This links itself to the next paragraph, where Lyndon Johnson attaches himself personally to the struggle. “I know the pain that it has inflicted”. Here he speaks directly to the nation and everyone affected by the war, and – as the great leader he is – includes himself in that group. The paragraph is rounded off by reaching out to the people and letting them know that the war is basically for their own safety and gain.
The third paragraph is a very brief reference to America’s allies and all other nations, where Lyndon Johnson assures them that America will stick to her promises and responsibilities.
Directly connected to previous paragraph, the forth paragraph start with “but the heart of our involvement…has always been for America’s security”. Lyndon Johnson then says about the Asians that “peace with them selves and peace with others” is the true purpose of the American involvement – at the same time slipping in well-chosen words like “independent” and “self-sustained”.
“I believe…” starts off the next paragraph and is a vital statement in the rest of the speech. As the speech approaches a conclusion Lyndon Johnson opens up to the Americans with his personal goals and wishes. “I…” is in this passage used eleven times to start a sentence – five times followed by “…believe”. Lyndon Johnson projects confidence in his belief in “the peace…that will come” through the endeavour of the many brave American soldiers.
In the sixth paragraph an openhearted American leader prays in two sentences for acceptance from North Vietnam. Lastly he asks for support from his fellow citizens in the “effort to reach…an early peace”.
In the seventh paragraph Lyndon Johnson rounds off by stating the basic principle of any struggle. “Of those to whom much is given, much is asked”. This is another strong statement pointing out that without sacrifice – more specifically American sacrifice – there is no gain. He again uses “I believe” and quotes another great and highly-loved American president John F. Kennedy, who was also willing to “pay the price…burden…hardship…to assure the survival and success of liberty” – the liberty on which the American society is built on.
The eighth paragraph comprises of the first of two short sentences to heighten the importance of the American devotion to their common cause.
Finally Lyndon Johnson links the preceding paragraph with the ninth and tenth – again using “I believe” – and makes it clear to his audience that the nation’s strength “lies in the unity of our people”. The speech is launched into a climax with the second short but undoubtedly powerful statement “this I believe very deeply”. This sentence leads us back to Lyndon Johnson’s opening statement about a free Asia and united America. Though this sentence does not conclude the entire speech it concludes a strong motivational passage from a great political and national leader.
Conclusion:
Compared to “I Have a Dream” by Martin Luther King Jr, the Vietnam Renunciation Speech was clearly more politically motivated. In “I Have a Dream” a more emotionally-motivated poetic writing style was used. In the Vietnam Renunciation Speech – which used a slightly colder and informative writing style – emphasis was put on the political support required from the nation. The two speeches resemble each other on some points. The aim in both is to reunite a nation – a nation, which is willing to fight for the success and survival of liberty. The speeches were directed to different target audiences, but they both used personal references to reach out to the audience. In “I Have a Dream” Martin Luther King mentioned the affect the black-white dispute had on his own family and children. In a similar way Lyndon Johnson mentioned the troubles he had to endure as the president in a nation scared by war.
Another similarity one notices between the speeches is the way they both quoted other great public figures. Martin Luther King Jr. referred in his speech to Abraham Lincoln and his Gettysburg Address. This was a knowledgeable choice from Martin Luther King Jr., who was familiar with Abraham Lincoln and the importance his actions had for the rights of all African-Americans. Lyndon Johnson chose likewise to quote John F. Kennedy – in the same way making a knowledgeable choice in quoting a man, who was devoted to the survival and success of the American liberty.
Lyndon B. Johnson wrote a great speech in a dire period of American history. He was as the president under enormous pressure from the nation’s enemies and also the American citizens. In the speech Lyndon Johnson stressed the importance of unity among the Americans and the need for their support for the war. The speech was written in such a way that the audience could undoubtedly feel the presence of their leader – at the same time putting a lot of personality and feeling into the speech. Personally I felt the speech was very well-written and achieved the goal it was meant for. Even now about 38 years later I felt myself be affected by it.
Attached is a copy of the passage of the Vietnam Renunciation Speech I chose to analyse.
President Lyndon Johnson: Vietnam Renunciation Speech
March 31, 1968
One day, my fellow citizens, there will be peace in Southeast Asia. It will come because the people of Southeast Asia want it - those whose armies are at war tonight, and those who, though threatened, have thus far been spared. Peace will come because Asians were willing to work for it - and to sacrifice for it - and to die by the thousands for it. But let it never be forgotten: Peace will come also because America sent her sons to help secure it.
It has not been easy - far from it. During the past 4 1/2 years, it has been my fate and my responsibility to be Commander in Chief. I have lived - daily and nightly - with the cost of this war. I know the pain that it has inflicted. I know, perhaps better than anyone, the misgivings that it has aroused. Throughout this entire, long period, I have been sustained by a single principle:
- That what we are doing now, in Vietnam, is vital not only to the security of Southeast Asia, but it is v ital to the security of every American.
Surely we have treaties which we must respect. Surely we have commitments that we are going to keep. Resolutions of the Congress testify to the need to resist aggression in the world and in Southeast Asia.
But the heart of our involvement in South Vietnam - under three different Presidents, three separate administrations - has always been America's own security. And the larger purpose of our involvement has always been to help the nations of Southeast Asia become independent and stand alone, self-sustaining, as members of a great world community - at peace with themselves, and at peace with all others. With such an Asia, our country-and the world will be far more secure than it is tonight.
I believe that a peaceful Asia is far nearer to reality because of what America has done in Vietnam. l believe that the men who endure the dangers of battle fighting there for us tonight - are helping the entire world avoid far greater conflicts, far wider wars, far more destruction, than this one. The peace that will bring them home someday will come. Tonight I have offered the first in what I hope will be a series of mutual moves toward peace.
I pray that it will not be rejected by the leaders of North Vietnam. I pray that they will accept it as a means by which the sacrifices of their own people may be ended. And I ask your help and your support, my fellow citizens, for this effort to reach across the battlefield toward an early peace.
Finally, my fellow Americans, let me say this:
- Of those to whom much is given, much is asked. I cannot say and no man could say that no more will be asked of us.
Yet, I believe that now, no less than when the decade began, this generation of Americans is willing to "pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty."
Since those words were spoken by John F. Kennedy, the people of America have kept that compact with mankind's noblest cause. And we shall continue to keep it.
Yet, I believe that we must always be mindful of this one thing, whatever the trials and the tests ahead. The ultimate strength of our country and our cause will lie not in powerful weapons or infinite resources or boundless wealth, but will lie in the unity of our people.
This I believe very deeply.