○  cambodian incursion address  ○

but we will not be humiliated.

we will not be defeated.

we will not allow american men, by the thousands, to be killed by an enemy from privileged sanctuaries.

the time came long ago to end this war through peaceful negotiations. we stand ready for those negotiations. we’ve made major efforts, many of which must remain secret. i say tonight all the offers and approaches made previously remain on the conference table whenever hanoi is ready to negotiate seriously. but if the enemy response to our most conciliatory offers for peaceful negotiation continues to be to increase its attacks and humiliate and defeat us, we shall react accordingly.

my fellow americans, we live in an age of anarchy, both abroad and at home. we see mindless attacks on all the great institutions which have been created by free civilizations in the last 500 years. even here in the united states, great universities are being systematically destroyed.

small nations all over the world find themselves under attack from within and from without. if, when the chips are down, the world’s most powerful nation -- the united states of america -- acts like a pitiful, helpless giant, the forces of totalitarianism and anarchy will threaten free nations and free institutions throughout the world.

it is not our power, but our will and character that is being tested tonight.

the question all americans must ask and answer tonight is this: does the richest and strongest nation in the history of the world have the character to meet a direct challenge by a group which rejects every effort to win a just peace, ignores our warning, tramples on solemn agreements, violates the neutrality of an unarmed people, and uses our prisoners as hostages? if we fail to meet this challenge, all other nations will be on notice that despite its overwhelming power the united states when a real crisis comes will be found wanting.

during my campaign fo

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