76-01-A4

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Platform C

Transcript This is the 3rd and last broadcast in which I’ve tried to summarize and compare the Democratic and Republican platforms as adopted by the conventions. I’ll be right back. I’ve spent these three days discussing the Democratic and Republican platforms because it seems to me this is the first time in many years that the platforms have clearly enunciated the difference in philosophy between the two parties. Frankly I believe the voters should insist on their candidates making plain their stand on the respective platforms. Harry Truman in 1948 said, “To me, party platforms are contracts with the people, and I always looked upon them as agreements that had to be carried out.” On the subject of foreign policy both platforms urge the continued reduction of tensions with the Soviet Union. However the Republican platform takes a strong stand for basing our policy on moral standards and commends “that great beacon of human courage and morality Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.”1 Further the Republican platform in a rare rejection of past policy previously pursued by a Republican Administration, says, “in pursuing detente must not grant unilateral favors with only the hope” of future reward. The Democratic platform calls for cutting the defense budget by from 5 to 7 Billion dollars at the same time it demands that we maintain an adequate defense. The Republican platform calls for a “superiority in arms” and advocates the development of the B-l Bomber, the Cruise Missile and the Trident submarine. Where the Demos, call for “redeployment and gradual phaseout of the U.S. ground forces and withdrawal of nuclear weapons now stationed in Korea;” the Republicans reaffirm commitment of those troops “so long as there is exists the possibility of renewed aggression from No. Korea.” The Democratic platform advocates establishing peaceful peaceful relations with the People's Republic of China—“including early movement toward normalizing diplomatic relations in the context of a peaceful resolution of the future of Taiwan.” The Republican platform also supports contacts, trade and normalized relations with China but bluntly and explicitly maintains our treaty obligation and friendship with Taiwan. The Democratic platform supports a new treaty with Panama and indicates that could include the terms already negotiated which of course means giving up sovereignty and eventual ownership of the canal itself. The Republican platform has to be accepted as repudiating the previous negotiations and quotes the language of the 1903 treaty that our rights are, “as if we were sovereign in the canal zone.” It goes on to say “the U.S. should in no way cede, dilute, forfeit, negotiate or transfer any rights, power, authority, territory or property vital to the U.S. and the defense of the Western Hemisphere.” Both platforms pledge continued support of Israel. The Republican platform pledges “support for the people of Central and Eastern Europe to achieve self determination.” And it supports continuation of the Voice of America, Radio Free Europe, and Radio Liberty with adequate appropriations. It also is specific in demanding that the microwave transmissions aimed at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow be terminated immediately. There is more—much more than I can comment on here. I recommend that everyone get copies of the 2 platforms and read them.—For once they mean something. This is Ronald Reagan. Thanks for listening.		Details Batch Number 76-01-A4 Production Date 09/01/1976 Book/Page RPtV-62 Audio No Youtube? No
		Added Notes From the book: Following charges of treason in the Soviet Union in 1974, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, a famous writer and dissident, lived in exile. Solzhenitsyn was living in the United States when Reagan taped this commentary.