others are critical of our nation's policies from time to time. But
because john Rhodes was doing the talking, everyone stopped and listened
too often. Persons in control of both our defense and foreign policies are
individuals who have only superficial knowledge in the field or who have
gathered their knowledge from having served in similar capacities in the
past and our therefore guided by the methods and ideas of the past. Not
since Richard Nixon, have we had a president who really had a personal
understanding of foreign policy, not since Dwight Eisenhower have we had a
president with a personal understanding of our defense needs and
capabilities. Unfortunately, the result has been a failure to develop our
foreign policy and our defense strategy along the lines which would
utilize the strength of America. Well, it was uncharacteristic because I
had for seven years been in a position in which I felt that I had to
submerge some of my own rather deeply held feelings so I could continue to
be part of a team. I just want to compliment him and commend him on his
speech here this afternoon. I had no idea when the gentleman requested his
special order that he would be talking on this subject or make the
profound remarks that he had. My good friend from Illinois has been
somewhat kinder than one editorial writer who labeled a comment on this
speech as the quack of a lame duck. Uhhuh