1961 - Speech, President Kennedy: Special Message To Congress, TRACK ONLY Pt. 9 of 10
Continued... In conclusion, let me emphasize one point. It is not a pleasure for any President of the United States, as I am sure it was not a pleasure for my predecessors, to come before the Congress & ask for new appropriations which place burdens on our people. I came to this conclusion w/ some reluctance. But in my judgment, this is a most serious time in the life of our country & in the life of freedom around the globe, & it is the obligation, I believe, of the President of the United States to at least make his recommendations to the Members of the Congress, so that they can reach their own conclusions w/ that judgment before them. You must decide yourselves, as I have decided, & I am confident that whether you finally decide in the way that I have decided or not, that your judgment--as my judgment--is reached on what is in the best interests of our country. (applause)
20:39:25 In conclusion, let me emphasize one point: that we are determined, as a nation in 1961 that freedom shall survive & succeed--and whatever the peril & set-backs, we have some very large advantages.
The first is the simple fact that we are on the side of liberty--and since the beginning of history, & particularly since the end of the Second World War, liberty has been winning out all over the globe. (applause)
20:39:55 A second great asset is that we are not alone. We have friends & allies all over the world who share our devotion to freedom. May I cite as a symbol of traditional & effective friendship the great ally I am about to visit--France. I look forward to my visit to France, & to my discussion w/ a great Captain of the Western World, President de Gaulle, as a meeting of particular significance, permitting the kind of close & ranging consultation that will strengthen both our countries & serve the common purposes of world-wide peace & liberty. Such serious conversations do not require a pale unanimity--they are rather the instruments of trust and understanding over a long road.
20:40:54 A third asset is our desire for peace. It is sincere, & I believe the world knows it. We are proving it in our patience at the test-ban table, and we are proving it in the UN where our efforts have been directed to maintaining that organization's usefulness as a protector of the independence of small nations. (applause) In these and other instances, the response of our opponents has not been encouraging.
20:41:24 Yet it is important to know that our patience at the bargaining table is nearly inexhaustible, though our credulity is limited-that our hopes for peace are unfailing, while our determination to protect our security is resolute. For these reasons I have long thought it wise to meet w/ the Soviet Premier for a personal exchange of views. A meeting in Vienna turned out to be convenient for us both; & the Austrian government has kindly made us welcome. No formal agenda is planned & no negotiations will be undertaken; but we will make clear America's enduring concern is for both peace & freedom (applause), that we are anxious to live in harmony w/ the Russian people-that we seek no conquests, no satellites, no riches--that we seek only the day when "nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." (applause)
25May61; Presidential Speeches; Cold War;
NOTE: Any continuous 15 minutes of speech, 20:00:05 - 20:45:05 sold at per reel rate.
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1961 - Speech, President Kennedy: Special Message To Congress, TRACK ONLY Pt. 9 of 10 Continued... In conclusion, let me emphasize one point. It is not a pleasure for any President of the United States, as I am sure it was not a pleasure for my predecessors, to come before the Congress & ask for new appropriations which place burdens on our people. I came to this conclusion w/ some reluctance. But in my judgment, this is a most serious time in the life of our country & in the life of freedom around the globe, & it is the obligation, I believe, of the President of the United States to at least make his recommendations to the Members of the Congress, so that they can reach their own conclusions w/ that judgment before them. You must decide yourselves, as I have decided, & I am confident that whether you finally decide in the way that I have decided or not, that your judgment--as my judgment--is reached on what is in the best interests of our country. (applause) 20:39:25 In conclusion, let me emphasize one point: that we are determined, as a nation in 1961 that freedom shall survive & succeed--and whatever the peril & set-backs, we have some very large advantages. The first is the simple fact that we are on the side of liberty--and since the beginning of history, & particularly since the end of the Second World War, liberty has been winning out all over the globe. (applause) 20:39:55 A second great asset is that we are not alone. We have friends & allies all over the world who share our devotion to freedom. May I cite as a symbol of traditional & effective friendship the great ally I am about to visit--France. I look forward to my visit to France, & to my discussion w/ a great Captain of the Western World, President de Gaulle, as a meeting of particular significance, permitting the kind of close & ranging consultation that will strengthen both our countries & serve the common purposes of world-wide peace & liberty. Such serious conversations do not require a pale unanimity--they are rather the instruments of trust and understanding over a long road. 20:40:54 A third asset is our desire for peace. It is sincere, & I believe the world knows it. We are proving it in our patience at the test-ban table, and we are proving it in the UN where our efforts have been directed to maintaining that organization's usefulness as a protector of the independence of small nations. (applause) In these and other instances, the response of our opponents has not been encouraging. 20:41:24 Yet it is important to know that our patience at the bargaining table is nearly inexhaustible, though our credulity is limited-that our hopes for peace are unfailing, while our determination to protect our security is resolute. For these reasons I have long thought it wise to meet w/ the Soviet Premier for a personal exchange of views. A meeting in Vienna turned out to be convenient for us both; & the Austrian government has kindly made us welcome. No formal agenda is planned & no negotiations will be undertaken; but we will make clear America's enduring concern is for both peace & freedom (applause), that we are anxious to live in harmony w/ the Russian people-that we seek no conquests, no satellites, no riches--that we seek only the day when "nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more." (applause) 25May61; Presidential Speeches; Cold War; NOTE: Any continuous 15 minutes of speech, 20:00:05 - 20:45:05 sold at per reel rate.