeenused,"We'veneverhaditsogood." ButIhaveanuncomfortablefeelingthatthisprosperityisn'tsomethingonwhichwecanbase ourhopesforthefuture.Nonationinhistoryhaseversurvivedataxburdenthatreacheda thirdofitsnationalincome.Today,37centsoutofeverydollarearnedinthiscountryisthe taxcollectorsshare,andyetourgovernmentcontinuestospend17milliondollarsadaymore thanthegovernmenttakesin.Wehaven'tbalancedourbudget28outofthelast34years. We'veraisedourdebtlimitthreetimesinthelasttwelvemonths,andnowournationaldebt isoneandahalftimesbiggerthanallthecombineddebtsofallthenationsoftheworld.We have15billiondollarsingoldinourtreasurywedon'townanounce.Foreigndollarclaims are27.3billiondollars.Andwe'vejusthadannouncedthatthedollarof1939willnow purchase45centsinitstotalvalue. Asforthepeacethatwewouldpreserve,Iwonderwhoamonguswouldliketoapproachthe wifeormotherwhosehusbandorsonhasdiedinSouthVietnamandaskthemiftheythink thisisapeacethatshouldbemaintainedindefinitely.Dotheymeanpeace,ordotheymean wejustwanttobeleftinpeace?TherecanbenorealpeacewhileoneAmericanisdying someplaceintheworldfortherestofus.

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We'reatwarwiththemostdangerousenemythathaseverfacedmankindinhislongclimb fromtheswamptothestars,andit'sbeensaidifwelosethatwar,andinsodoinglosethis wayoffreedomofours,historywillrecordwiththegreatestastonishmentthatthosewhohad themosttolosedidtheleasttopreventitshappening.WellIthinkit'stimeweaskourselves ifwestillknowthefreedomsthatwereintendedforusbytheFoundingFathers. Nottoolongago,twofriendsofmineweretalkingtoaCubanrefugee,abusinessmanwho hadescapedfromCastro,andinthemidstofhisstoryoneofmyfriendsturnedtotheother andsaid,"Wedon'tknowhowluckyweare."AndtheCubanstoppedandsaid,"Howlucky youare?Ihadsomeplacetoescapeto."Andinthatsentencehetoldustheentirestory.Ifwe losefreedomhere,there'snoplacetoescapeto.Thisisthelaststandonearth. Andthisideathatgovernmentisbeholdentothepeople,thatithasnoothersourceofpower exceptthesovereignpeople,isstillthenewestandthemostuniqueideainallthelong historyofman'srelationtoman. Thisistheissueofthiselection:whetherwebelieveinourcapacityforselfgovernmentor whetherweabandontheAmericanrevolutionandconfessthatalittleintellectualeliteinafar distantcapitolcanplanourlivesforusbetterthanwecanplanthemourselves. YouandIaretoldincreasinglywehavetochoosebetweenaleftorright.WellI'dliketo suggestthereisnosuchthingasaleftorright.There'sonlyanupordown:[up]man'sold ageddream,theultimateinindividualfreedomconsistentwithlawandorder,ordowntothe antheapoftotalitarianism.Andregardlessoftheirsincerity,theirhumanitarianmotives, thosewhowouldtradeourfreedomforsecurityhaveembarkedonthisdownwardcourse. Inthisvoteharvestingtime,theyusetermslikethe"GreatSociety,"orasweweretoldafew daysagobythePresident,wemustacceptagreatergovernmentactivityintheaffairsofthe people.Butthey'vebeenalittlemoreexplicitinthepastandamongthemselvesandallof thethingsInowwillquotehaveappearedinprint.ThesearenotRepublicanaccusations.For example,theyhavevoicesthatsay,"Thecoldwarwillendthroughouracceptanceofanot undemocraticsocialism."Anothervoicesays,"Theprofitmotivehasbecomeoutmoded.It mustbereplacedbytheincentivesofthewelfarestate."Or,"Ourtraditionalsystemof individualfreedomisincapableofsolvingthecomplexproblemsofthe20thcentury."Senator FulbrighthassaidatStanfordUniversitythattheConstitutionisoutmoded.Hereferredtothe Presidentas"ourmoralteacherandourleader,"andhesaysheis"hobbledinhistaskbythe restrictionsofpowerimposedonhimbythisantiquateddocument."Hemust"befreed,"so thathe"candoforus"whatheknows"isbest."AndSenatorClarkofPennsylvania,another articulatespokesman,definesliberalismas"meetingthematerialneedsofthemasses throughthefullpowerofcentralizedgovernment." Well,I,forone,resentitwhenarepresentativeofthepeoplereferstoyouandme,thefree menandwomenofthiscountry,as"themasses."Thisisatermwehaven'tappliedto ourselvesinAmerica.Butbeyondthat,"thefullpowerofcentralizedgovernment"thiswas theverythingtheFoundingFatherssoughttominimize.

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Theyknewthatgovernmentsdon'tcontrolthings.Agovernmentcan'tcontroltheeconomy withoutcontrollingpeople.Andtheyknowwhenagovernmentsetsouttodothat,itmustuse forceandcoerciontoachieveitspurpose.Theyalsoknew,thoseFoundingFathers,that outsideofitslegitimatefunctions,governmentdoesnothingaswelloraseconomicallyasthe privatesectoroftheeconomy. Now,wehavenobetterexampleofthisthangovernment'sinvolvementinthefarmeconomy overthelast30years.Since1955,thecostofthisprogramhasnearlydoubled.Onefourthof farminginAmericaisresponsiblefor85%ofthefarmsurplus.Threefourthsoffarmingisout onthefreemarketandhasknowna21%increaseinthepercapitaconsumptionofallits produce.Yousee,thatonefourthoffarmingthat'sregulatedandcontrolledbythefederal government.Inthelastthreeyearswe'vespent43dollarsinthefeedgrainprogramforevery dollarbushelofcornwedon'tgrow. SenatorHumphreylastweekchargedthatBarryGoldwater,asPresident,wouldseekto eliminatefarmers.Heshoulddohishomeworkalittlebetter,becausehe'llfindoutthatwe've hadadeclineof5millioninthefarmpopulationunderthesegovernmentprograms.He'llalso findthattheDemocraticadministrationhassoughttogetfromCongress[an]extensionofthe farmprogramtoincludethatthreefourthsthatisnowfree.He'llfindthatthey'vealsoasked fortherighttoimprisonfarmerswhowouldn'tkeepbooksasprescribedbythefederal government.TheSecretaryofAgricultureaskedfortherighttoseizefarmsthrough condemnationandresellthemtootherindividuals.Andcontainedinthatsameprogramwasa provisionthatwouldhaveallowedthefederalgovernmenttoremove2millionfarmersfrom thesoil. Atthesametime,there'sbeenanincreaseintheDepartmentofAgricultureemployees. There'snowoneforevery30farmsintheUnitedStates,andstilltheycan'ttellushow66 shiploadsofgrainheadedforAustriadisappearedwithoutatraceandBillieSolEstesnever leftshore. Everyresponsiblefarmerandfarmorganizationhasrepeatedlyaskedthegovernmenttofree thefarmeconomy,buthowarefarmerstoknowwhat'sbestforthem?Thewheatfarmers votedagainstawheatprogram.Thegovernmentpasseditanyway.Nowthepriceofbread goesupthepriceofwheattothefarmergoesdown. Meanwhile,backinthecity,underurbanrenewaltheassaultonfreedomcarrieson.Private propertyrights[are]sodilutedthatpublicinterestisalmostanythingafewgovernment plannersdecideitshouldbe.Inaprogramthattakesfromtheneedyandgivestothegreedy, weseesuchspectaclesasinCleveland,Ohio,amillionandahalfdollarbuildingcompleted onlythreeyearsagomustbedestroyedtomakewayforwhatgovernmentofficialscalla "morecompatibleuseoftheland." ThePresidenttellsushe'snowgoingtostartbuildingpublichousingunitsinthethousands, whereheretoforewe'veonlybuilttheminthehundreds.ButFHA[FederalHousingAuthority] andtheVeteransAdministrationtellustheyhave120,000housingunitsthey'vetakenback throughmortgageforeclosure.

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Forthreedecades,we'vesoughttosolvetheproblemsofunemploymentthroughgovernment planning,andthemoretheplansfail,themoretheplannersplan.ThelatestistheArea RedevelopmentAgency. They'vejustdeclaredRiceCounty,Kansas,adepressedarea.RiceCounty,Kansas,hastwo hundredoilwells,andthe14,000peopletherehaveover30milliondollarsondepositin personalsavingsintheirbanks.Andwhenthegovernmenttellsyouyou'redepressed,lie downandbedepressed. Wehavesomanypeoplewhocan'tseeafatmanstandingbesideathinonewithoutcoming totheconclusionthefatmangotthatwaybytakingadvantageofthethinone.Sothey're goingtosolvealltheproblemsofhumanmiserythroughgovernmentandgovernment planning.Well,now,ifgovernmentplanningandwelfarehadtheanswerandthey'vehad almost30yearsofitshouldn'tweexpectgovernmenttoreadthescoretousonceina while?Shouldn'ttheybetellingusaboutthedeclineeachyearinthenumberofpeople needinghelp?Thereductionintheneedforpublichousing? Butthereverseistrue.Eachyeartheneedgrowsgreatertheprogramgrowsgreater.We weretoldfouryearsagothat17millionpeoplewenttobedhungryeachnight.Wellthatwas probablytrue.Theywereallonadiet.Butnowwe'retoldthat9.3millionfamiliesinthis countryarepovertystrickenonthebasisofearninglessthan3,000dollarsayear.Welfare spending[is]10timesgreaterthaninthedarkdepthsoftheDepression.We'respending45 billiondollarsonwelfare.Nowdoalittlearithmetic,andyou'llfindthatifwedividedthe45 billiondollarsupequallyamongthose9millionpoorfamilies,we'dbeabletogiveeachfamily 4,600dollarsayear.Andthisaddedtotheirpresentincomeshouldeliminatepoverty.Direct aidtothepoor,however,isonlyrunningonlyabout600dollarsperfamily.Itwouldseemthat someplacetheremustbesomeoverhead. Sonowwedeclare"waronpoverty,"or"You,too,canbeaBobbyBaker."Nowdothey honestlyexpectustobelievethatifweadd1billiondollarstothe45billionwe'respending, onemoreprogramtothe30oddwehaveandremember,thisnewprogramdoesn'treplace any,itjustduplicatesexistingprogramsdotheybelievethatpovertyissuddenlygoingto disappearbymagic?Well,inallfairnessIshouldexplainthereisonepartofthenewprogram thatisn'tduplicated.Thisistheyouthfeature.We'renowgoingtosolvethedropoutproblem, juveniledelinquency,byreinstitutingsomethingliketheoldCCCcamps[CivilianConservation Corps],andwe'regoingtoputouryoungpeopleinthesecamps.Butagainwedosome arithmetic,andwefindthatwe'regoingtospendeachyearjustonroomandboardforeach youngpersonwehelp4,700dollarsayear.WecansendthemtoHarvardfor2,700!Course, don'tgetmewrong.I'mnotsuggestingHarvardistheanswertojuveniledelinquency. Butseriously,whatarewedoingtothoseweseektohelp?Nottoolongago,ajudgecalled mehereinLosAngeles.Hetoldmeofayoungwomanwho'dcomebeforehimforadivorce. Shehadsixchildren,waspregnantwithherseventh.Underhisquestioning,sherevealedher husbandwasalaborerearning250dollarsamonth.Shewantedadivorcetogetan80dollar raise.She'seligiblefor330dollarsamonthintheAidtoDependentChildrenProgram.She gottheideafromtwowomeninherneighborhoodwho'dalreadydonethatverything.

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YetanytimeyouandIquestiontheschemesofthedogooders,we'redenouncedasbeing againsttheirhumanitariangoals.Theysaywe'realways"against"thingswe'renever"for" anything.Well,thetroublewithourliberalfriendsisnotthatthey'reignorantit'sjustthat theyknowsomuchthatisn'tso. Nowwe'reforaprovisionthatdestitutionshouldnotfollowunemploymentbyreasonofold age,andtothatendwe'veacceptedSocialSecurityasasteptowardmeetingtheproblem. Butwe'reagainstthoseentrustedwiththisprogramwhentheypracticedeceptionregarding itsfiscalshortcomings,whentheychargethatanycriticismoftheprogrammeansthatwe wanttoendpaymentstothosepeoplewhodependonthemforalivelihood.They'vecalledit "insurance"tousinahundredmillionpiecesofliterature.Butthentheyappearedbeforethe SupremeCourtandtheytestifieditwasawelfareprogram.Theyonlyusetheterm "insurance"tosellittothepeople.AndtheysaidSocialSecurityduesareataxforthe generaluseofthegovernment,andthegovernmenthasusedthattax.Thereisnofund, becauseRobertByers,theactuarialhead,appearedbeforeacongressionalcommitteeand admittedthatSocialSecurityasofthismomentis298billiondollarsinthehole.Buthesaid thereshouldbenocauseforworrybecauseaslongastheyhavethepowertotax,theycould alwaystakeawayfromthepeoplewhatevertheyneededtobailthemoutoftrouble.And they'redoingjustthat. Ayoungman,21yearsofage,workingatanaveragesalaryhisSocialSecuritycontribution would,intheopenmarket,buyhimaninsurancepolicythatwouldguarantee220dollarsa monthatage65.Thegovernmentpromises127.Hecouldliveitupuntilhe's31andthen takeoutapolicythatwouldpaymorethanSocialSecurity.Nowarewesolackinginbusiness sensethatwecan'tputthisprogramonasoundbasis,sothatpeoplewhodorequirethose paymentswillfindtheycangetthemwhenthey'reduethatthecupboardisn'tbare? BarryGoldwaterthinkswecan. Atthesametime,can'tweintroducevoluntaryfeaturesthatwouldpermitacitizenwhocan dobetteronhisowntobeexcuseduponpresentationofevidencethathehadmadeprovision forthenonearningyears?Shouldwenotallowawidowwithchildrentowork,andnotlose thebenefitssupposedlypaidforbyherdeceasedhusband?Shouldn'tyouandIbeallowedto declarewhoourbeneficiarieswillbeunderthisprogram,whichwecannotdo?Ithinkwe're fortellingourseniorcitizensthatnooneinthiscountryshouldbedeniedmedicalcare becauseofalackoffunds. ButIthinkwe'reagainstforcingallcitizens,regardlessofneed,intoacompulsory governmentprogram,especiallywhenwehavesuchexamples,aswasannouncedlastweek, whenFranceadmittedthattheirMedicareprogramisnowbankrupt.They'vecometotheend oftheroad. Inaddition,wasBarryGoldwatersoirresponsiblewhenhesuggestedthatourgovernment giveupitsprogramofdeliberate,plannedinflation,sothatwhenyoudogetyourSocial Securitypension,adollarwillbuyadollar'sworth,andnot45centsworth?

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Ithinkwe'reforaninternationalorganization,wherethenationsoftheworldcanseekpeace. ButIthinkwe'reagainstsubordinatingAmericanintereststoanorganizationthathasbecome sostructurallyunsoundthattodayyoucanmusteratwothirdsvoteonthefloorofthe GeneralAssemblyamongnationsthatrepresentlessthan10percentoftheworld's population.Ithinkwe'reagainstthehypocrisyofassailingouralliesbecausehereandthere theyclingtoacolony,whileweengageinaconspiracyofsilenceandneveropenourmouths aboutthemillionsofpeopleenslavedintheSovietcoloniesinthesatellitenations. Ithinkwe'reforaidingouralliesbysharingofourmaterialblessingswiththosenationswhich shareinourfundamentalbeliefs,butwe'reagainstdolingoutmoneygovernmentto government,creatingbureaucracy,ifnotsocialism,allovertheworld.Wesetouttohelp19 countries.We'rehelping107.We'vespent146billiondollars.Withthatmoney,weboughta2 milliondollaryachtforHaileSelassie.WeboughtdresssuitsforGreekundertakers,extra wivesforKenya[n]governmentofficials.WeboughtathousandTVsetsforaplacewhere theyhavenoelectricity.Inthelastsixyears,52nationshavebought7billiondollarsworthof ourgold,andall52arereceivingforeignaidfromthiscountry. Nogovernmentevervoluntarilyreducesitselfinsize.So,governments'programs,once launched,neverdisappear.Actually,agovernmentbureauisthenearestthingtoeternallife we'lleverseeonthisearth. Federalemployeesnumbertwoandahalfmillionandfederal,state,andlocal,oneoutofsix ofthenation'sworkforceemployedbygovernment.Theseproliferatingbureauswiththeir thousandsofregulationshavecostusmanyofourconstitutionalsafeguards.Howmanyofus realizethattodayfederalagentscaninvadeaman'spropertywithoutawarrant?Theycan imposeafinewithoutaformalhearing,letaloneatrialbyjury?Andtheycanseizeandsell hispropertyatauctiontoenforcethepaymentofthatfine.InChicoCounty,Arkansas,James Wieroverplantedhisriceallotment.Thegovernmentobtaineda17,000dollarjudgment.And aU.S.marshalsoldhis960acrefarmatauction.Thegovernmentsaiditwasnecessaryasa warningtootherstomakethesystemwork. LastFebruary19thattheUniversityofMinnesota,NormanThomas,sixtimescandidatefor PresidentontheSocialistPartyticket,said,"IfBarryGoldwaterbecamePresident,hewould stoptheadvanceofsocialismintheUnitedStates."Ithinkthat'sexactlywhathewilldo. ButasaformerDemocrat,IcantellyouNormanThomasisn'ttheonlymanwhohasdrawn thisparalleltosocialismwiththepresentadministration,becausebackin1936,Mr.Democrat himself,AlSmith,thegreatAmerican,camebeforetheAmericanpeopleandchargedthatthe leadershipofhisPartywastakingthePartyofJefferson,Jackson,andClevelanddownthe roadunderthebannersofMarx,Lenin,andStalin. AndhewalkedawayfromhisParty,andheneverreturnedtilthedayhediedbecauseto thisday,theleadershipofthatPartyhasbeentakingthatParty,thathonorableParty,down theroadintheimageofthelaborSocialistPartyofEngland.

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Nowitdoesn'trequireexpropriationorconfiscationofprivatepropertyorbusinesstoimpose socialismonapeople.Whatdoesitmeanwhetheryouholdthedeedorthetitletoyour businessorpropertyifthegovernmentholdsthepoweroflifeanddeathoverthatbusinessor property?Andsuchmachineryalreadyexists.Thegovernmentcanfindsomechargetobring againstanyconcernitchoosestoprosecute.Everybusinessmanhashisowntaleof harassment.Somewhereaperversionhastakenplace.Ournatural,unalienablerightsare nowconsideredtobeadispensationofgovernment,andfreedomhasneverbeensofragile, soclosetoslippingfromourgraspasitisatthismoment. OurDemocraticopponentsseemunwillingtodebatetheseissues.Theywanttomakeyouand Ibelievethatthisisacontestbetweentwomenthatwe'retochoosejustbetweentwo personalities. Wellwhatofthismanthattheywoulddestroyandindestroying,theywoulddestroythat whichherepresents,theideasthatyouandIholddear?Ishethebrashandshallowand triggerhappymantheysayheis?WellI'vebeenprivilegedtoknowhim"when."Iknewhim longbeforeheeverdreamedoftryingforhighoffice,andIcantellyoupersonallyI'venever knownamaninmylifeIbelievedsoincapableofdoingadishonestordishonorablething. Thisisamanwho,inhisownbusinessbeforeheenteredpolitics,institutedaprofitsharing planbeforeunionshadeverthoughtofit.Heputinhealthandmedicalinsuranceforallhis employees.Hetook50percentoftheprofitsbeforetaxesandsetuparetirementprogram,a pensionplanforallhisemployees.Hesentmonthlychecksforlifetoanemployeewhowasill andcouldn'twork.Heprovidesnursingcareforthechildrenofmotherswhoworkinthe stores.WhenMexicowasravagedbythefloodsintheRioGrande,heclimbedinhisairplane andflewmedicineandsuppliesdownthere. AnexGItoldmehowhemethim.ItwastheweekbeforeChristmasduringtheKoreanWar, andhewasattheLosAngelesairporttryingtogetaridehometoArizonaforChristmas.And hesaidthat[therewere]alotofservicementhereandnoseatsavailableontheplanes.And thenavoicecameovertheloudspeakerandsaid,"Anymeninuniformwantingarideto Arizona,gotorunwaysuchandsuch,"andtheywentdownthere,andtherewasafellow namedBarryGoldwatersittinginhisplane.EverydayinthoseweeksbeforeChristmas,all daylong,he'dloaduptheplane,flyittoArizona,flythemtotheirhomes,flybackovertoget anotherload. Duringthehecticsplitsecondtimingofacampaign,thisisamanwhotooktimeouttosit besideanoldfriendwhowasdyingofcancer.Hiscampaignmanagerswereunderstandably impatient,buthesaid,"Therearen'tmanyleftwhocarewhathappenstoher.I'dlikeherto knowIcare." Thisisamanwhosaidtohis19yearoldson,"Thereisnofoundationliketherockofhonesty andfairness,andwhenyoubegintobuildyourlifeonthatrock,withthecementofthefaith inGodthatyouhave,thenyouhavearealstart."Thisisnotamanwhocouldcarelesslysend otherpeople'ssonstowar.Andthatistheissueofthiscampaignthatmakesalltheother problemsI'vediscussedacademic,unlesswerealizewe'reinawarthatmustbewon.

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Thosewhowouldtradeourfreedomforthesoupkitchenofthewelfarestatehavetoldus theyhaveautopiansolutionofpeacewithoutvictory.Theycalltheirpolicy"accommodation." Andtheysayifwe'llonlyavoidanydirectconfrontationwiththeenemy,he'llforgethisevil waysandlearntoloveus.Allwhoopposethemareindictedaswarmongers.Theysaywe offersimpleanswerstocomplexproblems.Well,perhapsthereisasimpleanswernotan easyanswerbutsimple:IfyouandIhavethecouragetotellourelectedofficialsthatwe wantournationalpolicybasedonwhatweknowinourheartsismorallyright. Wecannotbuyoursecurity,ourfreedomfromthethreatofthebombbycommittingan immoralitysogreatassayingtoabillionhumanbeingsnowenslavedbehindtheIronCurtain, "Giveupyourdreamsoffreedombecausetosaveourownskins,we'rewillingtomakeadeal withyourslavemasters."AlexanderHamiltonsaid,"Anationwhichcanpreferdisgraceto dangerispreparedforamaster,anddeservesone."Nowlet'ssettherecordstraight.There's noargumentoverthechoicebetweenpeaceandwar,butthere'sonlyoneguaranteedway youcanhavepeaceandyoucanhaveitinthenextsecondsurrender. Admittedly,there'sariskinanycoursewefollowotherthanthis,buteverylessonofhistory tellsusthatthegreaterriskliesinappeasement,andthisisthespecterourwellmeaning liberalfriendsrefusetofacethattheirpolicyofaccommodationisappeasement,andit givesnochoicebetweenpeaceandwar,onlybetweenfightorsurrender.Ifwecontinueto accommodate,continuetobackandretreat,eventuallywehavetofacethefinaldemand theultimatum.Andwhatthen?WhenNikitaKhrushchevhastoldhispeopleheknowswhat ouranswerwillbe?Hehastoldthemthatwe'reretreatingunderthepressureoftheCold War,andsomedaywhenthetimecomestodeliverthefinalultimatum,oursurrenderwillbe voluntary,becausebythattimewewillhavebeenweakenedfromwithinspiritually,morally, andeconomically.Hebelievesthisbecausefromoursidehe'sheardvoicespleadingfor "peaceatanyprice"or"betterRedthandead,"orasonecommentatorputit,he'drather"live onhiskneesthandieonhisfeet."Andthereinliestheroadtowar,becausethosevoicesdon't speakfortherestofus. YouandIknowanddonotbelievethatlifeissodearandpeacesosweetastobepurchased atthepriceofchainsandslavery.Ifnothinginlifeisworthdyingfor,whendidthisbegin justinthefaceofthisenemy?OrshouldMoseshavetoldthechildrenofIsraeltolivein slaveryunderthepharaohs? ShouldChristhaverefusedthecross?ShouldthepatriotsatConcordBridgehavethrown downtheirgunsandrefusedtofiretheshotheard'roundtheworld?Themartyrsofhistory werenotfools,andourhonoreddeadwhogavetheirlivestostoptheadvanceoftheNazis didn'tdieinvain.Where,then,istheroadtopeace?Wellit'sasimpleanswerafterall. YouandIhavethecouragetosaytoourenemies,"Thereisapricewewillnotpay.""Thereis apointbeyondwhichtheymustnotadvance."AndthisisthemeaninginthephraseofBarry Goldwater's"peacethroughstrength."WinstonChurchillsaid,"Thedestinyofmanisnot measuredbymaterialcomputations.Whengreatforcesareonthemoveintheworld,we learnwe'respiritsnotanimals."Andhesaid,"There'ssomethinggoingonintimeand space,andbeyondtimeandspace,which,whetherwelikeitornot,spellsduty."

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YouandIhavearendezvouswithdestiny. We'llpreserveforourchildrenthis,thelastbesthopeofmanonearth,orwe'llsentencethem totakethelaststepintoathousandyearsofdarkness. WewillkeepinmindandrememberthatBarryGoldwaterhasfaithinus.Hehasfaiththat youandIhavetheabilityandthedignityandtherighttomakeourowndecisionsand determineourowndestiny. Thankyouverymuch.

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