George Aiken (R-Vermont), 19 Oct. 1966
SPEAKER JOHN MCCORMACK: My thought would be that you and I and
Passman and whoever you wanted in from the [State] Department would get
together down at the White House.
PRESIDENT KENNEDY: Right, right.
MCCORMACK: And it doesn’t actually [have to] be at the White House.
PRESIDENT KENNEDY: Right, right.
MCCORMACK: I think the psychological effect, don’t you see?
PRESIDENT KENNEDY: Right. I don’t know what my psychology would be
these days on Otto, but . . .
------------------PRESIDENT JOHNSON (to Speaker McCormack): Now, I don’t think this man
knows much about our country, and notwithstanding his great facility with figures, I
think he’s got a real mental problem. That’s what I think. [Break.]
PRESIDENT JOHNSON: I just—As far as I’m concerned, I don’t want Mr.
Passman providing protection for my children, because I don’t think in the swamps
of Louisiana, he’s got that much information or knowledge or wisdom.
Hickenlooper amendment (1962)
The President shall suspend assistance to the government of any country
to which assistance is provided under this chapter or any other Act when the
government of such country or any government agency or subdivision within such
country on or after January 1, 1962-(A) has nationalized or expropriated or seized ownership or control of property
owned by any United States citizen or by any corporation, partnership, or
association not less than 50 per centum beneficially owned by United States
citizens, or
(B) has taken steps to repudiate or nullify existing contracts or agreements with
any United States citizen or any corporation, partnership, or association not
less than 50 per centum beneficially owned by United States citizens, or
(C) has imposed or enforced discriminatory taxes or other exactions, or restrictive
maintenance or operational conditions, or has taken other actions, which have
the effect of nationalizing, expropriating, or otherwise seizing ownership or
control of property so owned.
Morse amendment (1963)
Terminates all Alliance for Progress aid to “any
country in which the government . . . has come to
power as the result of a forceable overthrow of a
prior government which has been chosen in free and
democratic elections.”
8 Nov. 1963
“It seems to me most essential that
we make crystal clear to the
Vietnamese government and to our
own people that while we will go to
great lengths to help, the primary
responsibility rests with the
Vietnamese. Our role is and must
remain secondary in present
circumstances. It is their country,
their future which is most at stake,
not ours.”
“Unless the government of South
Vietnam abandons policies of
repression against its own people
and makes a determined and
effective effort to regain their
support, military and economic
assistance to that government
should not be continued.”
“I am really not very wellinformed about this area . . .
It would seem to be very
interesting if I knew something
about it.”
--Hubert Humphrey
“I never heard the least suggestion of
any kind of a conflict between the
religions in Vietnam . . . [and wonder]
whether [Buddhist protesters] were
subject to drugs or other dulling or
deadening devices, hypnosis or other
types of human control.”
--Bourke Hickenlooper
“No assistance shall be provided under this or any other act, and no
sales shall be made under the Agricultural Trade Development and
Assistance Act of 1954, to any country which the President determines
is engaging in or preparing for aggressive military efforts directed
against the United States (or) any country receiving assistance under
this or any other act, (or) any country to which sales are made under
the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954, until
the President determines that such military efforts or preparations
have ceased and he reports to the Congress that he has received
assurances satisfactory to him that such military efforts or preparations
will not be renewed. This restriction may not be waived pursuant to any
authority contained in this act.”
ALBERT THOMAS: Have you got the language in front of you?
PRESIDENT JOHNSON: Yes, sir, I’ve got it front of me. And it oughtn’t to be in there. It’s
just a damn—
THOMAS: [hurriedly reading] “Agency or national in connection with the purchase . . .
[etc.].”
PRESIDENT JOHNSON: That’s right.
THOMAS: “Or national except when the President determines that such guarantees
would be in the national interest.”
PRESIDENT JOHNSON: That’s all right—period.
THOMAS: “And reports each”—
PRESIDENT JOHNSON: No, no! No! Period, after “national interest.”
THOMAS: I know, but read your language further. “And reports each determination.”
PRESIDENT JOHNSON: [loudly] Why should I want to report to everybody that I screwed a
girl? You screwed one last night, but you don’t want to report it.
THOMAS: [slyly] I wish I did.
PRESIDENT JOHNSON: Well, you know what I’m talking about. That made it come home
to you, didn’t it?
THOMAS: Well, it ain’t going to—
PRESIDENT JOHNSON: Well, don’t you think I’m a damned idiot, now.
THOMAS: Now, now—
PRESIDENT JOHNSON: Well—
THOMAS: Now, now, now, now. Of course not. But I don’t think it’s going to hamstring
you a bit on—
PRESIDENT JOHNSON: It doesn’t hamstring me. It just publicizes that I’m pro-Russian right
when [Richard] Nixon’s running against me.