Voice of America Rally Part 4

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Other Media: c031_073.mp3; c031_073_tr.txt

Transcription (Scripto): Read Full Text Only (TXT)
Extent (Dublin Core): 1 Hour, 5 Minutes, 10 Seconds
File Name (Dublin Core): c031_073
Title (Dublin Core): Voice of America Rally Part 4
Description (Dublin Core): In this audio Bob Dole hosts a rally that aims to increase awareness and support for the prisoners of war in Vietnam. Throughout the audio you will hear speeches given by several high-up military officials, wives of prisoners of war, Congressmen, and the Vice President at the time Spiro T. Agnew. These speeches include not only advocacy for bringing home American prisoners of war, but also advocacy for the American war in Vietnam.
Date (Dublin Core): 1970-05-01
Date Created (Dublin Core): 1970-05-01
Congress (Dublin Core): 91st (1969-1971)
Topics (Dublin Core): See all items with this value Vietnam War, 1961-1975; See all items with this value Vietnam War, 1961-1975--Missing in action--United States; See all items with this value Prisoners of war--United States
Policy Area (Curation): Armed Forces and National Security
Creator (Dublin Core): Dole, Robert J., 1923-2021
Record Type (Dublin Core): radio programs
Names (Dublin Core): See all items with this value Agnew, Spiro T., 1918-1996; See all items with this value Sikes, Robert L. F. (Robert Lee Fulton), 1906-1994; See all items with this value Cummings, Robert, 1908-1990; See all items with this value Miller, Jack R. (Jack Richard), 1916-1994; See all items with this value Dominick, Peter H. (Peter Hoyt), 1915-1981; See all items with this value Goldwater, Barry M. (Barry Morris), 1909-1998
Rights (Dublin Core): http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/CNE/1.0/
Language (Dublin Core): eng
Collection Finding Aid (Dublin Core): https://dolearchivecollections.ku.edu/index.php?p=collections/findingaid&id=84&q=
Physical Collection (Dublin Core): Collection 031, Box 2
Institution (Dublin Core): Robert J. Dole Institute of Politics, University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS
Archival Collection (Dublin Core): Dole Audio Reels Collection, 1960-1979
Full Text (Extract Text): Congressman Robert Sikes:
(inaudible) of these brave Americans and five, that copies of this resolution be delivered to the appropriate representatives by the appropriate representatives of the United States government to the appropriate representatives of every nation in the world. [Applause]. Passed by the House of Representatives and by the Senate of the United States in record time, attested by the Clerk of the House and the Secretary of the Senate, signed by the President of the United States, and the proclamation issued that Sunday is a National Day of prayer, ladies and gentlemen, with our hope, our prayers, our determination, yes, our determination, that these men shall be freed forthwith by whatever means are required and restored to their families and our country. I present to these wonderful young ladies this resolution from the Congress.
[Applause]

Unnamed woman:
Thank you, Congressman Sikes. [Applause]. Thank you. Please, please carry this message to your place of worship and to your fellow human beings. But above all, when May 3rd has come and gone, we beg of you to please remember these men in your hearts, in your deeds and your prayers until they are home safe. Thank you. [Applause]. It took 20 minutes for the Congress to pass this resolution. But when you consider the cause, it really is not such a feat. Words cannot express my thanks to the Congress, especially to the congressmen who have worked so hard to bring us together, and to their staff, and especially to Senator Dole.[applause]

Dole:
We have another very special guest. One of these physical fitness nuts who looks 40 years younger than he is. [Audience Laughter]. I asked the girls if they knew this movie star and they said, "my grandmother does." [audience laughter] But seriously, when we asked Bob Cummings, through the great offices of Senator Murphy, to come tonight, he said yes because he too, is a concerned American. He too would like to share in this great cause. So it's a great pleasure for me to present a great man, probably best known for his TV series of "My Hero" and "The Bob Cummings Show." Or if you like a little more action, "Dial M for Murder." But he's a great American. He's here at some sacrifice. And it's my pleasure to present Bob Cummings at this time.

[applause]

Cummings:
I actually am 40 years younger, too. I feel it tonight. I want to thank you, Senator Dole, distinguished leaders, Mr. Stockdale, Mr. Perot, and families of America's captive and missing heroes. Naturally, I feel most proud and very honored to be with you this evening. I feel that I have the privilege of speaking, really, on behalf of millions of Americans who can't be here personally tonight. These Americans don't have missing or captive loved ones. They are not forced to wait and to wonder. Their children are not growing up under the question mark of their fathers fates. And they don't suffer the remorseless, hideous taunting of the cynical captors. But these millions do know that your men are over there and they do really care. Surely each of you with a missing or captured son, husband, or father knows people in your own community who care deeply and who are not apathetic. I, as most of you know, I'm a pilot and I have had the privilege of traveling to almost every section of this great country of ours. And I know that these people are everywhere. And I feel, as I stand here tonight, that I could say for them that we know, we care, and we definitely shall not forget. You know your men are not unlike the ancient Spartans at Thermopylae. Few in number and surrounded, they waited for word of aid from home. Alone, they waited. And alone, they hoped. And when at last, and too late, help did arrive, these words were found inscribed on the rocks where they had fallen: "Go, passerby, and tell that we in faithful service fell." Let us please resolve tonight that these words will not be found in the bamboo cells of our men. That help will arrive. And that the passerby of the world will know their story, not from the pathetic scratchings that they have left behind, but from their own voices, their own lips, and the hearts and the minds and the voices of their fellow Americans. Let us pray that God, in His mercy, will return them to us safe and well. Let's make that great, impossible dream really possible. [Applause].

Dole:
As you may have noticed, Senator Stennis was on the platform earlier. He was called away because of an extreme emergency. And so, in his stead, I've asked Senator Jack Miller from the great state of Iowa to introduce an outstanding American. Senator Miller.[Applause]

Miller:
Thank you, my colleague, Senator Dole. I first became, you might say, personally acquainted with the prisoner of war problem when I visited Vietnam in January of 1966. After that I went over to Korat in Thailand and was the first member of Congress to spend a night over there. That evening, I had dinner with the five Iowa pilots who were based there. The next morning, I had breakfast with some 18 Iowa airmen. And within only a very few weeks afterwards, one of the Iowa boys whom I had talked to at that evening party was a prisoner of war in North Vietnam. And I might say that I, ever since, have thought about him and his parents in Iowa many times. And about others too. And this is so because I think the number one concern of most of us in the Congress is this war. And the prisoner of war problem is a very big part of that concern, and this is so because it points up the difference that stands out in a nation that is really moral. All I can say is that my own Peace of Mind will never be achieved until these brave men come home. Now it's my privilege as an old Air Force man to introduce one of our Navy heroes. Lieutenant Robert Frishman comes from that great Iowa colony of Long Beach, California, [audience laughter] where his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Frishman, still reside. Bob and his wife presently reside in La Jolla. He was commissioned an ensign in June of 1964 and a Navy pilot in October 1965. Two years later, he was shot down on a combat mission over North Vietnam and became a prisoner of war. Last August, he became one of the 9 prisoners released by North Vietnam during all of these years. You should know that his many decorations include the distinguished Flying Cross, the air medal, the Navy Commendation Medal, and the Purple Heart. Bob Frishman's hope for freedom came true. He is with us tonight to echo the hope for freedom for all of the others whose safe return we pray for. I present Lieutenant Robert Frishman. [Applause]
Frishman:
Senator Miller, Mr. Chairman, ladies and gentlemen, we are here tonight asking what we and others can do to help those men languishing in Communist prison camps. The answer is simple. Ask yourself, what would he want you to do for him? Think about it. Think about it hard, and then do it. For these men were given a job to do by their country. Now you must speak out on their behalf, since their voices are now kept silent. No matter what your political convictions, whether you think we should pull out of Vietnam today, or bomb Hanoi tomorrow, we can all support. [applause] We can all support humane treatment for prisoners of war. For these men were given a job to do by their country and did it to the best of their ability. They have given so much for you. Now they need your help. Thank you.[Applause].

Senator Peter Dominick:
Bob Dole, my distinguished friends in the House and the Senate. Along with Jack Miller, I have a real joyous occasion. We have the opportunity to present to you two of the nine people who have become free again from prisoners of war. My particular friend and compatriot comes from South Dakota. Petty Officer Hegdahl. I call it a suburb of Colorado and we're happy to claim him. I noticed in the process of the program, and I have not had enough chance to really talk with him about, that he lost 60 pounds while he was in prison. 60 pounds. As an Air Force man, I always said the Navy ate well, but I don't know that that's very good. He seems to have put it back on, or most of it. He was assigned to the USS Canberra. He was lost in 1967. Captured and not released for two and a half years, he holds the Meritorious Unit Commendation, the National Defense Service medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign medal. Ladies and gentlemen, I give to you one of our privileged characters that we hope will be joined by so many thousands more. One of our nine releasees, Petty Officer Hegdahl. [Applause].

Hegdahl:
Ladies and gentlemen, senators, I'm very happy to be here tonight. I don't know what more I can say, but these men in prison have given their all for their country. And their wives have waited for years and years, and now it is our turn to do what we can for them. I hope that all of us will let North Vietnam know that there will be no compromise on the prisoner of war situation. Thank you very much.
[applause]

Dole:
Thank you, Mr. Hegdahl, Senator Dominick. Let me say very quickly that we're literally inundated with distinguished guests this evening. I wouldn't know where to stop or where to start. I do know there is at least one Medal of Honor winner in the audience. I wonder if Colonel Joe Jackson might stand. Colonel Jackson here. [Applause]. He earned this award for conspicuous gallantry in Vietnam. And we salute him and all other distinguished holders of that great honor. Very quickly, there are a number of senators and members of Congress here. We're very pleased that they are here, and I would say to the mothers and fathers and wives and children that I would guess every member of Congress would have been here had he been able to change conflicts he had in his home area. I'm certain my list is not complete, but very quickly, let me tell you who's here and then we can applaud all these Americans, great Americans, I think, at the same time. Senator and Mrs. Ruska from Nebraska. Senator and Mrs. Thurmond from South Carolina. Senator and Mrs. Allen, from Alabama. Senator Magnuson and Mrs. Magnuson from Washington. Senator and Mrs. Clifford Hansen from Wyoming. Others you will have met or will meet later. Congressman Tom Kleppe and Mrs. Kleppe, Congressman Clarence Miller and Mrs. Miller from Ohio. Tom Kleppe is from North Dakota. Congressman H. R. Gross and Mrs. Gross from Iowa. Congressman Sam Stratton from New York, Congressman Bill Steiger and Mrs. Steiger from Wisconsin. Congressman Tom Pelly from Washington, Congressman Speedy Long from Louisiana. Congressman Clarence Brown from Ohio. Congressman Bill Scherle. He's big enough to see he's around somewhere from Iowa. Congressman John Rarick from Louisiana. Congresswoman Florence Dwyer from New Jersey. Congressman Chester Mize and Mrs. Mize from the great state of Kansas. Congressman Ross Adair from Indiana. Congressman and Mrs. Howard Pollock from Alaska, Congressman and Mrs. Joe Skubitz from Kansas. Congressman and Mrs. Bob Price, born in Kansas, moved to Texas. [audience laughter] Congressman Graham Purcell, who is looking at me right now on my left from the great state of Texas. Congressman and Mrs. Cederberg from Michigan. Congressman and Mrs. Joe Waggonner from the great state of Louisiana. And I know there are others that I may have forgotten when they'll be introduced a little later. We have also literally hundreds of messages and before I forget it, I want to remind the wives and the families and mothers. Tomorrow morning at 10:00, you will meet in the Interior Department auditorium. Regardless of what your letter may have said, you'll meet in the Interior Department auditorium at 10:00. It's a private meeting for wives, mothers, and family members. It's now a pleasure for me to introduce Mrs. Douglas Peterson. I gave her one minute to introduce a very, very, very special guest. Mrs. Peterson.
[applause]

Peterson:
Thank you, Senator Dole. Tonight, I'm here with three very special people. In 1966, my Pete left us, June 1966. August of 1969 I found out that my husband was alive. My friends here brought my husband's name back. Thank you. [Applause]. There is so much hope for us. I know I was in the same category as so many of you are now. I had the privilege of going on a trip with one of the most wonderful men in the world. When Lieutenant Frishman, and Doug, I hope you don't mind. My husband's name is Doug and I just have to call him Doug, came back, they told us, they helped us to speak out. The wives took steps, and then all of a sudden there was a hand reaching out to us, guiding us. Which you know, we all need this. We're only mothers and wives. On the trip that we took, I went with many wonderful, wonderful people from United We Stand. Each wife knows how precious each moment is with their families. Mrs. Perot has been most unselfish, as her children, to share with us her husband, who has taken us by the hand and has helped us to help our men and to show the world that we will fight for them with your backing. Since my husband is a prisoner of war, of course, when we went into the POW camps in Vietnam, the first thing that I saw that I will remember for the rest of my life was the day when the families could look at one another even though they were behind a fence. They were only three feet apart. Maybe they couldn't touch. They could talk. They could tell news. I have a little boy that has not met his father yet. I saw a father meet his son. There was a mother there who raised this very beautiful baby in her arms and showed the father his son. The others, the children could go, and the men could watch them grow. They could find out about all their families. They had religious services, I heard laughter. They ate well. They could even go and complain. Can you believe it? They had a right to sit and complain about food and many other things like not wanting to get out in the sunshine. Can you imagine it? If only our men could be in the sun one second, one minute. If only they could look upon the eyes of an American. And this is what we went for, not asking a great deal. And we went with the man that who knew how to help us. One who would stand beside us. It is indeed unbelievable. When I say to you, there are no words. My friends, many are out there and they know I talk a lot and that's why I said one minute you'll have to tell me when to stop because I get so excited, I can't stop on this. I'm so thrilled. I'm so full of enthusiasm and he gave it to us, he and his family. God graced this man with a gift. And this man gave us part of his gift, his night, he shared it, his unselfishness and his real enthusiasm -- he wants families back together because of the love that he's had in his family, the love he's had in the United States, and he says it's because of our wonderful men. Men like the men here. Ladies and gentlemen, from the bottom of my heart. And this is another thing, can I just add one more thing, can you imagine? [audience laughter] We haven't introduced to you, the wives, the mothers, the children of missing in action and POWs, Mr. H. Ross Perot. I do and I'm so honored.
[Applause]

Perot:
Thank you. Thank you very much. Everything we've tried to do in the past and everything we'll try to do in the future is aimed at one point and that's the release of the prisoners. [Applause] It's important for everyone in this country to understand that a prisoner of war has no military value within 48 hours after his capture. From that point forward, he becomes a burden to the enemy's economy. He's a user of food, clothing, medicine, facilities, guards, what have you. So, there's no military or national reason to keep these men as prisoners of war. Contrast the attitude of the South Vietnamese, who hold the North Vietnamese prisoners of war in South Vietnam. Repeatedly they have tried to give back the second wounded. Repeatedly they've tried to work out a release or exchange of prisoners. They have a continuing program underway at all times to return the Viet Cong prisoners to their community. Literally, after several months in captivity, the procedure is almost as simple as the parent coming in and signing for the prisoner. So, the people who say, "Well, Perot, you don't understand Asians and Asians place no value on human life and what have you." I say I've been in the camps in South Vietnam. They're Asians, they're Vietnamese, and I've seen the prisoners treated humanely. I've seen them and talked to them about their efforts to return them into the North. So, I consider it a realistic goal. In order to accomplish this goal, we've got to understand the North Vietnamese and much of what we've done up in the last point was to get to know them. And here's what we find. We find they're tough. They're resolute. Like a 90 pound fighter that lasted 15 rounds with Rocky Marciano. They're battered. And really, that's the people I just described, are battered. The leadership is like the trainer in a boxing ring. The leadership is sitting at the corner with a towel over their shoulder. The leadership doesn't go into battle. The people don't have a voice in North Vietnam. And the leadership is willing to hang on. Now logically you can say is that really true? And I say go to the prisoner war camps in the South and look at the age of the prisoners coming in those camps. 14, 15, some 12 year old. When you've got men that young, boys that age, going into battle, that's one of the most significant signs you could have that the enemy is in serious trouble. But they cling on. They hang on. So, we can count on the fact that they are tough. They are resolute. Now let's come down to some things that are really significant. They keenly understand our government. I contend they're better students of our government than most of us. They feel that our government is inherently weak, relative to theirs. And the reasons they feel this way are interesting. They're not too concerned about our leaders. They see them as transitory figures that pass in the night. They feel that our government is inherently weak because the people select the leaders and that the people select leaders who will carry out the mandate of the people. So, in this inherently weak system, where the leaders are subject to change on a fairly short cycle, they realize that the real power in this country is in the people. And that's the ticket to the release of the prisoners. The North Vietnamese, from their cultural point of view, just can't conceive that 200 million Americans could care about 1500 men. I've talked on this subject with them in nearly every meeting we have. My staff has, all over the world. Intermediaries that we've used confirmed this. They just can't believe that this could be a national problem. Keep in mind that they placed the prisoners on a very low priority. They do not consider the prisoners a significant factor. Keep in mind they will not be moved by sentiment. They will not be moved by concern for human life, and they will not be moved by emotion. And if you don't believe that, look at the way they treat their own men who are prisoners in the South. They won't take their names from the International Red Cross and let the families in the north know. They won't let mail come up from the South. They don't notify the families in the north when a man's wounded or killed on the battlefield. So, if they're anything, they're consistent. [Audience laughter] But I use that as an example just to point out to you don't expect them to be moved by emotion or sentiment. They are among the most practical people I've ever met. At the point when the prisoners do in fact become a liability, they will not allow them to continue to be a liability. So, what am I doing, trying to do? I'm trying to arouse and inform the American people on this subject. I'm trying to get the level of concern to such a height that the North Vietnamese will become concerned that the attention of the American people is being diverted from what they consider the real issue, and that's the war, the concern for these 1500 men. And at the point when they see that as a distinct possibility, you're going to see big things happen quickly because they are so cracked. They will not run that risk. Now, how do we make that happen? First, we had to go through what I call a basic education phase. Christmas trips, the things we've done in between, were necessary to focus attention. The work that all of you wives have been doing has done an outstanding job. We've gotten the American people informed. The poll we took after the Christmas trip indicated that 68% of the population not only was aware of the plight of these men, but understood the details. I think we have that up to about 80% now. I doubt if we could get it over 80%. But 80% is more than enough. And so, using that base we've got to reinforce what we've done and move forward from there. The North Vietnamese learned a long time ago that if America has your arm twisted, has you under pressure, the smartest thing to do is say let's talk. He immediately releases the arm and you talk and talk and talk and talk. So, in what we're doing, we twist and talk. [Applause] They can't stand this pressure. As a nation, they have an inferiority complex and as a people they have an inferiority complex. It's terribly important to them to be recognized as a first-class nation. They can't take the risk of having the American people learn to hate them on the prisoner issue, not only because of the consequences that could come to them immediately, but more importantly, and this almost seems like a paradox, they're counting on us to protect them from China over the long pull. So that's the risk they can't take as -- they never refer to your husbands and sons as 1500 men, they always refer to them as "just" 1500 men. That's a risk they can't take over "just" 1500 men. We testified before the House Foreign Affairs Committee today. The gentlemen on this committee asked repeatedly what can Congress do? What can we do here? And I'd like to tell you again what I suggested to them today. One of these gentlemen suggested, is the wiser of talking, that certainly something every American citizen could do would be to remember these men in their family prayers at night. And I strongly recommend that, and I assure you that my family and my children remember your men every single night. So, I asked Congress today to remember these men in the opening prayer of Congress, each time it takes place. Each time Congress meets. [Applause] I asked these gentlemen today to do whatever it took and to call on us to help them in any way they needed help, to call a joint session of Congress and have the House and the Senate spend the part of a day hearing what this committee heard today. [Applause] That will have an impact on the North Vietnamese. It will be staggering. Because in the history of the United States, you can go back through the events that caused the House and the Senate to meet together. And they are among our most historic events. And when they see the House and the Senate meet expressing concern and getting information about and finding out how to bring about the release of "just" 1500 men, that will be a signal that can literally be seen halfway across the world. [Applause] The North Vietnamese are even more sensitive to the 1970 elections than the people in this country. They are watching the political winds very, very carefully. They're looking for signs. So, I've asked every candidate for the Senate and every candidate for the House to take a formal position and make it part of his platform on the release of the prisoners of war. [Applause]. And when they see these gentlemen in joint session and when they see people taking this position on their platform and trust me, we don't leave this to chances. These gentlemen take these positions. We'll count on you as you read about it in newspapers across the country to clip it out and mail it to Hanoi. And then I will prepare tabulation showing these are the men that are running. This is where they stand. Here's the geographic distribution. I'll get this to the highest levels in Hanoi through intermediaries. So don't worry, if, when the positions are taken, the North Vietnamese will see them. [Applause] Next, I requested the Congress, the Defense Department, the State Department and the Executive Office building to allow me to put in replicas of the bamboo cages that the men live in in South Vietnam. The concrete cells that the men live in in Hanoi. The holes that some of the men are placed in in Laos. And the tree with the chain around the trunk that some of the men are attached to in South Vietnam and Laos. So that as they go about their daily routine with literally the problems of this great nation and the world on their minds, they can never forget "just" 1500 men. [Applause] Finally, I asked the Congress to consider very seriously, asking every American citizen, asking people like me, that are unaffected by the war directly, has the necessary legislation so that every citizen in this country has to make a personal sacrifice every day we have men on the battlefield so that I can never forget it. I feel that in our nation, a nation that belongs to its people. It's morally wrong for so few that make such a great sacrifice for all of us, and the least that we can expect to have imposed upon us is some small sacrifice by our government so that we can never forget your men. [Applause] In closing, I'd like to say that in a nation that would rise up in indignation if we ask a college quarterback to play without his helmet some Saturday afternoon, certainly we as a people and as a nation have an obligation when we ask a young man to go into battle for his country to do everything in the world to protect him, to ensure his safe return. Thank you very much. [Applause] [Inaudible audience reaction].
Dole:
(inaudible). Next on. [Inaudible audience reaction]. Next on, the program, I want to introduce two other great Americans. We've had two of the nine, we have two more. I'd like them just simply to walk up to the platform. We are running a little late. And during that period if I could ask Senator Allen and Senator Thurmond, Senator Hruska, and Bill Anders to go this direction to serve as an escort for another guest who may be coming. Let me introduce two former POWs, Air Force Majors. Major Fred M. Thompson, Major Joe V. Carpenter, released in 1968. Would you just come up and we can see who you are? [Applause] I know that Senator and Mrs. Milton Young from North Dakota are here, I helped them find a seat. I know that Congressman Jim Hanley from New York, and his wife and children are here. I know that Congressman Elliot Hagan from Georgia is here. I know that both Congressman and Mrs. Wiley Mayne are here. And I know that there are several other congressmen or congresswomen or either House members or Senators who may be present. I'm wondering if I've overlooked anyone. If you might just stand so that those in the area will know that we do have a deep and abiding interest in the Congress in these brave Americans. So, if I've overlooked anyone, if you'd stand at this time. Next, I think one of the highlights of our program, because it involves two great Americans. I'm going to introduce one. He'll introduce the second. I think all I need to do is say that it's my privilege to ask Senator Barry M. Goldwater from the great state of Arizona. [Applause]. (inaudible).

Goldwater:
Mr. Chairman and families of the prisoners of war, I was just told that our special guest for the night will be here very shortly, so we'll kind of speed it up. I want to apologize for being a little late and I want to apologize too for having to leave as soon as I've introduced this distinguished gentleman, but I flew back here from Seattle, Washington and I have to go back tonight and if I don't get off by 11:00, the FAA says I can't. I'll have to wait till morning. [audience laughter] I first got interested in this prisoner of war situation in talking to a rather large number of wives who are stationed at Luke Air Force Base, and Williams and Davis-Monthan, who wanted to talk about what we could do, we members of Congress. And I told them then that we've felt rather futile. We felt rather hopeless. But after listening tonight, I'm not of that mind anymore. I'm reminded- [Applause] I used to run mules down to the Rainbow National Bridge. And I had an old cowboy that helped me. And he could get along with mules very well. He did everything but hit them with a 2 by 4, before he tried to harness them up. And I always said, "Bill, why do you have to be so rough with them?" "Well," he said, "you have to get their attention." And I have a hunch that that's what we have to do with the North Vietnamese. [Applause] I frankly think the world, and particularly North Vietnam, are very confused about America. As we listen to the radio today and watch television, as we realize that there are a pack of idiots just a few miles north of here, tearing down the ROTC headquarters and burning uniforms. [Applause] When we hear about a man blowing his nose on the American flag at Yale. I'm not, I am not confused as to why the world is confused. I don't believe the world thinks America wants to win this war. And I think last night, our president hit the mule over the head with the 2 by 4. [Applause] And if that doesn't work, I have an 8 by 8 I'll let him use next week. [audience laughter] Now, it's my extreme pleasure tonight to introduce one of the outstanding young men not only in this country but in the world. I say young because he was born in 1928. He was born in Cleveland, Ohio. He's married to his charming wife, Marilyn, and they have four children. He has so many honors that I would take the rest of the evening to go over them, but just to mention a few, he's a member of the Society of Experimental Test Pilots and the Explorers Club. He's been awarded the NASA Distinguished Service Medal, two NASA Exceptional Service awards, the Navy Astronaut Wings, the Navy Distinguished Service Medal, and two Navy Distinguished Flying Crosses. And some of the others I can't even pronounce. They're from foreign countries. This gentleman graduated from Annapolis in 1952 and he's now a captain in our Navy. He served a four-year tour as a test pilot at Patuxent, and I remember the other day during our hearings when he was there, Margaret Chase Smith of Maine asked these two astronauts, "How come you kept your cool?" And Jim said, "I got mine from being a test pilot." He was assigned as an astronaut by NASA in September of '62, and he's flown on the Gemini 7 mission, the Gemini 12 mission, and he was command pilot for the epic journey of Apollo 8. This is man's maiden voyage to the moon. He was the command pilot of the Apollo 13 and did a remarkable job along with the other two and the great team at NASA in Houston in getting back to Earth. He has more time in space than any other astronaut. It's my extreme pleasure to introduce to you, Captain James Lovell. And Jim, you have the floor.
[Applause]

Lovell:
Thank you, Senator Goldwater. Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, friends and wives of the prisoners of war, friends and wives of shipmates of mine. I want to thank you for inviting me here tonight. I feel very humbled. As one who has just recently felt and been made deeply aware of the concern of others, I would now like to express my own feelings. It is a privilege to join my fellow Americans in focusing well attention to a subject of such deep importance. The returning to this country under the accepted rules of conduct those Americans who have been captured in battle. It is both sobering and shocking to realize the incredible lack of humanity that is involved, and the suffering and the sorrow that has been thrust upon not only themselves, but their families. When we consider that in many cases there has been no confirmation by the enemy, and that the ultimate fate of these men has remained unknown for years, the need for action is clear. Out of 1415 missing, we do know with varying degrees of certainty, that some 430 may be prisoners of war. There remain more than 1000 who are missing in action, and no one even knows whether they're dead or alive. More than 300 of these have been missing for 3 and a half years or more. That is longer than any U.S. servicemen was held prisoner in World War 2. Some of these men have been missing for more than six years. We who are astronauts in the United States space effort feel a close bond and kinship with these men. There are more than fifty of us. Many of us are still in the military service. A number of our group have flown in combat. We know the perils involved. But far beyond that, we appreciate and sympathize with the anxiety of the loved ones at home. The crew of Apollo 13 has good reason to appreciate these things. And I don't think I have to give you any explanation why. We know the anxiety that the wives and parents of our crew members felt when our mission suddenly worsened some 200,000 miles from home. We prayed, our loved ones prayed, and we are told the people of the world over prayed for our safe return. Those of us in the space program realized long ago that prayers offered for us were not offered to us as individuals. They were offered because our endeavors were symbols of man's spirit, for no man's life could be worth more than another's. From the many messages we have received from people everywhere, we have felt the warmth of human compassion and friendship. We cannot help feeling that for a few days the world may have been a little closer as we guided our spaceship home. If this is indeed true, and I believe it is, if, as we have found, people can be united in these troubled times, I ask that now again, the people of the world unite with prayer and with pressure to bring these brave Americans home.[Applause]

Dole:
Thank you, Captain Lovell. I know that's most meaningful to everyone here, those of us who should do more, and those of us who are doing more than they should. Very quickly, I'd like to acknowledge the presence on the stage as some very outstanding Americans, outstanding assistance in this cause. I might add that we're a little beyond our program time, but we've just got an extension. [Audience laughter]. We filed bankruptcy papers. Let me introduce very quickly Leo Anderson, D.C. Department of Veterans Affairs, Leo. [Applause]. James H. Manville, Retired Officers Association. [Applause]. Martin Coy, AMVETS World War 2. [Applause]. Robert Bastian, Fleet Reserve Association. [Applause]. Colonel James B. Darren, National Guard Association. [Applause]. Bill Flaherty, Disabled American Veterans. [Applause]. George D. Hardy, Air Force Association. [Applause]. Don Johnson, Administrator, Veterans Administration. [Applause]. Peter L. Lassen, Paralyzed Veterans of America.[Applause]. He's out there. He's in his wheelchair right there. Thank you very much. Honorable G. Warren Nutter, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs. [Applause]. Robert Lewis, American Red Cross. [Applause]. Donald Skinder, Military Order of the Purple Heart. [Applause]. Frank Stover, Veterans of Foreign Wars. [Applause]. I might add that Don Johnson, of the Veterans Administration, was also chosen to represent the American Legion as the past National Commander. [Applause]. We've had great help from the Daughters of the American Revolution. We appreciate- [Applause]. We appreciate their cutting the rent. Let me introduce one of our great helpers, Mrs. Spicer, D.A.R. representative, [applause] and Colonel George Fox Mott, Reserve Officers Association. [Applause]. I think it's important that these men be recognized, and there are others who couldn't be here, because they've helped us in many, many ways. Now, I promised on February 21 to fill this hall. I see a few empty seats, so I may have all the people on the platform and all those standing take a seat if necessary, but I've just counted. And if those who were standing in the different alcoves and doorways and those who are on the platform, we would be one seat short. [Laughter and applause]. Next, it's my great privilege and pleasure to introduce one of the greatest Americans of all times, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew. [Music and Applause]. [inaudible] I'm very happy you're here.

Agnew:
Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Mrs. Stockdale and other wives and relatives of our prisoners of war and missing in action, Mr. Perot and the other sponsors of this appeal for international justice, distinguished members of the Congress and the many other distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. Tonight's is an unusual gathering. The leadership of our country is divided. And yet, men of different opinions and different philosophies are here to underline their common concern for the fate of hundreds of brave Americans who are prisoners of war, or who are missing in action in Southeast Asia. [Applause]. And not much more than two weeks ago, the hopes and fears of the nation and the world traveled back from the edge of eternity with 3 astronauts in a crippled spaceship. The rejoicing on their safe return was nearly universal, and it came from men with philosophies infinitely more varied than the opinions represented in this room tonight. But here we are tonight to express an identical kind of hope and fear for the lives of hundreds of America's sons who are being held captive halfway around the world. We are at war in Southeast Asia. Two basic ideologies of man are engaged against each other. We are on notice that the Communist government of North Vietnam is intransigent, totalitarian, and callous. We have seen the efforts of three presidents to end this costly war with a reasonably negotiated peace, rejected and ridiculed. We see continuing fresh violations of the neutrality of other nations and an endless onslaught of propaganda to justify indefensible outrages against humanity. Above all, we see the character of the Hanoi government in the manner in which they've treated our sons, their prisoners of war. And we see the character of the constitutional system of the United States and the anguish and the concern that millions of Americans feel daily about the imprisonment and treatment of your loved ones. I know of no stronger indictment of what the enemy fights for and what we are fighting against than the manner in which North Vietnam has treated these prisoners of war. Officially, they have not told us who these prisoners are or where they are. Our information comes from the exploitation of prisoners for propaganda films, propaganda broadcasts, stage photographs, and carefully selected interviews. We do know that a handful have already been released, and from those who have been released, we know that some remaining in captivity have been mistreated. They've been forced to live in isolation and to survive on near starvation diets. We know that they have not been given adequate medical treatment and that they've undergone forms of physical torture. Because of the enemy's refusal to provide us with the names of the captured, the sick, and the wounded, many American wives and parents have travelled to foreign countries in the hope of finding this information. Almost all have come home with nothing. As President Nixon stated 10 days ago, no statement on Vietnam would be complete without an expression of our concern for the fate of American prisoners of war. The callous exploitation of the anxieties and the anguish of the parents, the wives, the children of these brave men as negotiating pawns is an unforgivable breach of the elementary rules of conduct between civilized peoples. Let me say here tonight, we shall never forget those men, and we shall never forget how they have been treated. [Applause]. Officially, we've made every effort to persuade the enemy to be more forthcoming. Securing the release of our men who are held captive is fundamental to our negotiating position in Paris and we made every effort to bring the stark truth [audio cuts off].

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