| The Great Communicator Vol 2: The Military and the Soviet Union | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tape Master: | 655 | |
| Catalog #: | 523604 | |
| Clip Number: | 523604-4 | |
| Orginal Film: | ||
| Timecode: | 01:20:15 - 01:22:04 | |
| Location: | United States | |
| Year Shot: | 1983 (Actual Year) | |
| Audio: | Yes | |
| Color: | Yes | |
| Headings: | ECONOMICS: Budget LOCATIONS/NORTH AMERICA: USA MILITARY: Misc, USA PERSONALITIES: Reagan, Ronald POLITICS: Public Address (Speech) POLITICS: United States SAFETY: National Defense | |
| Description: | March 23, 1983 Excerpt from Address to the Nation on Defense and National Security, from Oval Office: Reagan, "Our defensive strategy means we need military forces that can move very quickly, forces that are trained and ready to respond to any emergency. Every item in our defense program - our ships, our tanks, our planes, our funds for training and spare parts - is intended for one all-important purpose: to keep the peace. Unfortunately, a decade of neglecting our military forces had called into question our ability to do that. When I took office in January 1981, I was appalled by what I found: American planes that couldn't fly and American ships that couldn't sail for lack of spare parts and trained personnel and insufficient fuel and ammunition for essential training. The inevitable result of all this was poor morale in our Armed Forces, difficulty in recruiting the brightest young Americans to wear the uniform, and difficulty in convincing our most experienced military personnel to stay on." edit "Thanks to your strong support, and bipartisan support from the Congress, we began to turn things around. Already, we're seeing some very encouraging results. Quality recruitment and retention are up dramatically - more high school graduates are choosing military careers, and more experienced career personnel are choosing to stay. Our men and women in uniform at last are getting the tools and training they need to do their jobs. Ask around today, especially among our young people, and I think you will find a whole new attitude toward serving their country. This reflects more than just better pay, equipment, and leadership. You the American people have sent a signal to these young people that it is once again an honor to wear the uniform. That's not something you measure in a budget, but it's a very real part of our nation's strength." | |
WPA FILM LIBRARY
