Evening star., 1960-10-29

SN"snseSSSS W Sts'eoSsSSSfesS
rd Hotel:
lproblems Of our time. In this
he cannot succeed unless he is
free Of rashness: Of arrogance;
Of headlong action; of the in
clination to easy compromise.
I hear that one candidate says
he will act first and act fast.
America needs q man who will
think first, and then act wisely.
I We need a leader who will
not, one day. say that the
United States Government
should intervene in Cuba and
then retract 1t the next day.
We need q leader who will
not, one day, say he would give
up territory to the Communists
and then change his mind on It
q day or so later.
For upon such decisions can
hinge peace or war. Upon your
President will fall problems like
disarmament - like nuclear
testing-like Berlin and Que
moy-like Cuba-and, beyond
these, the task Of continuing to
win the hearts and minds Of
millions Of struggling peoples.
BY the morality, justice and
steadiness Of his decisions, he
must be able to rally world sup
port.
Your President will also be
the Commander in Chief Of
your armed forces. National
security will be one Of his
basic responsibilities and will
depend greatly upon his un-
derstanding, born Of expert
ence. Just wanting to keep
out Of war will not be enough
AS our three major wars in
this country have proved. Your
President must see to 1t that
you armed forces are kept alert
and modern, always ready to
meet whatever threat may ex-
iSt in the world.
A strong defense necessarily
rests upon a strong economy.
Defense is vastly expensive.
Even now you are spending $40
million q day on long-range
ballistic missiles alone-more |
each day, every day, than the
total spent for this purpose
in all the years before I took
ONCE. AS long as high-level
spending is necessary for your
security, the Commander in
Chief will need to be mindful
that unless he holds firmly
to policies that promote the
growth Of free, competitive
economic enterprise in the
Unitd States the entire defense
effort will be weakened.
! have given these few ex-
amples Of presidential duties
to make clear the momentous
significance to you and your
children Of your vote on No.
vember 8.
Concerned About Image
I have lived q fairly long
and full life, so I tend to think
OF this Nation in terms Of my
children's and grandchildren's
problems. In thinking Of their
future I am profoundly con-
cerned by some statements in
this campaign that have had
worldwide circulation and have
cruelty distorted the image Of
America. These statements
demonstrate an amazing ire
sponSibility. They demand,
from me. emphatic correction.
This week Pravda, one Of
MoScow's propaganda news
papers, reproduced speeches Of
American politicians bewailing
alleged weaknesses of our coun-
try. The Soviet leaders are
gleefully quoting these same
speeches in their effort to prove
that our influence with other
governments Of the world is
shrinking.
My friends, too many people
are talking careleSSly and
ignorantly about Americas
standing, as If our republic
were in q popularity contest.
The word prestige has be-
come so badly used and mis-
used as to have lost any real
meaning. But Of this we can
be sure: The Nations prestige
is not measured by the stri-
dency, of a politicians voice;
it is measured by proved ac-
compliShment. Aside from the
great economic DEVELOPMENT
for which you have been re-
Sponsible. we have, among
other things, stopped a futile
and costly war, moved to halt
Communist advances in Wet
Nam. prevented attacks on
FormoSa, helped our Philip
pine friends eliminate Com
munist guerilla warfare,
achieved, through the United
Nations, a decent solution of
the Suez affair, saved Iran, |,
removed the sore spot of
Trieste, by our sacrifices and
cooperative effort strengthened
free nations all along the
periphery of the Communist i
bloc. and forged new ties with
our neighbors to the south,
These successes were not won !
py any lack OF strength or
decisiveneSs. It Is on such a
record that Americans measure
prestige rather than upon self
serving political assertions.
Programs Are Right
The important thing in our
foreign affairs is that our Ma
tion's purposes and programs
be right. That they are right
is proved by the eagerness with
which the heads Of other gov
ernments seek our counsel and
support, and by our record in
the United Nations.