The Missiles of October
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:35:02
For your part, Mr. Gromyko,
:35:03
did I understand you to say that
the weapons you send to Cuba

:35:05
are only anti-aircraft weapons,
:35:08
incapable of striking at targets
in the United States, is that true?

:35:11
Absolutely, Mr. President.
:35:12
I want to avoid
any misunderstandings here.

:35:17
This government will not tolerate
the establishment

:35:21
of a Soviet strategic base in Cuba.
:35:24
Mr. President, I assure you,
:35:26
the United States need not be concerned.
:35:29
We have given bread to Cuba, yes,
some military supplies,

:35:32
all defensive, defensive weapons
that will never

:35:35
constitute a threat to the United States.
:35:39
And I have personally assured
the American people

:35:41
that the Soviet assistance programs
in Cuba are purely defensive.

:35:46
I have also said, Mr. Gromyko,
and I say now,

:35:50
that any change will have
the gravest consequences.

:35:53
The origin of the Cold War can be found
:35:55
in the unremitting hostility
of the United States

:35:58
to socialism as we understand it.
:36:00
We believe, sir, that the Cold War
:36:02
has been caused by communist aggression
against the free world.

:36:05
I think we've heard that story before.
:36:08
You see, we trace your hostility
to the several divisions

:36:10
of Americans who fought us
on Russian soil immediately

:36:13
following our revolution in 1918.
:36:15
I know many Americans don't like
to remember the illegal

:36:17
attempt to invade our country
and change our government,

:36:20
but that is a fact of history,
and you have to take -

:36:23
May I have a moment, Mr. Secretary.
:36:27
Yes.
:36:28
Mr. Secretary,
I know there's something going on

:36:30
that you don't want to talk about,
:36:31
but the press corps is getting
damned suspicious

:36:33
with half the government shuttling
between the White House

:36:35
and the State Department
two and three times a day.

:36:37
I think you better tell all
the big wheels

:36:39
to get their limousines off the streets.
:36:40
I don't know what you're talking about,
:36:42
but thanks very much.
:36:43
Is American imperialism
which has stood between

:36:45
the natural friendship of
the common people of our nations.

:36:47
But we, Mr. Foreign Minister,
:36:49
remember the excesses of Stalin,
:36:50
recall the subjugation of Eastern Europe,
:36:52
and are reminded of
Chairman Khrushchev's provocative

:36:54
prophesy that you will attempt
to bury us.

:36:57
Mr. Secretary, you misunderstand.
:36:59
Capitalism will collapse
of its own violation.


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