MEMORANDUM

THE WHITE HOUSE
WASHINGTON

Draft 9/21

HOPE-AWARD DINNER REMARKS - SEPTEMBER 25, 1973

Mrs. Eisenhower, Governor Rockefeller, Secretary Dillon,
Dr. Walsh --

Mr. Houghton, and co-chairpersons of the dinner Mrs. Mosbacher
and Mrs. Roosevelt --

Ladies and gentlemen --

* * *

Now that Bobby Riggs has been defeated, there is no one left but
me to carry the banner of middle-aged male supremacy.

As Secretary of State I have to get my portrait painted to hang on
the Seventh Floor along with those of my predecessors. There have been
recommendations from the Foreign Service to hang me on the Seventh
Floor.

In any case I am not sure I want my portrait painted until I have a
chance to take off a few pounds. If that fails, I will have to ask Nelson
to recommend a good abstract painter who can capture the essence without
the physical form.

I used to say that working in a high government position did wonders

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for my paranoia, because now I had real enemies. But I know I also
have friends. And this is a gathering of friends.

This is a moving occasion.

This award, which was established in memory of President Eisenhower, is especially moving to me for several reasons.

First, we remember that Dwight Eisenhower was President in a
period of international peace. He presided over an era of American
leadership of a confident and secure alliance, and the period of the
beginnings of more peaceful relations with adversaries.

This has been our goal in President Nixon's administration, and
my inspiration.

Secondly, Dwight Eisenhower embodied the unity of America. He
had the unique honor of having been sought out by both parties as a
Presidential candidate. "Peace," he once said, "is not partisan."

Especially at this time, this wisdom is our necessity.

As I said a week ago in the public hearings on my nomination, this
nation's foreign policy, if it is to succeed, must rest on a broad national
base and reflect a shared community of values. At this crucial moment
of historical transition in the international order, we face historic opportunities to help shape a new world of stability, peace, and humanity. At
such a moment, we need more than ever a clear sense of our own
purposes and a confident, united faith in ourselves.

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[N]

It is obvious, at this moment, that we need to restore this faith
and this unity.

This is the third reason why this award and what it represents
have such meaning for me.

Project HOPE I have long admired as a unique expression of both
America's humane purposes and America's abiding commitment to making
a contribution to the world. In the sense that Project HOPE represents,
America has never been isolationist and never will be. Americans
do care about what happens in the world.

This basic humanity has always been part of America's purpose
toward the rest of the world. We are not naive; we understand that
our foreign policy has also reflected American concerns other than
pure altruism. But just as our own material abundance has been unique,
so has our willingness to share it with others been unique in human history.
We have expressed this as a people in private voluntary efforts like Project
HOPE, as well as in our public policy.

This should be a source of pride. At this moment we need to reassert
our pride in ourselves and in what we have done. Project HOPE is a
noble example of American decency and its practical significance. It is
a source of pride to me as an American.

This kind of pride does not mean arrogance or narcissism -- but it
means an end to self-abasement and artificial guilt.

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In fact, it is precisely the kind of pride and modesty, and dignity
and decency, that Dwight Eisenhower represented.

Project HOPE is significant not just as an abstract symbol.

At this moment in world history, when in the past five years we
have achieved such success in bringing under control the major issues
of war and peace, today the issues of the quality of human life become
more central in our foreign concerns. It was no accident that one of
the major policy problems explored in the hearings on my nomination
was the broad area of food and health, and America's concern for the
developing world and for the general well-being of mankind.

Project HOPE is thus aptly named. It represents the irrepressible
faith of America in itself, and the firm ground of that faith. It gives
me as an American the profound confidence that America will continue
to be a leader in the world for beneficent purposes, and for peace.

Therefore, I accept this Project HOPE award in a spirit of
deep humility and gratitude -- gratitude for what you have done for
the world, as well as for this award.

Draft 9/20

# HOPE Award Dinner Remarks

This award, which was established in memory of President Eisenhower, is especially moving to me for several reasons:

- First, Dwight Eisenhower was President in a period of international peace. He presided over an era of American leadership of a confident alliance, and the period of the beginnings of more peaceful relations with adversaries. This has been our goal, and my inspiration.

- Secondly, Dwight Eisenhower was the embodiment of the unity of America. He had the unique honor of being sought by both parties as a Presidential candidate. "Peace," he once said, "is not partisan." Especially at this time, this wisdom is our necessity.

- Thirdly, Project HOPE I have long admired as an expression of both America's humane purposes and of America's commitment to contribute to the world. In the sense that Project HOPE represents, America has never been isolationist and never will be. Americans _do_ care about what happens in the world.

- Thus Project HOPE is aptly named. Because it expresses the irrepressible faith of America, it gives me the confidence

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profound confidence that America will continue to be a leader
in the world for noble purposes, and for peace.

Therefore, I accept this award in a spirit of deep humility and gratitude --
gratitude for what you have done for the world, as well as for this
award.

Project Hope (Health Opportunity for People Everywhere) was initiated in 1960 when former President Eisenhower loaned the Naval hospital ship, USS Consolation, to the People-to-People Foundation. This organization is supported by voluntary contributions and a yearly grant from AID of approximately $1.5 million which represents about 25 percent of the total project costs. AID projects a reduced level of support ($500,000) in fiscal year 1970.

The primary purpose of the project is to bring modern medical training to physicians and other health workers in the less developed countries. Secondarily, health services are provided to limited population groups having access to the ship.

Cutting through the red tape of some two dozen government agencies, Dr. Walsh succeeded in obtaining from the Navy a 15,000-ton Korean War-scarred hospital ship which he refurbished as a 132-bed medical center known as the S.S. HOPE.

On September 22, 1960, the S.S. HOPE set out from San Francisco on its first voyage to Besar, Sumbawa, Indonesia (where two native doctors served 250,000 inhabitants) and South Vietnam (where the maimed and wounded civilians of the war needed care). Since that time, the countries visited by the mercy ship include Peru, Ecuador, Guinea, Nicaragua, Colombia, Ceylon, and Tunisia. The statistics are impressive -- more than 1,500 volunteer American medical personnel have performed in excess of 11,000 major operations, treated some 129,000 persons and trained 5,000 indigenous people in medical and paramedical techniques.

On occasion, the S.S. HOPE has sailed into trouble diplomatic waters, but the message voiced on the dock when it left has been invariably "Yanqui, come back," the "ugly American" image changed by the presence of men and women teaching health habits, distributing free milk and removing tumors.

In 1969, "Project HOPE" turned its attention to some problems at home, establishing an intensive teaching program to provide trained medical and health per-

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Laetare Medal, 1970......3

sonnel in the Mexican-American community of Loredo, Texas, and managing a hospital serving a 16-million acre Navajo Indian reservation at Ganado, Ariz.

Dr. Walsh divides his time between administrative duties in the Washington headquarters of "Project HOPE" and sojourns aboard ship. Much of his time is devoted to raising the $5 million a year it takes to keep his medical center afloat. He is currently gathering support for a second mercy ship, a step toward a goal of at least one S.S. HOPE for each continent. "There is only one thing wrong with 'Project HOPE,'" former Vice President Hubert Humphrey once said. "It consists of only one ship."

As for Dr. Walsh, he sees a direct tie between the S. S. HOPE and world peace. "There is nothing more miserable or hopeless than a man who is too sick or despondent to work," he commented. "It is people in such a state of despair who are most susceptible of being persuaded to violence."

His wife, Helen, who is a nurse, and his three sons all have worked aboard the hospital ship. Several foreign governments and educational, civic, and fraternal organizations have honored Dr. Walsh, and he has written two books, "A Ship Called HOPE" in 1964 and "Yanqui, Come Back" in 1966.

HOPE NEWS

is a publication of Project HOPE, The People-to-People Health Foundation, Inc. ■ 2233 Wisconsin Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20007 ■ Director of Information Services: Anson B. Campbell

J. 11, No. 3/1973

Henry A. Kissinger
Recipient of HOPE Award

Henry A. Kissinger, named Secretary of State by the President, will receive the second HOPE Award for International Understanding.

The Award for International Understanding, established in memory of President Eisenhower, will be presented to Dr. Kissinger at a dinner on September 25, 1973, in the Grand Ballroom of the Plaza Hotel in New York City. The Award, donated anonymously, is a Steuben Glass Mariner's Bowl with the inscription: "I would like to be remembered for any contribution I have made toward bringing peace to the world.' - Dwight David Eisenhower."

William B. Walsh, M.D., the Project's founder and president, said Dr. Kissinger was selected to receive the Award "for his deep commitment to the eventual realization of world peace. Dr. Kissinger was the President's primary negotiator in the sensitive discussions in Paris which led to the Vietnam ceasefire agreement. It was he who coordinated arrangements which led to the historic visit by President and Mrs. Nixon to the People's Republic of China, a visit which ended 20 years of diplomatic estrangement between the United States and

(See KISSINGER on page 2)

## HOPE IN BRAZIL AT PEAK

Indications are that HOPE's teaching programs, both ship and shore oriented, could change medical history in the entire northeast sector of Brazil.

Personnel selection goes forward to maintain a follow-up program after the hospital ship S.S. HOPE departs Maceio.

The HOPE public health teams began work immediately after the ship docked in February. One of the largest areas of concentration is in the public schools. Teams of physicians, nurses, and dentists have gone into the schools to present programs to the children on disease prevention and proper health procedures. Examinations have been conducted and instruction given on proper dental care.

Because it is always so important that the children learn proper health measures, the school is the perfect place to reach them. The people of Maceio also realize this, and courses are now being added to the curriculum which will offer the students continuing guidance in proper health care methods.

The HOPE public health teams also have been conducting classes for the people in communities

(See BRAZIL on page 2)

(KISSINGER from page 1)

the most populous nation of the world. It was Dr. Kissinger whose efforts led to the President's trip to Russia, the detente which followed that journey, and General Secretary Leonid I. Brezhnev's visit to the United States."

The first HOPE Award for International Understanding was presented to President Nixon at a White House ceremony on March 12, 1970.

It was at President Eisenhower's request for an international people-to-people program that Dr. Walsh conceived of and created Project HOPE. Later, President Eisenhower stated, "I firmly believe Project HOPE is the single most effective step in presenting America as a warm and good friend ...."

Honorary Chairmen for the event are Mrs. Dwight D. Eisenhower, Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller, The Honorable C. Douglas Dillon, The Honorable Robert D. Murphy, and William B. Walsh, M.D.

The Dinner Chairman is Amory Houghton, Jr., who will serve with two co-chairmen, Mrs. Emil Mosbacher, Jr., and Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jr.

Vice Chairmen include Joseph W. Alsop, Richard E. Berlin, Thornton F. Bradshaw, The Honorable Percival F. Brundage, Howard L. Clark, W. H. Conzen, Gardner Cowles, Joseph F. Cullman, 3rd, John D. deButts, The Honorable Joseph S. Farland, Mrs. Philip L. Graham, John D. Harper, Andrew Heiskell, W. L. Henry, James McN. Hester, Ph.D., Mrs. Edwin I. Hilson, The Honorable Jerome H. Holland, Reginald H. Jones, Vernon E. Jordan, John H. Kauffmann, Joseph D. Keenan, Donald M. Kendall, John H. Knowles, M.D., Gustave L. Levy, The Honorable Edwin A. Locke, Jr., Mrs. Nicholas Longworth, The Honorable Clare Boothe Luce, Donald S. McNaughton, George M. Parker, The Honorable Peter G. Peterson, Donald T. Regan, Arthur J. Santry, Jr., Robert W. Sarnoff, The Honorable William W. Scranton, William T. Seawell, Richard B. Sellars, Robert G. Stone, Jr., Lynn A. Townsend, Mrs. Paul Felix Warburg, Thomas J. Watson, Jr., and Walter B. Wriston.

Arrangement committee members are Mrs. Thomas L. Kempner, Miss Nancy Maginnes, Mrs. John F. Shaw, Mrs. Donald S. Stralem, Mrs. Hamburg Tang, and Mrs. Gene M. Woodfin.

(BRAZIL from page 1)

surrounding Maceio. These classes are held in various public meeting places, and good health care instruction is offered to the entire community. Clinics and home visits are being operated by the public health teams.

A great deal of work is being done ashore. Operating rooms, a recovery room, and a central supply system have been established in Santa Casa University Clinic, with classes being conducted in the proper staffing and techniques of these new facilities.

As always, the S.S. HOPE is functioning not only as a hospital, but as a complete medical center. The philosophy at HOPE has always been "to teach," and today instruction is being offered aboard the HOPE in virtually every phase of medicine. In each department, Brazilians are working side-by-side as counterparts to members of the HOPE staff.

Recently a six-year-old child who could not speak was admitted to the HOPE. The boy had undergone a delicate throat operation previously and had been left without the ability to talk. After thorough examinations of the child by the HOPE staff and the Brazilian counterparts, surgery was decided upon.

In the operating room were HOPE personnel and their Brazilian counterparts who observed the techniques used while assisting. The operation was a success; the child is now talking at the usual speed and with the enthusiasm expected of a six-year-old, and a Brazilian surgeon is now familiar with the procedures so that he can at some future date restore the speech of other children. Such stories are repeated daily in every department.

In the wards, as patients receive first-rate nursing care, Brazilian nurses are improving their methods so that in the future patients in shore hospitals will receive care that is equally excellent.

In the dental departments, laboratories, dietary kitchens, pharmacies, and each other department, the same holds true — HOPE personnel and Brazilian counterparts are working towards a better tomorrow for the people of northeast Brazil.

SURVIVAL IN NORTHEASTERN BRAZIL, site of HOPE's 11th mission, is a struggle which begins with birth. The infant mortality rate is 166.7 per thousand live births, as opposed to 18.4 in the United States. Mortality in children less than one year accounts for 44.4 percent of all deaths in Natal and 54.7 percent for several other areas in the interior. Children under five years account for more than 50 percent of total deaths, and if a child survives these harsh years, he still has an average life expectancy of only 49 years, compared with 70.5 years in the United States.

[LC]

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Draft 9/24

HOPE AWARD DINNER REMARKS - SEPTEMBER 25

Ladies and gentlemen --

[Jokes: Optional]

I used to say that working in a high government position
did wonders for my paranoia, because now I had real enemies.
But I know I also have friends. And this is a gathering of friends.

This is a moving occasion.

[Dwight Eisenhower]

First, we remember that Dwight Eisenhower's Presidency
was a time of international peace. He presided over an era of
American leadership of a secure and confident alliance, and the
period of the beginnings of more peaceful relations with adversaries.

Secondly, Dwight Eisenhower embodied the unity of America.
His own life and character represented the fundamentals that united
us. He had the unique distinction of having been sought out by both
parties as a Presidential candidate. "Peace," he once said, "is
not partisan."

national base and reflect a shared community of values. At this
crucial moment of historical transition in the international order,
we Americans face historic opportunities to help shape a new world
of stability, peace, and humanity. At such a moment, we need
more than ever a clear sense of our own purposes and a confident,
united faith in ourselves.

This is the third reason why this award and what it
represents have such meaning for me:

[Project HOPE]

Project HOPE I have long admired as a unique expression
of both America's humane purposes and America's abiding commit-
ment to making a contribution to the world. In the sense that
Project HOPE represents, America has never been isolationist
and never will be. Americans _do_ care about what happens in the
world.

This basic humanity has always been part of America's
purpose toward the rest of the world. We are not naive; we under-
stand that our foreign policy has also reflected American concerns

- 4 -

other than pure altruism. But just as our own material well-being
has been unique, so has our willingness to share it with others
been unique in human history. We have expressed this as a people in
private voluntary efforts, -- of which Project HOPE is one of the
most distinguished examples -- as well as in our public policy.

In fact, it is precisely the kind of pride and modesty,
dignity and decency, that Dwight Eisenhower exemplified.

At this moment of uncertainty, the world remembers --
perhaps better than we -- that America has been a bulwark of
global peace and a major force for human progress. If we over-
extended ourselves, it was itself the symptom of our optimism
and faith. Today, the danger is the opposite -- that we will forget
how much the well-being and safety of much of the world have come
to depend on us.

- 5 -

In the past, America always had a meaning for Americans
beyond itself. Today perhaps we need to remind ourselves of
what we mean to others, in order to restore our meaning something
to ourselves.

There is no finer example of this meaning than Project
HOPE.

But Project HOPE is significant not just as an abstract
symbol.

At this moment in history, when in the past five years
we have achieved much success in bringing under control major
problems of war and peace, today the issues of the quality of human
life become more central in our foreign concerns. It was no accident
that one of the principal policy problems explored in the hearings
on my nomination was the broad area of food and health, and
America's concern for the developing world and for the general
well-being of mankind. I reflected this commitment in my address
to the United Nations General Assembly on Monday, pledging American
cooperation in these efforts as a central part of United States foreign
policy in a new era.