Foreign Relations of the United States, 1981–1988, Volume I, Foundations of Foreign Policy

193. Editorial Note

President Ronald Reagan addressed the nation on May 9, 1984, at 8 p.m. from the Oval Office. His remarks were broadcast live on nationwide radio and television. The President provided a brief overview of his recent international travels before addressing the current situation in Central America: “I asked for this time to tell you of some basic decisions which are yours to make. I believe it’s my constitutional responsibility to place these matters before you. They have to do with your national security, and that security is the single most important function of the Federal Government. In that context, it’s my duty to anticipate problems, warn of dangers, and act so as to keep harm away from our shores.

“Our diplomatic objectives will not be attained by good will and noble aspirations alone. In the last 15 years, the growth of Soviet military power has meant a radical change in the nature of the world we live in. Now, this does not mean, as some would have us believe, that we’re in imminent danger of nuclear war. We’re not. As long as we maintain the strategic balance and make it more stable by reducing the level of weapons on both sides, then we can count on the basic prudence of the Soviet leaders to avoid that kind of challenge to us.

“They are presently challenging us with a different kind of weapon: subversion and the use of surrogate forces, Cubans, for example. We’ve seen it intensifying during the last 10 years, as the Soviet Union and its surrogates move to establish control over Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Angola, Ethiopia, South Yemen, Afghanistan, and recently, closer to home, in Nicaragua and now El Salvador. It’s the fate of this region, Central America, that I want to talk to you about tonight.”

After stressing the importance of Central America, highlighting the general conclusions of the National Bipartisan Commission on Central America, and noting administration initiatives to secure peace in the region, the President continued: “We can and must help Central America. It’s in our national interest to do so, and morally, it’s the only right thing to do. But helping means doing enough—enough to protect our security and enough to protect the lives of our neighbors so that they may live in peace and democracy without the threat of Communist aggression and subversion. This has been the policy of our administration for more than 3 years.

“But making this choice requires a commitment from all of us—our administration, the American people, and the Congress. So far, we have not yet made that commitment. We’ve provided just enough aid to avoid outright disaster, but not enough to resolve the crisis, so El Salvador is being left to slowly bleed to death. Part of the problem, I suspect, is not that Central America isn’t important, but that some people think our administration may be exaggerating the threat we face. Well, if that’s true, let me put that issue to rest.”

The President, indicating that he would discuss “the real nature of the Sandinista regime in Nicaragua,” provided some historical background before asserting: “The Sandinista rule is a Communist reign of terror. Many of those who fought alongside the Sandinistas saw their revolution betrayed. They were denied power in the new government. Some were imprisoned, others exiled. Thousands who fought with the Sandinistas have taken up arms against them and are now called the contras. They are freedom fighters.

“What the Sandinistas have done to Nicaragua is a tragedy. But we Americans must understand and come to grips with the fact that the Sandinistas are not content to brutalize their own land. They seek to export their terror to every other country in the region.”

Following further discussion of the Sandinista regime, the President turned to El Salvador and noted its efforts toward reform. Contrasting Nicaragua and El Salvador, he said: “Let me give another example of the difference between the two countries, El Salvador and Nicaragua. The Government of El Salvador has offered amnesty to the guerrillas and asked them to participate in the elections and democratic processes. The guerrillas refused. They want to shoot their way into power and establish totalitarian rule.

“By contrast, the contras, the freedom fighters in Nicaragua, have offered to lay down their weapons and take part in democratic elections, but there the Communist Sandinista government has refused. That’s why the United States must support both the elected government of El Salvador and the democratic aspirations of the Nicaraguan people.

“If the Communists can start war against the people of El Salvador, then El Salvador and its friends are surely justified in defending themselves by blocking the flow of arms. If the Soviet Union can aid and abet subversion in our hemisphere, then the United States has a legal right and a moral duty to help resist it. This is not only in our strategic interest; it is morally right. It would be profoundly immoral to let peace-loving friends depending on our help be overwhelmed by brute force if we have any capacity to prevent it.

“If our political process pulls together, Soviet and Cuban-supported aggression can be defeated. On this, the centennial anniversary of President Harry Truman’s birth, it’s fitting to recall his words, spoken to a Joint Session of the Congress in a similar situation: ‘The free peoples of the world look to us for support in maintaining their freedoms. If we falter . . . we may endanger the peace of the world and we shall surely endanger the welfare of this nation.’

“The speech was given in 1947. The problem then was 2 years of Soviet-supported indirect aggression against Greece. The Communists were close to victory. President Truman called on the Congress to provide decisive aid to the Greek Government. Both parties rallied behind President Truman’s call. Democratic forces succeeded, and Greece became a parliamentary democracy.

“Communist subversion is not an irreversible tide. We’ve seen it rolled back in Venezuela and, most recently, in Grenada. And where democracy flourishes, human rights and peace are more secure. The tide of the future can be a freedom tide. All it takes is the will and resources to get the job done.”

After discussing the work of the National Bipartisan Commission on Central America and his administration’s submission of proposed legislation to Congress enacting its recommendations, the President concluded his remarks by reiterating the need for U.S. assistance to Central America and underlining the dangers of inaction: “The simple questions are: Will we support freedom in this hemisphere or not? Will we defend our vital interests in this hemisphere or not? Will we stop the spread of communism in this hemisphere or not? Will we act while there is still time?

“There are those in this country who would yield to the temptation to do nothing. They are the new isolationists, very much like the isolationists of the late 1930’s who knew what was happening in Europe, but chose not to face the terrible challenge history had given them. They preferred a policy of wishful thinking, that if they only gave up one more country, allowed just one more international transgression, and surely sooner or later the aggressor’s appetite would be satisfied. Well, they didn’t stop the aggressors; they emboldened them. They didn’t prevent war; they assured it.

“Legislation is now before the Congress that will carry out the recommendations of the National Bipartisan Commission. Requests for interim appropriations to give the soldiers fighting for their country in El Salvador and the freedom-loving people of Central America the tools they need also—that awaits action by the House of Representatives.

“For the last 4 years, only half of the military aid requested for El Salvador has been provided, even though total aid for El Salvador is only 5 percent of our worldwide assistance. I’m asking the Congress to provide the funds I requested for fiscal year 1984 and, also, to enact the entire National Bipartisan Commission plan for democracy, economic development, and peace in Central America.

“As I talk to you tonight, there are young Salvadoran soldiers in the field facing the terrorists and guerrillas in El Salvador with the clips in their rifles the only ammunition they have. The lack of evacuation helicopters for the wounded and the lack of medical supplies if they’re evacuated has resulted in one out of three of the wounded dying. This is no way to support friends, particularly when supporting them is supporting ourselves.

“Last week, as we returned across the vast Pacific to Alaska, I couldn’t help being struck again by how blessed has been our land. For 200 years the oceans have protected us from much that has troubled the world, but clearly our world is shrinking. We cannot pretend otherwise if we wish to protect our freedom, our economic vitality, and our precious way of life.

“It’s up to all of us—the administration, you as citizens, and your representatives in the Congress. The people of Central America can succeed if we provide the assistance I have proposed. We Americans should be proud of what we are trying to do in Central America, and proud of what, together with our friends, we can do in Central America to support democracy, human rights, and economic growth while preserving peace so close to home. Let us show the world that we want no hostile Communist colonies here in the Americas—South, Central, or North.

“Thank you, God bless you, and good night.” (Public Papers: Reagan, 1984, Book I, pages 659–665)

In his personal diary entry for May 9, the President noted: “Went on at 8 P.M. explaining the Central American situation. By 9:30—915 to 151 positive phone calls had come in.” (Brinkley, ed., The Reagan Diaries, volume I, January 1981–October 1985, page 346) Documentation regarding the preparation of the address is in the Reagan Library, WHORM: Subject File, Speeches, SP 878 Central American Address, Oval Office, Washington, DC 05/09/1984.