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LAURA. Schwartz that President Johnson personally arranged a Westmoreland's appearance in this country at this time. Of course he is one of the critics of the general's appearance here press secretary Christian said yesterday that Westmoreland's New York speech was not seen by the president in advance but was cabled to the president in West Germany. Quote After it was made on quote Other sources have said that Westmoreland speech was fully examined by all departments directly concerned with the war. And so the controversy there goes on. Another comment from the Senate and from the house members of Congress. Senator Thurston the Morton the Republican of Kentucky asked whether the general's mission in his country was to put a sack over dissent. The appearance of a gallant field commander before a joint meeting of the Congress he said while intending to pour oil on troubled waters is instead pouring salt in a wound. This is overkill he went on with war emotions rising on all sides. Morton
said this is a plea to all sides to as he put it cool it baby. German J William Fulbright as we have said of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee made clear that he was convinced that the administration's objective behind Westmorland speech in New York on Monday was intended to make critics quote shut up unquote. Controversy on all sides here in Washington and it should prove a very interesting speech indeed. And certainly press coverage is looking rather intently to see what the general will ask and what he will say in this speech. Again we will be going to the floor of the House of Representatives for a live coverage of General Westmoreland speech proximately seven minutes from now. I believe as we listen to the feed from the House of Representatives that members are slowly filing in. I think the schedule for the press coverage is at 12:30 promptly so that in fact as we've already heard our Senate subcommittee hearings on public television recessed
just a few moments after 12:00 or was it before 12:00 and the membership of course heading for the House of Representatives to take up seats and be there when General Westmoreland is going to be presented. The Senate the governors and the diplomatic corps have already arrived on the House of Representatives floor. As you may or may not know a joint session of course being held in the house because of lack of space in the Senate area and of course the larger number of seating capacity in the house. Again you are going to hear live in just a few moments the speech by General William Westmoreland. Our field commander in Vietnam. We go on now with a comment by Doris fleece and writing in the evening star here in Washington as she provided some historical background to General Westmoreland's appearance before Congress explaining that a general's appearance is indeed rather rare.
No precedent exists for an American president bringing home the field commander of American forces at war to plead in public for support of that war and an end to protest and dissent against it. The President Johnson I'm sorry the President Johnson. Westmoreland's plea sets precedent by Doris fleece from the Evening Star last evening. No precedent exists for an American president bringing home the field commander of American forces at war to plead in public for support of that war and an end to protest and dissent against it. This President Johnson has done with Gen. William C. Westmoreland who commands roughly four hundred thousand American fighting men in the undeclared war in Vietnam. Westmoreland told a
convention of newspaper executives in New York that Vietnam critics here were giving the enemy hope that quote he can win politically that which he cannot accomplish militarily unquote. He said also I do not see any end of the war in sight. And he answered their questions. The general is also addressing a joint session of Congress and paying courtesy calls on committee chairman but congressional committees eager to talk with him and put their questions have been rebuffed. Several senators are expressing anger at the general strictures against critics of Vietnam policy and what seems to them a fresh attempt to smother the voice of Congress with a military chorus. They realize Westmoreland must take orders from his commander in chief the president but they regard his whole journey as a clear case of military trespass into essentially political territory. No one can recall that during the War of 1812. Admiral Perry left his ship to backstop President James Madison. Nor did Mexican War generals return to
Washington help President James K. Polk in 1846. Critics of both wars abounded. Abe Lincoln being among the Mexican War Dodgers in September 1864 as the Civil War drew to a close. The then President Lincoln's Secretary of War Edwin M. Stanton did call upon general US Grant for moral support. Stanton asked for a telegram urging the necessity of filling up the army by draft. The draft was even more unpopular them than now. And Lincoln like Johnson today was worried about his re-election. Grat immediately acquiesced with a strong message in which he argued that it was necessary to convince the Copperheads the northern dissenters and the south that the draft could be enforced. Dr. Ward gray relates the incident in the hidden civil war. The story of the Copperheads his judgment as a historian is that it represents a valid equivalent of Johnson's use of Westmoreland and that both are correct. Dr. Gray
professor of American History at George Washington University here in Washington supports Johnson's Vietnam policy. President McKinley coped with the Spanish-American War without Admiral Dewey about here. Senators don't see it that way and continue to call the roll President Wilson did not bring back Black Jack Pershing in World War 1. General Eisenhower remained abroad until after VE day. General MacArthur did not return after V-J day and was brought home from Korea by President Truman only to be fired. MacArthur successor General Matthew Ridgway appeared before Congress in May 952 before Korean hostilities ended but he had been relieved of that command and was in route to SHAPE headquarters in Paris to relieve General Eisenhower. Eisenhower had presidential plans which were notably successful. This article by Doris Leeson appearing in the evening star here in Washington and now in just about one minute or so we will go directly live to the floor of the hoss of
Representatives on Capitol Hill for coverage of the speech of Gen. William C. Westmoreland field commander of the Vietnam troops. Again as we await his presence here in the house this comment on action back on his field of action in Saigon. The report of the North Vietnamese troops trying for an invasion into the south had been firing away with rockets mortar and artillery at U.S. Marines standing in their way. They killed 13 Americans and wounded 190. This just part of the action near the demilitarized zone. Fifty seven other Marines trying to assault a communist fortress Hill were killed before the Americans withdrew and U.S. bombers took over the assault there. And so we still await now the presence of General Westmoreland here at the House of Representatives. And this coverage of course coming to you live from Washington D.C. will be at the eastern educational radio network. And as Bill Greenwood had mentioned before we will
continue with our Senate subcommittee hearing coverage immediately. Well not quite immediately but at 2:00 o'clock live and we will be presenting that to you. Now in just one moment. The switch to the House of Representatives to bring you the speech of General. William. Westmoreland. The cabinet has just been introduced to. The appalling. House of Representatives is filled here. Members of the cabinet. Down the center aisle now are they speaker gavels is the vice president. Of. The speaker and the vice president here with Humphrey.
Presiding over this Annan and the joint session. And in a moment they will announce the arrival of General Westmoreland. As we have said in. The House floor completely failed it seems. There had been some speculation that several of the congressman would protest the appearance of General Westmoreland. And. We are still awaiting to see whether or not that has happened. It does not look that way right now. Again we are awaiting the presence of General Westmoreland here. The house. Was hoping it was just want to hear the roar of the house. Westfall. Thank. You. For. The podium.
The bank will be persuaded. Standing right here. In the Senate. Shake hands with the. President. To speak with us in. The public eye. And converse briefly for a second. I. Was. Posing for him. On the podium with the ease. Of the lectern to accept the applause of a joint. Session. Standing ovation. For General Westmoreland. Again. The full. Story of the House of Representatives. Standing for. Her death will. Be. With us. Remember the members. Responsibility on their shoulders standing before it goes. Until you. Demonstrate your
figure. Is a. Powerful symbol. Of your purpose to answer. Then you're. Listening to live coverage from the House of Representatives. The speaker gavel of the joint session into. Quietude. We switch to Big John I have great pleasure. I put it up as adding to you General William Westmoreland United States Army command up the United States military of. Vietnam. For
he. Was deprived and respected members of Congress. I am deeply honored to address the Congress of the United States. I stand in the shadow of military men who have been here before me. But none of them could have had more pride done mine and representing the gallant American fighting men and Vietnam today for her.
I've. These service men and women are sensitive to their mission. And as the record shows they are unbeatable in carrying out that mission. I've. As a commander in the field. I have seen many of you in Vietnam during the last three years. Without exception you gentlemen have shown an interest right sponsibility and concern for the commitment which we have undertaken and father welfare of our troops. The Republic of Vietnam is fighting to build a strong nation. While aggression organized directed and supported from without. Attempts to engulf it. This is an
unprecedented challenge for a small nation. But it is a challenge which will confront any nation that is marked as a target for the common stratagem called war of national liberation. I can assure you here and now that militarily this strategy will not succeed and yet not. Have. I've. In three years of course study and daily observation. I have seen no evidence that this isn't an internal insurrection. I have seen much evidence to the contrary. Documented by the enemy himself that it is aggression from the north since
1954 when the Geneva Accords were signed. The North Vietnamese have been sending leaders political organizers technicians and experts on terrorism and sabotage into the shop clandestinely directed from the law. They and I know I trained southern counterparts that control the entire course of attack against the Republic of South Vietnam. More than two years ago all North Vietnamese divisions began to arrive and control was no longer clandestine. Since then the build up of enemy forces has been formidable. During the last 22 months the number of enemy combat battalions in the south has increased significantly and nearly half of them are now North Vietnamese. In the same
period overall enemy strength has nearly doubled in spite of large combat loss. Enemy commanders are skilled professional and general their troops are indoctrinated well-trained aggressive and under tight control. The enemy's logistics system is primitive in many ways forced to transport most of its supplies down through southeastern Laos. He uses a combination of trucks bicycles men and animals but he does this with surprising effectiveness. In South Vietnam the system is also well organized. Many of the caches we have found and destroyed have been stocked with enough supplies and equipment to support months of future operations. The enemy
emphasizes what he calls strategic mobility although his tactics are based on foot mobility relatively modest five car and often primitive means of communication. However his operational planning is meticulous. He gathers intelligence makes careful plans I sign specific objectives in detail and then rehearsals the plan of attack until leave believes it cannot fail. Local peasants are forced to provide food shelter and porters to carry supplies and equipment for combat units and to evacuate the dead and wounded from the battlefield. When all is ready the most is large military formations covertly from concealed bases into the operational area. His intent is to launch a surprise attack designed to achieve quick victory by shock
action. This tactic has failed because of our courageous men. And our spoiling attacks. For months now we have been successful in destroying a number of main force units. We will continue to seek out the enemy. Catch him off guard and punish him at every opportunity. Ah. But success now gets his main forces alone is not enough to ensure a swap and to size it into the conflict. The enemy also uses terror murder mutilation abduction and the deliberate shelling of innocent men women and children to exercise control through fear. Terror which
employs daily is much harder to counter and his best conventional look. A typical day in Vietnam was last Sunday. Terror terror's near Saigon. Assassinated a 39 year old sheet. The same day in the Delta they kidnapped 26 civilians assisting in arranging for a local election the next day that it Khan attacked a group of revolutionary development work killing one and wounding 12 with grenades and machine gun car in one area and in another they opened fire on a small civilian bus and killed three and wounded four of its passengers. These are cases of calculated any attack on civilians to extend by fear that which they cannot gain by persuasion. One hears little of this brutality here at home. What we don't hear
about is our own aerial bombing against North Vietnam. And I would like to address this for a moment. For years the enemy has been blowing bridges interrupting traffic cutting roads sabotaging power stations blocking canals and attacking airfields in the south and he continues to do so. This is a daily car bombing in the north has been centered on precisely these same kinds of targets. And for the same military purposes to reduce a supply interdict the movement and impair the effectiveness of any military force. Within his capabilities the enemy in Vietnam is waging total war all day every day everywhere. He believes in force and his intensification of
violence is limited only by his resources and not by any moral inhibitions. To us a cease fire means cease far our observance of past truces has been open and subject to public scrutiny. The enemy permits no such observation in the law other socks he traditionally has exploited Cease-Fire courage. When the bombing has been suspended to increases resupply and infiltration activity. This is the enemy. This has been the challenge. The only strategy which can defeat such an organization is one of unrelenting but discriminating military political and psychological pressure on his whole structure and at all levels
Al. Half. From his capabilities and his recent activities. I believe the end of his probable course of action in the months ahead can be for cat in order to carry out his battlefield doctrine. I forsee that he will continue his build up across the demilitarized zone and through locks and he will attack when he believes he has a chance for a dramatic blow. He will not return exclusively to guerrilla warfare although he certainly will continue to intensify his guerrilla activity. I expect the enemy to continue to increase his mortar artillery rocket and real
recoilless rifle attacks on our installations. At the same time he will step up his attacks on villages and district TOG to intimidate the people and go thwart the democratic process is now underway in South Vietnam. Given the nature of the enemy it seems to me that the strategy we are following at this time is the proper one and that it is producing results while he obviously is far from quitting. There are signs that his morale and his many military structure are beginning to deter him. The right of the Kleine will be in proportion to the pressure directed against him. Faced with this prospect it is gratifying to know that all courses and those of the other three will allies have grown in strength and
profited from experience. In this connection it is well to remember that career Australia New Zealand Thailand and the Philippines all have military forces fighting and working with of it amaze an American gen Vietnam. It is also worthy of note that 30 other nations are providing non-combat support. All of these free world forces are doing well whether in combat or in support of nation building. Their exploits deserve recognition not only for their direct contributions to the overall effort but for their symbolic reminder that the whole of Free Asia opposes communist expansion. Thank you. As the focal point of this
struggle in Asia the Republic of Vietnam armed forces merits special attention. Before 1954 South Vietnam had no armed forces in being and there was no tradition of military leadership. The requirement to build an army navy and air force in the face of enemy attack and suppression seems in retrospect as almost an impossible task. Yet in their determination to resist the comments they have in a maze have built an effective military force. Thank you. What I see now in Vietnam is a military force that reforms with growing professional skill. During the last six months Vietnamese troops have scored repeated successes against some of the best bit caught on the North Vietnamese army units.
Perhaps more important in this total effort is the support given by the Vietnamese military to the governments nation building our revolutionary development program. Nearly half of the Vietnamese army is now engaged in are in training for. This vital program. Which will improve a lot of the people. This is a difficult role for a military for vedette many soldiers are not only defending villages and ham. What was spirit and energy. They have turned to the task of nation building as well. I'm from. In 1952. There were some who doubted that the Republic of Korea would ever have a first rate fighting force. I wish those God those daughters could see the Korean eunuchs and Vietnam today.
They rank with the best fight and the most effective civic action workers in Vietnam. When I get a criticism of the Vietnamese armed forces I am reminded of that example. As you know we're fighting a war with no front lines since the enemy hides among the people in the jungles and mountains and uses covertly border areas of neutral country. One cannot measure progress by lines on a map. We therefore have to use other means to chart progress. Several indices clearly point to steady and encouraging success. As an example two years ago the Republic of Vietnam had fewer than
30 combat ready battalion that day. It has one hundred and fifty four. I've. Then there were three jet capable runways in South Vietnam. Today there are 14. In April 1965 there were 15 airfields that could take C-130 transport aircraft. We now have eighty nine. Then there was one deep water port for sea going to be ups. Now there are seven and nineteen sixty five ships had to wait weeks to Arlo. We now turn them around as little as 1 week or year ago. There was no long haul highway transport. Last month alone one hundred and sixty thousand tons of supplies were
moved over the highway. During the last year the mileage of essential highways open for use has risen from about 52 percent to 80 percent. During 1965 the Republic of Vietnam armed forces and its allies killed thirty six thousand of the enemy at a cost of approximately 12000 friendly kill and 90 percent of the war Vietnamese. During recent months this three to one ratio in favor of the allies has risen significantly. And in some wakes has been as high as 10 or 20 to 1 in our favor. In 1965 11000 Viet con defected to the side of the government and 1966. There were 20000 in the first three months of 1967.
There have been nearly 11000 rallies. A figure that equals all of 1965 and more than half of all of 1966. It was. A. In 1964 and in the first part of 1965 the ratio of weapons captured was 2 to 1 in favor of the enemy. The ratio by 1966 and the first three months of this year is two and want to have to 1 in favor of the Republic of Vietnam and its allies. Our president and the representatives of the people of the United States. The congress. Has seen to it that all troops in the field have been well supplied
and equipped. When a field commander does not have to look over a shoulder to see whether he's being support he can concentrate on the battlefield with much greater assurance of success. I speak for my troops when I say we are thankful for this unprecedented material support was. As I have said before and evaluating the enemy strategy it is evident to me that he believes our Achilles heel is our resolve. Your continued strong support is vital to the success of our mission. Wow. Our soldiers sailors airmen Marines and Coast Guard and
Vietnam are the finest ever fielded by our nation. Thank you. In this assessment I include Americans of all races creeds and colors. Your servicemen in Vietnam are intelligent skilled dedicated and courageous in these qualities. No unity no sharks no ethnic group and no national origin can claim priority. These men understand the conflict and their complex roles as fighters and as builders.
They believe in what they're doing. They are determined to provide the security behind which the Republic of Vietnam can develop and prosper. Can develop and prosper for its own sake and for the future and freedom of all Southeast Asia. Baghdad home by resolve confidence patience determination and continued support waywell profile in Vietnam over the commoners aggressor. In.
Westmoreland receiving a standing ovation. From the joint session. This house floor completely told everyone. To look knowledgeable. In the operation. General. Mr. President Mr. Speaker members of Congress. I am sure you are as proud to represent all men serving their country and the free world in Vietnam as I am to command them. General Westmoreland thanks to people McCormick. Of the United States.
And very. Little his speech now as he salutes the Congress for moving both sides of the Congress. Defeating fear is now. Again a standing ovation by the Congress wanted the matter. Again he stands at attention before the Congress. Giving a long. Commendation. All the numbers. In the applause continue. Again the vice president saying thank you again. Now if he leaves the podium like we're in. When we go off. Again that's standing along with. Lobbying. As we move towards the back of. Our.
Going to. Continually. Thing. Thanks. To the. Following. General Westmoreland speech lasting not quite half an hour some 23 minutes or so with many pauses for applause. General Westmoreland has just appealed in person to Congress and the nation today to support the Vietnam war and conflict he said would be hard but ultimately successful. But the field commander warned a special joint session of the House and Senate the Communists believe quote our accolades heel is in our resolve he said. Thanking Congress for its continuing strong support Westmoreland said that when a field commander does not have to look nervously over his shoulder to see whether he is being supported he can concentrate on the battlefield with
much greater assurance of success. The four star generals nationally televised and broadcast speech this morning was one of only a handful of occasions in history that a military commander has addressed a joint session of the Congress. The last was in 1052 when General Matthew B Ridgway then United Nations commander in Korea reported to Congress on another Asian war Westmoreland's returned for a brief visit has brought speculation about how many more troops he would request. Published estimates have run as high as 100000 to bolster the four hundred thirty eight thousand already in the war zone. But his speech contained no surprises no call for a new troop build up. Instead the ramrod straight commander gave Congressman a somber report on the war. Holding out no promise of early or easy victory. He said the enemy could be defeated only by a strategy of unrelenting military political and psychological pressure on his whole structure at all levels. And this he added would require resolve confidence patience determination then continued
support by Americans. Westmoreland gave this assessment of the enemy's future course. He said I foresee that he will continue his build up across the demilitarized zone the DMZ and through Laos and will attack us when he believes he has a chance for a dramatic blow. He will not return exclusively to guerrilla warfare although he certainly will continue to intensify his guerrilla activity the general went on to say I expect the enemy to continue to increase his mortar artillery rocket and record his rifle attacks on our installations. At the same time the enemy will step up his attacks on hamlet village and district organizations to intimidate the people into thought the democratic process now underway in South Vietnam. Westmoreland defending present U.S. strategy as the quote proper one said the enemy is far from quitting. But there are signs that his morale and his military structure are beginning to deteriorate. He said the enemy's decline would be in proportion to the pressure directed against him. As he did in a controversial speech in New York Monday Westmoreland warned that the Communists
customarily exploit periods of ceasefire when U.S. bombing is stopped to increase their supply and infiltration activities. This remark could have significance in light of the fact of the dickering over a one or two day truce scheduled for May 23rd for the anniversary of the birth of Buddha in Vietnam. The United States has backed the Saigon government proposal for a one day truce. The Vietcong have countered with a two day cease fire. Westmoreland complained that there is much publicity and controversy about U.S. bombing of North Vietnam but little mention of communist terror in South Vietnam. He said that during the week ending April 22nd we had Khan killed one hundred twenty six civilians wounding 86 in the ducting 100 others. And last Sunday the general added. Terrorists near Saigon assassinated a 39 year old village chief in the delta area that same day terrorists kidnapped 26 civilians who were helping arrange local elections. One hears little of this brutality here at home Westmoreland said. What we do hear about has our own aerial bombing against North Vietnam.
For years he said the enemy has been blowing bridges interrupting traffic cutting roads sabotaging power stations blocking canals and attacking airfields in the south. And he continues to do so. Bombing in the north has been countered on precisely these same kinds of targets. And for the same military purposes to reduce the supply interrupt the movement and impair the effectiveness of enemy military forces the general went on to say Westmoreland justified the war effort as an attempt to prevent aggression organized from outside from engulfing South Vietnam. He denied the conflict was an internal insurrection and cited the sending of leaders and terrorists from the north to the south since 1954 and direction of the war from the north. In the past twenty two months he said the number of enemy combat battalions in the south has increased significantly and nearly half of them are Northway at the maze in the same period he added. Overall enemy strength has nearly doubled despite large battle losses. He gave Congressman a professional soldier's tough realistic appraisal of his foe. Westmoreland said the enemy commanders are skilled
professionals and their troops are well-trained aggressive and under tight control. Their logistics system he said is primitive but works with surprising effectiveness. He said the enemy bases his tactics on mobility. Modest firepower and often primitive communications. But he said enemy planning is meticulous. Seeking to move large military formations from concealed bases for surprise attacks. This enemy tactic the general said has failed because of U.S. firepower and spoiling attacks designed to break up enemy units before they are ready to strike. We will continue to seek out the enemy. Catch him off guard and punish him at every opportunity Westmoreland said predicting eventual success. He said the United States owed its present degree of success in Vietnam in large part to its immense logistics capability made possible by a strong support of Congress. So Gen. William C. Westmoreland speaking before the joint session of the Congress will be back to more of our live coverage in just a moment after we pause now for station identification.
This is the eastern educational radio network. Former U.S. ambassador to Japan Edwin o Russia are considered the future of Asia. Sunday evening on Ford hall forum if you had attended in person and planned to join us Sunday at 8:00 for this week's edition of Boston's distinguished series of some the evening lectures this is WGBH FM eighty nine point seven million cycles Boston. With me here in Washington that our studios is Mr. Milford Wilson Ph.D. candidate of the School of International Service here at American University and Mr. James Russell a newsman and producer here at WMU FM. And I hope gentlemen that perhaps we might have a little bit of a roundtable of some discussion or comments you might have about General Westmoreland speech. Jim you want to open things up. As I like to lead off with this question. Do you feel Mr. Wilson that the speech was designed to be objective as an appraisal or was it designed to
be a little bit slanted as a pep talk. I would have to say that it was designed to be a pep talk. General Westmoreland was brought Obama I believe to try to build up support to try to counter some of the criticism that the president secretary of state secretary of defense had not been able to counter because of such things as past experience that credibility This leads me to question whether he is a more credible witness in this this war. Is he more credible than a secretary of state. I think he's more credible if in areas of implementation. I think this is where General Westmoreland has missed the boat I think this is this is where the president thinks that he can build support whereas I think the praise for Westmoreland
by the joint session today was more a praise of him personally a praise for American servicemen carrying out the war and not necessarily a praise for the policy itself. You speak of praise but I'm sure you'll realize there's been quite a lot of booing also at his sudden reappearance in Washington and many people I think perhaps logically have understood his re-appearance to be just this a pep talk. Yes this is true. General Westmoreland was very careful though I think you'll note in the speech not to try to play the role of the policy maker at all. He played merely the role that the army was supposed to be playing and I think this is largely because of the of the criticism that he has been receiving and people felt like that in fact the general was being brought over to. Oh. Back up the policy. And this really is not the military role and this is this is
where a lot of the criticism of his arrival in Washington and in Senate. Would you agree then. Am I correct in assuming you would agree that General Westmoreland's appearance in Washington is LBJ his answer to the credibility gap. Absolutely. Let me ask you this now. I understand that but for one other occasion the calling home of a military commander to boost public morale is unprecedented. I think the key question is why did President Johnson call General Westmoreland home at this time. Why not earlier why not later. I believe Johnson is becoming increasingly worried about his image in the in the nation. He's becoming increasingly worried about support for his policy in Vietnam that it was politically motivated. Absolutely. More politically motivated than foreign policy support motivated. Yes definitely. General Westmoreland. The thing that struck me most
is that there was absolutely nothing new in the speech whatsoever except that in fact the general was given the speech. What did he say that was significant in your opinion. I can't say that he said anything. Nothing at all. Do you think that we saw as we watched and heard this speech it quite a deal of quite a good deal of praise and excitement standing ovations were a regular thing. Do you think he was effective in boosting morale. Was the general's coming home effective. He was affective perhaps with the American public. Only time will tell. That I think the speech was good to allow an elementary airplane to have really built any support within the Congress in the Senate itself that it was geared and directed towards the American public certainly not toward
the joint session. You didn't see anyone sitting on their hands the Kennedys were sitting on their hands doing one of the ovations I believe. I didn't have a chance to see Senator Fulbright. I don't think that I did either. Jim what do you think. Did you find anything significant from your viewpoint you've been watching the Capitol Hill thing for a little while now and. Well I mean I have to go along with you Mr. Wilson I didn't see anything new and took very few notes during the speech. There wasn't really very thing very new and I have to go along with almost everything you said this morning although perhaps in my role as a questioner rather than commentator I should be quiet. But I do agree with most of what you've said. I think I do too as I had said earlier the speech contained no surprises I don't think anyone heard anything we didn't already know. I think the speculation was was it not that he was going to ask for supposedly this would have been the moment it seemed right. That's not right because in fact that does seem a little naive doesn't it.
I think he probably would have asked for more troops if the press had not already decided that he was going to ask for more troops. You take it as more of Johnson's reaction to the press he doesn't like to be second guessed. I think yes this is part of it and then I think also the speech was written after he arrived in the country it left out those the two key points I mentioned earlier that he had been criticized and that is that a military man would be entering into the policy process. And the second that he would be asking for more troops and I think these would be definitely left out on purpose. Are there any possible reasons why his reappearance in Washington could be disadvantageous at this time. Can anyone make political hay out of that. That's hard to say I think. Some people would try to certainly but the people that would try to are in a position that they don't feel like they can really affront the military the American people support the military
effort. They may not approve of the policy but they'll support the military effort. Did he give any indication of whether there is any thought of the war coming to any soon that notion. No he didn't and I was rather upset in fact that he didn't even deal with what I felt like needed to be dealt with and in his role as a military man could have dealt with and that was trying to win the people away from the the base of support away from the Vietcong. He didn't mention this at all. In other words he when he talked mostly then military. Yes that's correct. Did he give an accurate appraisal that that was any more beneficial to the American public than have been in the policy statements of the past. Well that's quite hard to say. I have not been to Vietnam in several years I can't say whether his statement was accurate or not. I don't think that it's any different. I don't think there's any new points in it
whatsoever. There are some statistics and figures here on the faction that are probably significant. But again you can play with some statistics in a case like this. I think he did at the very beginning make one interesting statement I can't quote it verbatim but I believe it went something along the lines of a recognition that a military victory is not possible. Which to me is nothing new. We've been saying this for a long time. Yes that there are more important ramifications other than a military victory and I think this is what you were talking about before. We've been saying this a long time but we haven't been doing anything about it very little. Perhaps they held more water though when brought up by a well that or this could be the case however he did mention that this role was being taken played primarily by those South Vietnamese and I think six years will tell us that they have been very ineffective in being able to
understand in control of our own people. He said the enemy's decline would be in proportion to the pressure directed against him now it's a military position of course. But in that sense can we read between the lines and say that a build up would be forthcoming from this thing. I mean I hate to be a content analysis type person I'm certainly not it's awfully hard to predict. Yeah. I think perhaps he would favor more troops. I have never known military man in the case of any war to be satisfied with the number of troops that he has he says that he's been satisfied but certainly they feel like they can always use more manpower. Is it correct to categorize him as a moderate. Really in the war in that he is not the kind of person I feel who would go out and say nuclear weapons on Hanoi and Haiphong. He goes quite close. He tends to be a realist. I don't think you can say that he's a moderate. One way of the other because I
think the Johnson policy now with the recent bombings is pretty well put Johnson on one side and the hawks on seem to be happier than the doves at this point. But he is a pert great military man and at least in this speech stuck to military matters. You said before that he made it quite clear in the speech and I think you're correct that he's not a policy maker. He's the implementor. Yes how much leeway is he given. Is there any way of assessing how much leeway for example we know from press reports at least that when one bombs I falling in and I one must have presidential permission but one can choose the times I have no way of knowing that. Think you and I would take any chance does favor except browsed. Yeah I think I think it was certainly noticeable politically if not if not in any other way and that most importantly that he spent the whole day yesterday locked up in conference of course with the president. The recognition of the political the vitality of the political importance rather
can this hurt. Once again I have to return to this question I know it's a difficult one and almost impossible but the fact that it seems so obvious that he was brought back for political purposes. It just might have a boomerang backfire effect. It could very well I think the speech will have definitely had negative effects in an international scene. The stressing of communism is I mean enemy no longer carries an emotional appeal anywhere except in the United States. Yeah I think abroad and among our allies except those very few Asian allies that they could perhaps a stop in Chinese dominance in the area. They could say stopping stopping. No aggression from the north but the connotations of communism as a great evil or worn thin. So then once again we have to come back to saying that it was meant obviously to be a PEP. I don't tell that rally in this country and if that's all it
was meant to be. Johnson may have gotten his money's worth but I can't help but feel there may be a pact he may have elaborate community may the literate community made back by you see it. It's almost done. It's not really fighting the other side doesn't have equal time before a joint session of Congress Fulbright perhaps had his time last spring a year ago but it's been quite a while in a parade in New York doesn't really quite carry the same weight that a meeting of the general before a joint session of Congress cares. Gentlemen any other further comments before we close today. Fine. Mr. Belford Wilson of The School of International Service here at American University thank you for being with us. And James Russell thank you for being with us too. Before we continue we pause for station identification once again this is the eastern educational radio network. There's an interesting variety of programs scheduled for this evening on WGBH radio following reading
aloud at 7:00 and at 7:30 for college lecture hall considers the Beatles and 30 the King's Chapel organ concert features Anthony Newman and the town the studio talk panel discusses the social status of the arts. That's Friday evening on WGBH FM at the 9.7 mega cycles Boston. Welcome back to Washington D.C. In case you have been wondering where the general is headed after that speech before the joint session of Congress he should be right about this time down at the White House here in Washington to have lunch with members of the cabinet with the governors of the states and special invited guests from the Congress as well. And we have been informed that after that luncheon or rather during the luncheon in fact there will be a closed door briefing by the general with the president. So we should watch the press closely if there's any further comment to be had on that. So you're listening to live coverage as we have
said many times of the Senate subcommittee hearings on public television which today for the special day art is including the speech of General William Westmoreland. Our commander in chief in Vietnam. And why don't we continue with some of our luncheon break. Material which we have prepared here now after the conclusion of the hearings that we've been presenting on Thursday morning. Paul Newman of the National Educational Television interviewed Senate subcommittee chairman John Pastore e. Here now are the senator's remarks. Sanitised Terry do you think you're going to get a bill out of all this testimony. I certainly do. Will you get it through the subcommittee the full committee the Senate and the house this year. I I know that I we will get it through the subcommittee I know we'll get it through the full committee. Hopefully I I'm quite sure that we can get it through the Senate because I can't
speak for the house but I can't really see I can't really see any substantial objection to the passage of this bill when we consider its purposes and its objectives. Virtually every one of the tens of witnesses that we had here as expressed approval of the bill. Do you think they are really all in fact for the bill. Well it judging from what they say I believe that to be the case. I mean when you get an establishment like CBS that would be could be considered a competitor. I mean if you want to take the natural feel. Willing to put up a million dollars and pledge a million dollars I say that that is substantial support. The commercial networks of course in their testimony yesterday said they were not looking for an escape from responsibility in the public affairs field. But what did not in fact have that result. If for instance United Nations sessions congressional hearings were available to everybody. On a national educational
public television system Wouldn't it therefore wouldn't have be less pressure. On the networks to interrupt their commercial schedules to put on the same thing. Well of course said the commercial broadcasting institution is a very profitable one and as was brought out by that priest from from Fordham University yesterday they have the opportunity to better dramatize and sometimes put a performance on a more gradual grandiose a scale. Now I realize that the line of demarcation is a very very thin one. And I would hope that this would not relieve them all cause them to use this as an escape from their responsibility under the Communications Act. But that of course we wait to see. Now I asked that question pointedly as you remember from the various represent representatives of the networks and they all assured me that this was not the case. Everybody are many of the people who've testified have of course obvious vested interests that this doesn't go only for the commercial people of the people who are makers Nupur it is a hundred
dollars for the people in educational broadcasting the educators know most everybody. Can you get a consensus out of this can you accommodate everyone I suppose this is the challenge the less the challenge of our committee and I think that that can be accomplished I mean that happens very often in all types of legislation that come before the committee. You have these various interests converging into one point. But one surprising thing and I think you'll agree with me on this is the fact that there has been almost a unanimity. In the purposes of this bill in the hope that it will be passed. So you expect expect Phil. I expect to be successful Fred Friendly expressed fear on one point that a consensus of negatives would road. Proposal I don't think that's going to happen. I don't things. Is the question of political control a problem of insulating the proposed public television system from political pressures. Your biggest problem you think. Well that will be the biggest problem from a practical point of view. You take today
even when the president appears on the program. There's always a hue and cry from the opposite party that they would like to have equal time. And this happens even to the Democrats when the Republicans are in because no one is more sensitive than a politician. And that is I've been that's been the character in the history of our democratic process. And you're going to have this in educational television as well. But we'll have to learn to meet it at the proper time and to do with it. We'll have to come to grips with that problem. But I couldn't sit down and write a piece of legislation that would give you that guarantee. Because after all how can I do dissect human beings and killer all their favorite frailties by writing a lot of language in the bill. We're going to meet that problem that problem is going to be met and the more affective educational television calms the more controversy there's going to be. But I'm hopeful that the men who are chosen by the president and confirmed by the Senate to carry out this responsibility will be courageous men will be men of character who will lend a deaf ear to some of these frivolous canned complaints. You're
suggesting maybe men of considerable national stature merely than representatives of various interested group people who if they compromise their principles will compromise their reputation and not willing to do it. Dr. Steffen of CBS recalled yesterday yeah he often had pressures from political parties complaining of this is that do you think that a fledgling public television corporation is going to be able to stand up to such pressure. Absolutely because I think that the current Congress of the United States or the majority of the Congress ought to have the courage and the stamina and the determination to support them in this venture. Thank you sir. That was Senator John past story chairman of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on communications as he was being interviewed about the proposed public television act bipolar Neven of National Educational Television. After the conclusion of the hearings that were held yesterday morning. For those of you who are with us and we hope you have been all during these two weeks of hearings on this the final day of the Senate hearings on public television. It is
interesting we think to look back on some of the comments that have been made during the testimony.
Series
Public Television Hearings
Producing Organization
WGBH Educational Foundation
Contributing Organization
WGBH (Boston, Massachusetts)
AAPB ID
cpb-aacip/15-795743g3
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Description
Series Description
Public Television Hearings is a series of recordings of the government hearings about public television.
Description
Westmoreland- Copy 1
Created Date
1967-04-28
Genres
Event Coverage
Topics
Film and Television
Media type
Sound
Duration
01:05:52
Embed Code
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Credits
Producing Organization: WGBH Educational Foundation
Production Unit: Radio
AAPB Contributor Holdings
WGBH
Identifier: 67-0089-04-28-004 (WGBH Item ID)
Format: 1/4 inch audio tape
Generation: Master
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Citations
Chicago: “Public Television Hearings,” 1967-04-28, WGBH, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC, accessed March 29, 2024, http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-15-795743g3.
MLA: “Public Television Hearings.” 1967-04-28. WGBH, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Web. March 29, 2024. <http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-15-795743g3>.
APA: Public Television Hearings. Boston, MA: WGBH, American Archive of Public Broadcasting (GBH and the Library of Congress), Boston, MA and Washington, DC. Retrieved from http://americanarchive.org/catalog/cpb-aacip-15-795743g3