Scowcroft Commission Report
Reagan - Scowcroft Commission Report
Crowd of predominately adult Caucasian male politicians and military officers gathered in East Room of the White House. Former Deputy National Security Advisor Brent Scowcroft talks with men in crowd. Various adult Caucasian men greet each other and shake hands; some adult Caucasian woman present.
Reagan - Scowcroft Commission Report
Crowd of predominately adult Caucasian male politicians and military officers gathered in East Room of White House. African-American navel officer walks through crowd. Adult Caucasian men seated, talking. Adult African American and Caucasian male naval officers ushering attendees to seats. Adult Caucasian man passes young adult Caucasian male press photographer smoking pipe.
Reagan - Scowcroft Commission Report
Predominately adult Caucasian men taking seats in East Room of the White House. Adult African-American and Caucasian male naval officers ushering attendees to seats. Four adult Caucasian men including former Deputy National Security Brent Scowcroft and U.S. Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger seated behind podium. Adult Caucasian female usher showing attendees to seats.
Reagan - Scowcroft Commission Report
U.S. President Ronald Reagan being announced; audience stands. President Reagan takes podium, opens speech on findings of Scowcroft Commission Report. Reagan says he will be sending a report to Congress, which endorses the recommendations of the Bipartisan Commission on Strategic Forces. Reagan says panel’s recommendations preserve stable deterrence and protect the peace, will add credibility to the U.S. in arms reductions negotiations, paving the way to a more secure and peaceful future. Reagan discusses plans to strengthen security of the U.S. and allies, discusses research to reduce threat of nuclear ballistic missiles. Reagan seeks reliable, verifiable, and stabilizing arms control agreements, says the common goal is to prevent conflict, reduce the risk of war, and safeguard peace. Reagan says every U.S. President has accepted this crucial objective as his most basic responsibility, says preserving the peace requires more than wishful thinking. Reagan says concrete, positive action is needed to free the world from the specter of nuclear conflict. Reagan says we must work relentlessly to achieve nuclear stability. Reagan says our words, policies, and actions all make clear to the word our country’s deeply held conviction, that nuclear war on any scale would be a tragedy. Reagan says America has exercised unilateral restraint, goodwill, and sincere commitment to effective arms control. Reagan says these actions alone have not reduced the danger of nuclear war, that Soviets have deployed more than 1,200 nuclear warheads, more than the Peacekeeper Program.
Reagan - Scowcroft Commission Report
U.S. President Ronald Reagan continues speech on findings of Scowcroft Commission Report, says history of American involvement in arms control shows what does and doesn't work. Reagan says U.S. restraint and goodwill failed to promote the same response in the Soviet Union, that past U.S. efforts also failed to produce meaningful arms control. Reagan says when U.S. has shown resolve to remain strong, stabilizing arms control can be achieved. Reagan discusses major late 1960’s effort to negotiate anti-ballistic missile treaty with Soviet Union. Reagan says after the Soviets showed clear lack of interest, Congress agreed to fund anti-ballistic missile program. Reagan says once the Soviets knew we going ahead with the program, they came to the negotiating table, that a treaty was adopted and remains in force today. Reagan says best way to nuclear stability and lasting peace is via negotiations. Reagan discusses Bipartisan Commission on Strategic Forces, directed the commission to review the strategic program for U.S. forces, placing emphasis on intercontinental ballistic missiles. Reagan says we all owe the commission a debt of gratitude, mentioning the Chairman Brent Scowcroft. Reagan commends commission’s spirit of bipartisanship on difficult issues.
Reagan - Scowcroft Commission Report
U.S. President Ronald Reagan continues speech on Scowcroft Commission Report, discusses work of Bipartisan Commission on Strategic Forces; says their goal was to achieve a greater degree of national consensus on the U.S. approach to strategic force modernization and arms control. Reagan reads the conclusion of the “Constitution Report.” Reagan met with National Security Council after reviewing report; NSC endorsed the recommendations, along with Reagan and Joint Chiefs of Staff. Reagan summarizes recommendations. Commission urges continuation of Strategic Modernization Program, which Reagan announced in October 1981. Reagan says this reaffirms the need for improvements in command and control of U.S. strategic forces, also reaffirms continuation of bomber, submarine and cruise missile programs. Commission recommends modernization of ICBM forces; Reagan says we should proceed to develop and produce Peacekeeper Missile. Reagan says we should deploy 100 missiles to Minutemen silos near Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming. Commission recommends engineering design for small single warhead missile. Reagan discusses amount of money the modernization program will save. Commission recommends major research efforts in strategic defense and a thorough research program of “hardening,” making land-based missile systems more secure.
Reagan - Scowcroft Commission Report
U.S. President Ronald Reagan continues speech on Scowcroft Commission Report, discusses recommendations of Bipartisan Commission on Strategic Forces; Reagan says modernization effort is final component of comprehensive strategic program, meaning a safer and more secure America. Reagan says this will show Soviet Union it is in their best interest to negotiate with the U.S. in good faith and seriousness of purpose, an incentive for arms control and deterrence; for peace and security now and in the future. Reagan says Commission underscores need for ambitious arms control negotiations, which would be balanced, promote stability, and result in meaningful verifiable reductions. Reagan says these are the objectives of the arms control negotiations in Geneva, where we are seeking equitable and reliable agreements leading to real arms reductions. Reagan says unless we modernize land-based missile systems, the Soviet Union will have no reason to negotiate meaningful reductions. Reagan says if we fail to act, we cannot expect an acceptable outcome in arms control negotiations and also weaken deterrent posture.
Reagan - Scowcroft Commission Report
U.S. President Ronald Reagan continues speech on Scowcroft Commission Report, discusses recommendations of Bipartisan Commission on Strategic Forces. Reagan urges Congress to join him in supporting bipartisan program for arms control agreements to support stability of our ICBM force. Reagan has asked Committee Chairman Brent Scowcroft to keep him closely advised as issue moves toward resolution, particularly in terms of arms control. Reagan says modernization proposals of past Presidential administrations have been embroiled in political controversy. Reagan says the commission, Joint Chiefs of Staff, and himself have taken fresh looks at previous positions, says support from the American people and Congress will unite us in a common search for ways to strengthen our national security, reduce the risk of war, and reduce the level of nuclear weapons. Reagan says there is no time to delay. Reagan closes speech, thanks Commission; audience stands, applauds. Reagan exits East Room of White House. Predominately adult Caucasian male audience members talk.