Nixon’s Imperial Seals
by Isaiah Schlimm
A majority of the American people want to end
this war—rather than to have it drag on interminably.1
We have never had a generation without a war.2
As a symbol, it remains the indispensable prerequisite
to success in our American way of life.3
The United States has three goals:
Exploitation
Corruption
and Destruction
What it cannot directly exploit,
it seeks to corrupt;
what it cannot corrupt,
it seeks to destroy.
Its degrading influence can be felt4
in a shared historical experience of
independence born through revolution.5
missile defense the single to multiple the missile-carrying The strategic bomber
air defense entering an era warhead sophistication submarine
From the atomic to the thermonuclear weapon6
the hardened silo the intercontinental ballistic missile
destructiveness formidable complex issues affecting our strategic posture
his dream for peace after World War I was shattered—
on the hard realities
of great power politics
and Woodrow Wilson died a broken man.7
The American Dream does not come to those who fall asleep8
although it will still be a continual, nagging problem—9
it continues to hang over the country.10
That is the price that every free society must pay,11
in our conquest of the most elemental of human needs,12
we can reach for the stars—
just as you have reached so far for the stars.
We don’t want to hold you any longer.13
We Americans are idealists,14 but we also need humility
in order to understand how much further we have to go—
that because of our faith we are not perfect,
because of our faith we are not superior.
Only the way we live
—what we do—
will deserve the plaudits of the world
or of the Nation
or even of our own self-satisfaction.15
Prosperity without war requires action on three fronts:16
Obligation,17
Sacrifice,18
Compassion—19
the argument for weakness20—a new philosophy
that would reflect and reconcile.21
A chance to have what none of us
have had in this century in America:
a full generation of peace.22
Our relations will be based on equality,23
a new American Revolution—a peaceful revolution—in which24
there can be true peace only
when the weak are as safe as the strong.25
We do not say that in an arrogant sense…
…we say that because it is a fact of history.26
But27 I suppose,28
you never really get away from the problems,
of course.29
1Richard Nixon, “Address to the Nation on the Situation in Southeast Asia.” In Public Papers of the Presidents: Richard Nixon 1970, (Washington, 1971), 408.
2Richard Nixon, “Remarks at the 83rd Continental Congress of the Daughters of the American Revolution.” In Public Papers of the Presidents: Richard Nixon 1974, (Washington, 1975), 368.
3Richard Nixon, “Statement About National Brotherhood Week.” In Public Papers of the Presidents: Richard Nixon 1970, (Washington, 1971), 195
4Richard Nixon, “Statement on Signing Executive Order Establishing the National Council on Organized Crime.” In Public Papers of the Presidents: Richard Nixon 1970, (Washington, 1971), 483.
5Richard Nixon, “First Annual Report to the Congress on United States Foreign Policy for the 1970’s.” In Public Papers of the Presidents: Richard Nixon 1970, (Washington, 1971), 134.
6Ibid, 120.
7Richard Nixon, “Address to the Nation on the War in Vietnam.” In Public Papers of the Presidents: Richard Nixon 1969, (Washington, 1971), 909.
8Richard Nixon, “Inaugural Address.” In Public Papers of the Presidents: Richard Nixon 1969, (Washington, 1971), 2.
9Richard Nixon, “Question-and-Answer Session at the Executives’ Club of Chicago.” In Public Papers of the Presidents: Richard Nixon 1974, (Washington, 1975), 266.
10Ibid, 270.
11Richard Nixon, “Radio Address About the American Revolution Bicentennial.” In Public Papers of the Presidents: Richard Nixon 1974, (Washington, 1975), 255.
12Richard Nixon, “Special Message to the Congress Recommending a Program to End Hunger in America.” In Public Papers of the Presidents: Richard Nixon 1969, (Washington, 1971), 350.
13Richard Nixon, “Remarks to Apollo 11 Astronauts Aboard the U.S.S. Hornet Following Completion of Their Lunar Mission.” In Public Papers of the Presidents: Richard Nixon 1969, (Washington, 1971), 542.
14Richard Nixon, “Radio and Television Address to the People of the Soviet Union.” In Public Papers of the Presidents: Richard Nixon 1972, (Washington, 1974), 631.
15Richard Nixon, “Remarks at the National Prayer Breakfast.” In Public Papers of the Presidents: Richard Nixon 1972, Washington, 1974), 126.
16Richard Nixon, “Address to the Nation Outlining a New Economic Policy: ‘The Challenge of Peace.’” In Public Papers of the Presidents: Richard Nixon 1971, (Washington, 1972), 886.
17Richard Nixon, “Statement on the Return of the First Group of American Prisoners of War From Southeast Asia.” In Public Papers of the Presidents: Richard Nixon 1973, (Washington, 1975), 87.
18Ibid.
19February 24th, 1973 [58] pg. 129 Richard Nixon, “Radio Address About the State of the Union Message on Human Resources.” In Public Papers of the Presidents: Richard Nixon 1973, (Washington, 1975), 129.
20Richard Nixon, “Remarks at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Annual Convention, In Dallas, Texas.” In Public Papers of the Presidents: Richard Nixon 1971, (Washington, 1972), 910.
21Richard Nixon, “Fourth Annual Report to the Congress on United States Foreign Policy.” In Public Papers of the Presidents: Richard Nixon 1973, (Washington, 1975), 354.
22Richard Nixon, “Remarks on Arrival in Birmingham, Alabama.” In Public Papers of the Presidents: Richard Nixon 1971, (Washington, 1971), 663.
23Richard Nixon, “Fourth Annual Report to the Congress on United States Foreign Policy.” In Public Papers of the Presidents: Richard Nixon 1973, (Washington, 1975), 365.
24Richard Nixon, “Annual Message to the Congress on the State of the Union.” In Public Papers of the Presidents: Richard Nixon 1971, (Washington, 1972), 58.
25Richard Nixon, “Radio and Television Address to the People of the Soviet Union.” In Public Papers of the Presidents: Richard Nixon 1972, (Washington, 1974), 630.
26Richard Nixon, “Remarks to the 83rd Continental Congress of the Daughters of the American Revolution.” In Public Papers of the Presidents: Richard Nixon 1974, (Washington, 1975), 386.
27Richard Nixon, “Remarks on Departure From the White House.” In Public Papers of the Presidents: Richard Nixon 1974, (Washington, 1975), 631.
28Richard Nixon, “Toast of the President and President Lleras of Colombia.” In Public Papers of the Presidents: Richard Nixon 1969, (Washington, 1971), 456.
29Richard Nixon, “Informal Exchange With Reporters at the United States Coast Guard Station, Newport Beach, California.” In Public Papers of the Presidents: Richard Nixon 1971, (Washington, 1972), 921.