Word: rusk
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...antidote to what he regarded as an outbreak of peace fever, the President prescribed a dose of Dean Rusk pragmatism. During a press conference, Rusk restated the U.S. position that "you can't stop this war simply by stopping a half of it." It was not a crowd-pleasing role for Rusk: some newsmen had arrived hoping for news of an important move toward peace. But the Secretary carried it off with characteristic calm and clarity...
...Communists had mounted "a systematic campaign" to end the U.S. bombing of North Viet Nam, "without any corresponding military action on their side." All they have offered, he emphasized, is "talks-talks which are thus far formless and with out content." Without some reciprocal move from the North, said Rusk, the U.S. has only two choices-to hit Communist supply trucks before they reach the South, or to "pick this ammunition out of our men." He squelched reports that negotiations were imminent. "All channels remain open and are being utilized," he said. "Unfortunately, I cannot report to you any tangible...
...down their arms, Ambassador Goldberg said at Howard University a few days ago, ways could be found to permit them to take part in the normal political processes of South Vietnam--whatever those are. That's an extraordinary statement, and perhaps more so because Ambassador Goldberg was quoting Secretary Rusk. It amounts to a demand for the capitulation of the Viet Cong, since they would lay down their arms while the South Vietnamese army would not do so. After 20 years of successful revolutionary and guerrilla warfare, they are apparently simply to give up. They could then look forward...
Though the meeting was billed officially as off-the-record, it is known that Rusk rejected the possibility of any coalition government in Vietnam not controlled by groups favorable to the United States. When the students suggested that the U.S. should make the first move toward negotiations, he insisted that the other side must demonstrate its willingness first, and said that Hanoi did not appear to want negotiations...
...students emerged from the meeting angered and frightened by the Secretary's "rigidity." Although they felt he was "concerned" by their criticism, according to Powell, the questions "didn't seem to come across to him." The middle course described in Rusk's letter, he said, "is apparently nothing more than slow but unlimited escalation of the war until the other side capitulates...