| Truman President Tells Civil Defense Conference Korea War | ||
|---|---|---|
| This clip is not available for streaming at this time. Please contact WPA. | Tape Master: | 1558 |
| Catalog #: | 351226 | |
| Clip Number: | 351226-1 | |
| Orginal Film: | 024-455-01 | |
| Timecode: | 00:37:34 - 00:40:02 | |
| Location: | Washington, DC | |
| Year Shot: | 1951 (Actual Year) | |
| Audio: | Yes | |
| Color: | No | |
| Headings: | INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS: Misc. LOCATIONS/NORTH AMERICA: USA, Washington D.C. PERSONALITIES: Truman, Harry POLITICS: Public Address (Speech) WAR & CONFLICT: Civil Defense WAR & CONFLICT/COLD WAR: Defense | |
| Description: | The President tells the Civil Defense Conference that the Korea war must be confined or we face the threat of a major atomic war. President Truman defends administration policy actions in face of Macarthur criticism. (Pre-released to all accounts) President Truman standing at the podium and addressed his speech. President Truman: "So as long as we face atomic attack on the United States, we got to build a strong civil defense organization. But even with such an organization our losses in an atomic war, if we should have one - and God forbid - those losses would be terrible. Whole cities would be causalities Cleveland or Chicago, Seattle or New York, Los Angeles or Washington or any other of our great cities might be destroyed, and they could be destroyed. Even with such losses, frightful as they would be, this country would survive and win an atomic war. But even if we win an atomic war would be a disaster. The best defense against an atomic bomb is to prevent an outbreak of another world war and to achieve a real peace. The Kremlin is trying and has been trying for a long time to drive a wedge between us and the other free nations. It wants to see us isolated. It wants to see us distrusted. It wants to see us feared and hated by our allies. We do not intend to fall into that trap. I do not propose to strip this country of it allies in the face of Soviet danger. I'm convinced of the course we are now following in Korea is accomplishing most for peace. And at the least cost of American lives. All of us wish that no Americans have to fight or die. But by fighting on a limited scale now we may be able to prevent a third world war later on. We're not engaged in a struggle without end. We're engaged in a struggle that has definite the goal of peace. Peace under law is the victory we seek". President's speech is welcomed warmly by the audience with applause. | |
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