Extensions of Remarks

July 29, 1982 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 18687 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS SENATOR MUSKIE'S REMARKS Many of us have resorted to looking for the "denigration of the Presidency," but the ON FOREIGN POLICY small signs of hope that the Administration public registering its great disappoint with wasn't really serious after all about its for performance. eign policy directions. Maybe the President Thomas Jefferson said in 1820: "I know of HON. NORMAN Y. MINETA didn't really mean it when he rejected the no safe depository of the ultimate powers of OF CALIFORNIA Law of the Sea treaty because he thought the society but the people themselves, and IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES "that when you go out on the high seas, you if we think them not enlightened enough to can do what you want." Maybe our backing Thursday, July 29, 1982 exercise their control in a wholesome discre away from the China policy of the past two tion, the remedy is not to take it from them • Mr. MINETA. Mr. Speaker, I would Administrations is really a wallposter but to inform their discretion." like to congratulate the Center for Na rumor. Or maybe we aren't really serious We are at a time in our national history tional Policy for recognizing the sig about violating SALT II provisions with when maturity is to be expected. But famil something called "Dense Pack." iar elements of immaturity are now being nificant contributions of the Honora Then the other day my worst suspicions ble Edmund S. Muskie by awarding reflected in our political discourse. They are were realized: Herbert Hoover was resur evident in a willingness to declare-quixoti him their first Distinguished Public rected as the patron saint of the Commerce Service Award. Further, I would like cally-either our independence from, or our Department, presumably as a Republican dominance of, the rest of the world. Neither to call my colleagues' attention to Sen symbol of fiscal responsibility. I began at is a viable option today, yet we waste so ator Muskie's thoughtful remarks on that moment to take the President at his much energy debating the highly improb foreign policy upon that occasion. word on foreign policy! able. To add to your anxiety, my historical re REMARKS OF THE HON. EDMUND S. MUSKIE, search reveals that President Hoover in Some of us may be too idealistic, some of RECIPIENT OF FIRST DISTINGUISHED PuBLIC 1932, in Geneva, proposed a 30 percent over us too cynical, or too selfish. The maturing SERVICE AWARD, CENTER FOR NATIONAL of American foreign policy requires us to all reduction in offensive armaments. If I POLICY look at certain facts about ourselves and told you my real feelings about all this, others. I am deeply moved and honored by this there might be a run on banks tomorrow award. It is of particular significance to me and new shovels issued for civil defense. So I Trying to see the world as is is, if I may that a man I deeply admire-my predecessor won't! But don't wait until the President use a homely analogy, requires a pair of bi as Secretary of State, Cy Vance-is Co starts parting his hair down the middle! focals. One set of lenses gives us the world Chairman of the Center for National Policy. Seriously though, I find little comfort or in terms of our ideals, the other in terms of He is an all-too-rare example in our system humor in Secretary Haig's confirmation of power. These are the lenses of idealism and of a public servant who resigned-on our government's ineptitude abroad. Let us realism, if you will. grounds of principle-from high office. be clear in one point: we don't want Ronald We have had debates in the United States And, without that example, I could not Reagan remembered in foreign policy the about Wilsonianism, about morality in for have resigned from the Senate-on grounds way Herbert Hoover was in domestic policy. eign policy. There was a time not long ago of duty, I assure you-to become Secretary when many Americans believed we had lost of State! Yet, I think Ted Sorensen is right when he argues that the Democratic Party's search our moral bearing. Accusations of Realpoli Be assured that in and of itself this award tik gone mad were heard widely. does not transform a politician into a states for new directions has focused almost en tirely on domestic policy. The American people support the proposi man. If Harry Truman was right, I would tion that there must be a moral element, a have to be dead for 10 years to accomplish This is more than a personality or a party problem. Our Nation is seen to frequently very large moral element, in our foreign that. policy. If the distinction between repressive As Secretary of State, I took great conso by our friends-and enemies-as inconsist ent, unclear and lacking in steadiness. And "authoritarian" and "totalitarian" regimes lation from my political career. It served me means something to the Reagan Adminis well in dealing with my counterparts from the unkindest cut of all: we stand accused of acting in a manner contrary to our own in tration, it is nevertheless a distinction with parliamentary democracies. I felt little need out a difference to many. to become a diplomat . and those of you terests. Rather than looking for scapegoats or We do believe in freedom, in democracy, who know me recognize the challenge such we do care what happens to ordinary a transition would have been. making excuses, we should step back and The Nation's foreign policy machinery re examine the collective political process people, in all lands. We are, frankly, out cently experienced a traumatic breakdown. through which the attitudes of our people raged by what happens to the common Mark Russell may want to re-evaluate his are formed, and on which our Nation's deci people in places like Poland, Argentina, observation: "Who would have thought, be sions are based. That is more difficult, but South Africa, Afghanistan, Cambodia, and tween Secretaries of State Kissinger and infinitely more cleansing. Lebanon. Any American leader-and any Haig, the one with the accent would be the I want to talk about American maturity foreign leader-who turns his back on this one we can understand?" For I never under and American lack of maturity-in interna reality of American foreign policy is in for a stood AI Haig better than on the day he re tional affairs. Most of all, I want to talk surprise . and a change. signed. He cited no issue of principle, only about the quality of the dialogue we are car Listen to Cyrus Vance: "Championing the pervasive indictment that our highest rying on among ourselves and with our human rights is a national requirement for policymakers had shifted from the careful global co-habitants. I am worried that we a nation with our heritage. Without this course of "consistency, clarity and steadi are talking around problems rather than to moral strength ... it would be impossible to ness of purpose." them, trying to put desire in place of fact, have anything called a 'foreign policy' at Succinct and all-encompassing, I could not shibboleth in place of practical problem all." have said it better myself. I might have solving. Yet, the spectacles of realism have their been blunter: If we are not going to hell, We must begin with faith in the wisdom uses, too. We live in a world of nation-states, then where the hell are we going, Mr. Presi of the American people. Our people have and our duty is to defend American inter dent? never been afraid of hard choices when the ests-simultaneously, one hopes, with the After reading over the weekend the talk facts are put before them plainly. They do interests of our friends and allies. We need ing paper Secretary-designate Haig pre not expect to be talked down to. They are to be aware, looking at the world as it is, pared for his January 6, 1981, meeting with capable of sacrifice, of long-term commit that Great Power rivalries will not go away the President-elect, I more fully appreciated ment, if the necessity is explained by credi . that the role of power will not soon be the limitations of my own power at the ble leadership. They do not want public re replaced on the international scene ... that State Department. The Haig paper provided lations "victories" for their Presidents so being strong is still a prerequisite to being a novel concept of "Cabinet Government" much as they want, for their country, com free and independent. one department, indivisible, under God! On petence and vision and compassion on the But just as contrived perceptions about a reflection, I have decided that I was far too job. Phil Geyelin had it right the other day weak America do not make America weak modest when President Carter called. I when he argued that what we are beginning even though perceptions can be dangerous asked only for the moon! to see as a wave of criticism of Reagan is not chest-beating rhetoric does not make Amer- e This "bullet" symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by the Member on the floor. 18688 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS July 29, 1982 ica strong. We are never so ineffective in the Atlantic Alliance in regard to dealings with One sad result is that, in the case of eyes of the world as we are when our rheto the Soviet Union.

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