US Presidency
1961

And that is why there is no ignoring the fact that the tide of self determination has not reached the Communist empire where a population far larger than that officially termed dependent lives under governments installed by foreign troops instead of free institutions -under a system which knows only one party and one belief which suppresses free debate, and free elections, and free newspapers, and free books and free trade unions and which builds a wall to keep truth a stranger and its own citizens prisoners. Let us debate colonialism in full- and apply the principle of free choice and the practice of free plebiscites in every corner of the globe. Finally, as President of the United States, I consider it my duty to report to this Assembly on two threats to the peace which are not on your crowded agenda, but which causes us, and most of you, the deepest concern. The first threat on which I wish to report is widely misunderstood: the smoldering coals of war in Southeast Asia.