His creed and basic principles
Media
Part of Panorama
- Title
- His creed and basic principles
- Language
- English
- Year
- 1963
- Rights
-
- Abstract
- “Together we shall save our planet or together we shall perish in its flames.”
- Fulltext
- ■ “Together we shall save our planet or together we shall perish in its flames.'* HIS CREED AND BASIC PRINCIPLES On Freedom and Peace “Peace and freedom do not come cheap, and we are des tined ... to live out most if not all of our lives in un certainty and challenge and peril.” “However close we some times seem to that dark and final abyss, let no man of peace and freedom despair ... If we can all persevere, if we can in every land . . . look beyond our own shores and ambitions, then surely the age will dawn in which the strong are just and the weak secure and the peace preserved.” On the Role of the U.S. "Our strength as well as our convictions have im posed upon this nation the role of leader in freedom’s cause. No role in history could be more difficult or more important . . . This na tion was born of revolution and raised in freedom. And we do not intend to leave an open road to despotism.” “I think our people get awfully impatient and maybe fatigued and tired and say ing ‘We have been carrying this burden [of foreign aid] for 17 years, can’t we-lay it down!’ We can’t lay it down, and I don’t see how we are going to lay it down in this country.” "I do not believe that any of us would exchange place with any other people or any other generation. The ener gy, the faith, the devotion which we bring to this en deavor will light our country and all who serve it — and the glow from that fire can truly light the world.” On the Presidency “I want to be a President who responds to a problem not by hoping his subordi nates will act, but by direct ing them to act.” “When things are very quiet and beautifully organ ized I think it’s time to be concerned.” December 1963 33 On the Western Alliance “Those who would sepa rate Europe from America or split one ally from another — would only give aid and comfort to the men who make themselves our adver saries and welcome any West ern disarray.” “The United States can not withdraw from Europe, unless and until Europe should wish us gone. We cannot distinguish its defen ses from our own. We can not diminish our contri butions to Western security or abdicate the responsibility of power.” On Disarmament "Together we shall save our planet or together we shall perish in its flames.” "It is . . . our intention to challenge the Soviet Union, not to an arms race, but to a peace race; to advance step by step, stage by stage, until general and complete disar mament has actually been achieved.” On Negotiating "Our patience at the bar gaining table is nearly inex haustible . . . [and] our hopes for peace are unfailing.” “If they [the Soviets] have proposals, not demands, we shall hear them. If they seek genuine understanding, not concessions of our rights, we shall meet with them . . . We shall ... be ready to search for peace — in quiet exploratory talks, in formal or informal meetings.” On Communist China “We’re not wedded to a policy of hostility to Red China. It seems to me that Red China’s policies are what create tension between not only the United States and Red China, but between Red China and India, be tween Red China and her immediate neighbors to the south and even between Red China and other Communist countries.” On the Berlin Issue "All free men, wherever they may live, are citizens of Berlin. And therefore, as a free man, I take pride in the words ‘Ich bin ein Berliner (I am a Berliner)’.” "The source of world ten sion and trouble is Moscow, not Berlin.” On the Common Market "If American industry can not increase its sales to the 34 Panorama Common Market and in crease this nation’s surplus of imports over exports, our international payments posi tion and our commitments to the defense of freedom will be endangered.” On Vietnam “The systematic aggression now bleeding [South Viet nam] is not a ‘war of libera tion,’ for Vietnam is already free. It is a war of attempt ed subjugation, and it will be resisted.” “Our object [is] to permit the South Vietnamese to maintain themselves as a free and independent country and permit democratic forces within the country to ope rate.” On Latin America “They [the Latin-Ameri can nations] and they alone, can mobilize their resources — enlist the energies of their people — modify their social patterns so that all, and not just a privileged few, share in the fruits of growth.” "We are determined to reinforce the inter-American principle of absolute respect for the sovereignty and inde pendence of every nation. That principle was at the heart of the Good Neighbor policy — and we remain good neighbors today. That principle is the foundation of our Alliance [for Progress] — and we shall always be allies for progress.” On Civil Rights “A rising tide of discontent . . . threatens the public safe ty .. . The events in Bir mingham and elsewher? have so increased the cries for equality that no city or state or legislative body can pru dently choose to ignore them.” “[The] result of continued Federal legislative inaction will continue, if not increase, racial strife — causing the leadership of both sides to pass from the hands of rea sonable and responsible men to tfie purveyors of hate and violence.” “We face ... a mesa! cris is as a country ajtd a people ... It is time to act in the Congress, in your state and local legislative body, and above all, in all our daily lives.” On Defense “Others in earlier times have made the . . . danger ous mistake of assuming that December 1963 35 the West was too selfish and too soft and too divided to resist invasions of freedom in other lands . . . The new preparations that we shall make to defend the peace are based on our needs to meet a worldwide threat . . . Our primary purpose is neither propaganda nor pro vocation — but preparation.” On Foreign Aid “The fundamental task of our foreign aid program . . . is to help make an historical demonstration that . . . eco nomic growth and political democracy can develop hand in hand.” On the Economy “We seek ... an economic climate in which an expand ing concept of business and labor responsibility ... in creasing 'awareness of world commerce and the free forces of domestic competition will keep the price level stable.” "Anyone who is honestly seeking a job and can’t find it deserves the attention of the United States Govern ment and the people . . .” On Space “It is . . . time for this na tion to take a clearly leading role in space achievement, which in many ways may hold the key to our future on earth.” On the Role of the Military “The basic problems fac ing the world today are not susceptible of a final mili tary solution. While we will long require the services and admire the dedication and commitment of the fighting men of this country, neither our strategy nor our psycho logy as a nation . . . must be come permanently dependent upon an ever-increasing mili tary establishment.” A flame is extinguished for all the people who hope for freedom, justice and a better life in this world. The world in this dark evening has become much poorer. — Willy Brandt, Mayor of West Berlin. 36 Panorama John-John dances as Dad claps . • • December 1963 37 John-John salutes his Dad's remains . . . 38 Panorama Bobby, Jackie and Edward walk to cathedral for Requiem Mass December 1963 39 40 Panorama Cortege enroute to Arlington . . . December 1963 41 L L i A Burial service* a* Arlington . . . 42 Panorama Kennedy and his successor Johnson . . . December 1963 43 America's New First Family — The LB J's of Texas. 44 Panorama