Good evening my fellow americans. I have asked for this Television Time to report to you on our most difficult and urgent problem. The war in vietnam. Since i took office four months ago, nothing has taken so much of my time and energy as a search for a way to bring lasting peace to vietnam. I know in some ways i shouldve ended the war immediately after inauguration by ordering our forces home. This wouldve been in easy thing to do, a popular thing to do. But i wouldve betrayed my solemn responsibility as president United States if i had done so. I want to end this war. And the American People want to end this war pick the people of South Vietnam want to end this war. That we want to end it permanently so that the younger brothers of our soldiers will not have to fight in a future vietnam someplace else in the world the fact that there is no easy way to end the war does not mean that we have no choice but to let the war dragged on with no end in sight. For four years american boys have been fighting and dying in vietnam. And for 12 months negotiators have been talking with the other side in paris. The fighting goes on, the destruction continues, and brave men still died. The time has come for new initiatives. Repeating the old formulas, and the tired rhetoric of the past is not enough. When americans are risking their lives in war , its the responsibility of their leaders to take some risks for peace. I would like to report to you tonight on some of the things that we have been doing in the past four months to bring true peace. And i would like to make some concrete proposals to speed that day. Our first step began before inauguration. To launch a review of every aspect of the vietnam policy. We accept nothing, challenge every assumption and statistic we examined all the attorney does open to us. We carefully considered recommendations offered by critics and supporters of past policies. When it became clear that there was a immediate operational from. The other side was preparing for new offense. A wide goals of distrust between washington and saigon. Eight months of talks there was no negotiations directly concerned with the final settlement. Therefore we moved on several fronts at one. We frustrated the attack launched in late february. As a result , the north the enemies failed to achieve their military objective. We have a close working relationship with saigon. And we have taken important initiatives. We speeded up the strengthening of the South Vietnamese forces. And i am glad to report tonight that as a result, gen. Abrams told me on monday that progress in the Training Program had been excellent, and apart from any developments that may occur in the note negotiations in paris the time is approaching when South Vietnamese forces will be able to take over some of the fighting fronts being manned by americans. And wayne alternate courses, we had to recognize at the situation as it exists today is far different from where it was 24 years ago. One difference is that we no longer have the choice of not intervening. We have crossed that bridge. There are more than half 1 million troops in vietnam. And 35,000 americans have lost their lives. We could have an honest debate of whether not we shouldve entered the war, and how the war has been conducted. The urgent question today is what to do now that we are there . Against that background let me discuss what we have rejected, and what we are prepared to accept. We have ruled out attempting to impose a purely military solution on the battlefield. We have a ruled out a onesided withdrawal from vietnam, or the acceptance of terms that would amount to a disguise of american defeat. When we assume the burden of defending South Vietnam, many men, women, and children in South Vietnam have placed their trust in us. To abandon them would be a massacre for anyone that values human life. And it would jeopardize more than lives in South Vietnam. It would threaten longterm hopes for peace in the world. A great nation cannot renege on their pledges. A great nation must be worthy of trust. When it comes to maintaining peace, prestige is not an empty word. I am not speaking of false pride or bravado. There is no place for that in our policy. I speak of the respect that one nation has for anothers integrity in defending principles and meeting obligations. If we simply abandon our effort, that cause of peace may not survive the damage done to other nations confidence in our reliability. Another reason for not withdrawing stems from debates within the communist world between those that argue for a policy of containment with the United States and those who argue against. If hanoi were to succeed in taking over South Vietnam by force even after the power of United States has been engaged. It would strengthen those leaders that scorn negotiation, and it would minimize the risk of confrontation with the United States. It would bring peace now, but it would enormously increase the danger of a bigger war later. If we are to move successfully from an time of negotiation we have to demonstrate the time that confrontation is being tested. It is costly and unrewarding. Almost without exception the leaders of noncommunist asia have told me that they would consider a onesided withdrawal from vietnam to be a threat to their own nation security. Determining what choices would be acceptable we have to understand the essential objective in vietnam. What we want is very little but very fundamental. We seek the opportunity for the South Vietnamese people to determine their own political future without outside interference. Let me put it plain. What the United States wants for South Vietnam is not as important what morris wants for south is not important. What is important is what the people of South Vietnam want for South Vietnam the United States has suffered 1 million casualties in four wars. Whatever fault we have as a nation we have asked nothing for ourselves in return for that sacrifice. We have been generation and we have helped faux and friend in that task of reconstruction. We are proud of this record and we bring this same attitude and the search for settlement. In this spirit let me be explicit about several points. We seek no basis in vietnam, no military ties, we agree to neutrality for South Vietnam if that is what they freely choose. We believe there should be an opportunity for full participation by all political elements that are prepared to do so without the use of force or intimidation. We are prepared to accept any government that results from the free choice of the South Vietnamese people themselves. We have no intention of imposing any form of government on the people of South Vietnam. We have no objection to reunification if thats what the people of South Vietnam and North Vietnam want. We asked that the decision reflect the free choice of the people concerned. At this point i would like to add a personal word. This is the most difficult war in American History. Fought against a ruthless enemy. I proud of the men who carried the terrible burden of this war with dignity and courage despite the opposition. History will record that never has americas men fought more bravely or for more unselfish goals in our men and vietnam. And it is our responsibility to make sure that they do not fight in vain. Do we insist on more rigid diplomatic climate. Peace could be achieved by an understanding, and that there were adequate assurances observed. On paper this is not as important so this brings us to the matter of negotiation. We must recognize that peace in vietnam cannot be achieved overnight. War that has raged for years will require negotiations and cannot be settled by a single stroke. What settlement will permit the South Vietnamese people to determine their political future . Such a settlement will require the withdrawal of all non vietnamese forces, including our own. They give each Significant Group an opportunity to participate in the political life of the nation. And to implement these principles, i reaffirm our willingness to withdraw our forces. We ask that North Vietnam withdraw forces from South Vietnam in accordance with the timetable. And we include cambodia and laos to make sure that these countries would not be used as a base for renewed war. This provides for a simultaneous a start of withdrawal. For an agreement on a mutually accepted timetable. The North Vietnamese delegates say that this should be discussed with the political settlement. We do not dispute this but the military withdrawal involves outside forces and can be properly negotiated with the concurrence of their ally. The political settlement is an internal matter which should be decided among the South Vietnamese themselves. And not imposed by outsiders if our presence would be helpful, and the South Vietnamese agree. We would be willing to participate. If that were desired. Recent statements have gone far to open the way to a political settlement. Keep public lay declared that his willingness, and has offered a free election. I believe the other side should be able to talk without preconditions. The South Vietnamese government recognizes as we do that a settlement must permit all persons and groups prepared to renounce the use of force to participate free in the political lay of South Vietnam. Such a settlement would require two things. First, a process that would allow the South Vietnamese people to express their choice and a guarantee that this process and that the guarantee should have the confidence of the South Vietnamese people they should be broad enough and Strong Enough to protect the interests of all major South Vietnamese groups. This is the outline of the settlement that we seek to negotiate, the basic terms are simple, mutual withdrawal of nonSouth Vietnamese forces from South Vietnam and free choice for the peep of South Vietnam. I believe the longterm interest of peace require that we insist on no less than that the reality is that we seek no more. Now to make a very concrete what ive said, i propose the following specific measures that seem to be consistent with all parties. These proposals are made on the basis of full consultation of the president. As soon as an agreement can be reach to all south nonSouth Vietnamese forces will begin withdrawal from South Vietnam. Over a period of 12 months ive agreed upon the stages that major portions of the u. S. Allied and other nonSouth Vietnamese forces will be withdrawn. At the end of the 12 month period, the remaining u. S. Allied and other forces would move in the designated base area and would not engage in combat operations. The remaining u. S. And allied forces would complete their withdrawals as the remaining forces were with john and return from North Vietnam. And separated and created for verifying withdrawal and for any other purposes agreedupon on the two sides. This will Begin Operating within agreed time close and arrange for ceasefires in vietnam. As it is possible after the International Body is functioning, elections will be held under the supervision of the international by them. Arrangements will be made for the release of prisoners of war at the earliest possible time. All parties agree to observe the geneva court of 1954 regarding South Vietnam and cambodia and allow the accord of 1962. I believe that this proposal for peace is realistic and takes an account legitimate is just the best interest of all concerned. It is consistent and can accommodate the various programs put forth by the other side. We in the government of South Vietnam have repaired to discuss the details with the other side. Terry rogers is now in saigon and will just got with the president , how together we can put forward these proposed measures most usefully in paris. He will is will be consulting with the other asian allies as the measures are on his trip. But these proposals are not offered on a take it or leave it basis. We are quite willing to consider other approaches, consistent with the principles and willing to talk about anybodys program, provided it could be made consistent with a very few basic principles ive set forth here tonight. And despite our disagreement we welcome the fact that dave put together their First Comprehensive program. We are studying the program carefully however, we cannot ignore the fact that immediately after the scale of enemy attacks stepped up and american casualties in vietnam increased. Let me make one point clear. If the enemy wants peace with the United States, that is not the way to get it. I have set forth the Peace Program tonight that is generous in its terms and our willingness to consider other proposals but no greater mistake could be made to confuse flexibility with weakness being reasonable with lack of resolution. I must also make clear in all candor, that if the needless suffering continues this will affect other decisions. Nobody has anything to gain by delays. Reports indicate the enemy has given up hope for a military victory but is counting on a collapse of american will in the United States. There could be no greater error in judgment. Let me be quite blunt. Our fighting men are not going to be warmed out, our mediators are not going to be talk out and our allies will not be left out my fellow americans. I have seen the ugly face of war in vietnam and ive seen the wounded in field hospitals, american boys, south enemies boys, North Vietnamese boys. They were different in many ways, the color of their skin, their religion and some more enemies and some were friends but, the differences were small and they were brave and so young. Their lives and dreams for the future had been shattered by a war over which they had no control. With all of the moral authority of the office i hold i say that america could have no greater and prouder role than to help to end this war in a way which will bring mere that day in which we could have a world order in which people can live together in peace and friendship. I do not criticize those who disagree with me on the conduct of our peace negotiations, and i do not ask unlimited patience from the people whose hopes for peace have too often been raised and been cruelly dashed over the past four years. Ive tried to present the facts about vietnam with complete honesty and will continue to do so in my reports to the American People. Tonight, all i ask is that you consider these facts and whatever our differences, that you support a program which can lead to a piece we can live with and a piece we can be proud of. Nothing could have a greater effect in convincing an enemy that he should negotiate in good faith and to see the american with the generous peace offer. In my campaign for the presidency, i pledge to end this war and in a way that would increase our chances to win true and lasting peace in vietnam in the pacific and in the world. I am determined to keep the pledge. If i failed to do so, i expect the American People to hold me accountable. And as i speak to tonight my hope is that we will look back on this day at the critical turning point when the American Initiative moved us off dead center and the time when this war will be brought to an end and we will be able to devote the unlimited energies and dedication of the American People to the exciting challenges of peace. Thank you and good night. All week we are featuring American History tv programs as a preview of what is available every weekend on cspan3 american artifacts got real america, the civil war, oral histories, the presidency and special event coverage, enjoy American History tv now and every weekend on cspan3. Sunday night, the author of the future of humanity talks about our destiny beyond earth and achieving digital immortality. The digital footprint. Your credit card records. What movies you see. What wine you but in what countries you visit. Videos. Pictures. Audiotapes. It creates a profile that is digitized that will last forever. When you go to the library of the future, you will not pick out a book about Winston Churchill that you will talk to Winston Churchill. Sunday night a 8 p. M. Eastern on cspans q a. In 1979, Small Network with an unusual name rolled out of his idea, let viewers make up their own minds, cspan open the doors to washington policy for all to see, bringing you unfiltered conten