COMMENTS OF SENATOR BOGGS AT DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80T01629R000300070026-7
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 3
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: March 3, 2004
• Sequence Number: 26
• Publication Date: August 28, 1968
• Content Type: TRANS

RADIO TA'6pr i e T1 sJ h&4/03/25: CIA-RDP80TOW19R000300070026-7
4435 WISCONSIN AVENUE, N. W.. WASHINGTON, D. C. 20016. 244-3540
PUBLIC AFFAIRS STAFF
PROGRAM The National Democratic Convention STATION WTOP Radio
CBS Network
August 28, 1968 12:30 PM
Washington, D. C.
COMMENTS OF SENATOR BOGGS AT DEMOCRATIC CONVENTION
SENATOR HALE BOGGS: Ladies and gentlemen, I thank all of you for your
time and your patience, your attention. I think that all of you must agree, and I am cer-
tain that the American people must agree, that we have debated here fully, openly, with-
out bias, this issue before this convention.
I have reserved only a minute or two for myself, in conclusion. I would like
to make the observation that try as we may, hope as we work as we must, that the world is
indeed one world, that what happens everywhere in the world affects all of us. I would
call to your respectful attention the language in the platform which says this: The tragic
events in Czechoslovakia are shocking reminders that we live in a dangerous and unpre-
dictable world. The Soviet attack, an invasion of a small country that only yesterday was
Moscow's peaceful ally, is an ominous reversal of the slow trend toward greater freedom and
independence in Eastern Europe.
And then I would turn to -- 1 would turn to another area on God's earth., the
Middle East, the Middle East, my friends, and we spelled out in this platform, referring to
the Middle East as strong as we could, and there was no disagreement. The Middle East
remains a powder keg. We must do all in our power to.prevent a recurrence of war in this
area. A large Soviet fleet has been deployed to the Mediterrean, preferring short-term
political advantage to long-range stability and peace. The Soviet Union has rushed arms
to certain Arab states to replace those. lost in the Arab-Israel war of 1967.
So we cannot, hope as we may, disassociate what happens all over the world.
And now, one final statement, and I will then ask the distinguished Chair-
man, my Majority Leader, of whom I am so proud, and who presides as a permanent Chair-
man of this great convention then to put the question.
I would say that I wish, I profoundly wish from the depth of my heart, with
every ounce of conviction that I may have, that I could agree with my friend, Ted Soren-
sen from New York, when he said that there's nothing in the minority that would endanger
our troops or that would not support our negotiators in Paris. I beg to take exception. I
beg to take exception.
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That -- that, my friends -- that, my friends, concludes our debate. Thank
you very much.
were to be suspended unilaterally, the enemy in ten days to two weeks could develop a cap-
ability in the DMZ area in terms of scale, intensity and duration of combat on the order of
five times what he now has. I cannot agree -- I cannot agree to place our forces at the
risk which the enemy's capability would then pose.'
Now what do we say about bombing. -- bombing -- listen to me, please --
those who agree and those who disagree. That is, indeed, the Democratic procedure.
Bombing, stop all bombing of North Vietnam when this action would not endanger....
(Technical difficulties) ... Well, I along with others, representing both political parties,
representing Americans let us -- me be certain about, representing every shade of opinion,
including the Chairman of the distinguished Foreign Relations Committee in the Senate, was
briefed on Czechoslovakia, and I ask the question, I ask the question, can General Abrams
supply an answer to me of this question, and I pose the question. Is there any possibility of
your providing even an approximate estimate of the additional casualties we would face if
we stopped the bombing of North Vietndm unilaterally and unconditionally.
And the answer came bac4 (, and here I read it to you. These are not my words.
rl .1 I r I- 1 AI Ir 1_ 1[_ wl___il v_...
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