Word: rusk
(lookup in dictionary)
(lookup stats)
Dates: during 1960-1969
Sort By: most recent first
(reverse)
Fulbright charged that the U.S. was demanding "unconditional surrender" from Hanoi. The merest flicker of irritation showed on Rusk's round face...
Though it was his third grilling by the committee in three weeks, Rusk was repeatedly asked a question that he had answered often before: How far is the U.S. prepared to go in Viet Nam? Rusk reiterated that the Government has not set any "certain point beyond which it will not go in meeting its commitments"-nor does it plan to. "We're not playing this hand solitaire, and we need to keep our eyes on what the other side is doing...
Stop Shooting! Led by Fulbright, several Senators insisted that the U.S. had adopted an "adamant attitude" against a negotiated settlement of the war. Rusk, who might have been forgiven a moment of exasperation at that point, replied levelly: "We have given them practically everything but South Viet Nam in an effort to find a basis for peace. We are not asking them to surrender a thing except their appetite to take over South Viet Nam by force. Now, on that I suggest somebody had better be adamant...
Start Thinking. Rusk betrayed uncharacteristic emotion on several occasions. "If there is doubt in Congress about the policy on Viet Nam, let us vote. Let us find out," he said ardently. But before the votes are cast, "I would hope that members of the Congress would go into a quiet corner and think very long and deeply about what we've been through in the last three decades, and on what basis can we build a peace -and then decide which vote is a vote for war and which vote is a vote for peace." On that matter, there...
...think there is something wrong with our approach," chided Fulbright. "There must be something wrong with our diplomacy." Rusk suggested another possibility. "Senator," he asked in a voice edged with anger, "is it just possible that there is something wrong with them...