00:00Each week, American History TV's Real America brings you archival films that provide context for today's public affairs issues.
00:11On the last evening in March 1968, the stage was set.
00:17Shortly before 9 p.m. Washington time, in the midst of last-minute electronic preparations,
00:24President Johnson put the finishing touches on his address to the nation.
00:28Finally, with the reassuring presence of his family, seated nearby,
00:33the President was ready to deliver one of the most important speeches of his entire life,
00:39a speech that would alter the course of world history.
00:43Good evening, my fellow Americans.
00:47Tonight I want to speak to you of peace in Vietnam and Southeast Asia.
00:53No other question so preoccupies our people.
01:00No other dream so absorbs the 250 million human beings who live in that part of the world.
01:10No other goal motivates American policy in Southeast Asia.
01:15First, addressing himself to the continuing problem of Vietnam,
01:20the President outlined plans for a unilateral American de-escalation of that conflict.
01:26Tonight I have ordered our aircraft and our naval vessels to make no attacks on North Vietnam,
01:32except in the area north of the demilitarized zone,
01:37where the continuing enemy buildup directly threatens allied forward positions,
01:43and where the movement of their troops and supplies are clearly related to that threat.
01:51The area in which we are stopping our attacks includes almost 90% of North Vietnam's population
02:01and most of its territory.
02:05Thus, there will be no attacks around the principal populated areas
02:10or in the food-producing areas of North Vietnam.
02:14Even this very limited bombing of the North could come to an early end
02:22if our restraint is matched by restraint in Hanoi.
02:30The President issued an appeal for unity among the American people
02:33and went on to speak in moving words of the future he foresees America attaining.
02:39But it was in the final moments of his speech that he voiced the syllables which stunned the nation
02:44and reverberated around the world.
02:47To a disbelieving audience of countless millions,
02:51President Johnson announced the decision that had been many months in the making,
02:55but only resolved within himself in the final hours of March.
03:01With America's sons in the field far away,
03:04with America's future under challenge right here at home,
03:12with our hopes and the world's hopes for peace and the balance every day,
03:19I do not believe that I should devote an hour or a day of my time
03:25to any personal partisan causes or to any duties other
03:32than the awesome duties of this office, the presidency of your country.
03:42Accordingly, I shall not seek
03:46and I will not accept the nomination of my party for another term as your President.
03:55But let men everywhere know, however,
04:04that a strong and a confident and a vigilant America
04:10stands ready tonight to seek an honorable peace
04:16and stands ready tonight to defend an honored cause,
04:23whatever the price, whatever the burden,
04:26whatever the sacrifice that duty may require.
04:32Thank you for listening.
04:35Good night, and God bless all of you.
04:37Good night, and God bless you.
05:07Good night, and God bless you.
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