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FTG FOR STORY ON SENATOR JOHN KERRY (D-MASS) / KERRY TESTIFIES BEFORE THE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITEE IN WASHINGTON, DC RESTRICTIONS ON SIGNING OUT: Due to the overwhelming demand for this tape, a dub has been made for the campaign libarary ONLY The assignment number is NYBZ18505H This tape CANNOT under any circumstances leave the 3rd floor of 47 west Dubs must be made on the 3rd floor of either the bite or all 90 minutes of tape There is a News-NY Library copy of this tape which is not restricted and can be signed out and circulated to all divisions of the company that assignment number is NYBU17991X I ask you to please be considerate of your fellow workers and return this tape upon completion of usage to the library Additional notes: The time code of this log WILL NOT match the NYBU17991X tape, BUT it will be in the exact order listed here You'll have to follow along with the words ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~cue in~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ [JOHN KERRY TESTIFIES BEFORE SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE] 16:08:54 WE DO HAVE A PLAN THAT IF THIS BODY BY SOME MEANS REFERENDUM AND AVOID THIS RECRIMINATION OR DO IT THROUGH LEGISLATION AND WE WOULD BE WILLING TO UNDERTAKE NEGOTIATION FOR A COALITION GOVERNMENT AT PRESENT MOMENT NOT GOING TO HAPPEN, TREMENDOUS MORAL QUESTION THE CONGRESS IS IGNORING 16:10:37 PRIVATE INDIVIDUALS, I UNDERSTAND THESE THINGS, THERE IS A MOOD IN THIS COUNTRY, STRONGEST CRITICS OF THIS WAR IN A LONG TIME, IF WE COULD TALK TO THIS LEGISLATIVE BODY OF FILIBUSTERING PORK BARREL PROGRAMS, THEN FILIBUSTERING TO THE SAVING OF LIVES IN OUR COUNTRY THIS IS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO CONVEY, I UNDERSTAND AND AWARE OF DIFFICULTIES OF PERSUADING EXECUTIVE COMMITTED AND CAN, BUT NOT JUST HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL 1972 TO HAVE DECISION MADE, EXTRAORDINARY ENOUGH QUESTION THAT IT DEMANDS AN EXTRAORDINARY RESPONSE, 16:11:50 I DOUBT VERY SERIOUSLY AS MEN ON EARTH RESPOND TO OTHER SERIOUS QUESTION, IF THIS BODY PERHAPS CALL FOR A REFERENDUM OR MOVE FOR A VOTE IN THREE WEEKS I THINK PEOPLE OF COUNTRY WOULD RISE UP AND BACK THAT, I'M TALKING A VOTE HERE IN CONGRESS TO CUT OFF FUNDS AND PERHAPS PASS A RESOLUTION TO RULE ON CONSTITUTIONALITY OF WAR 16:12:32 THAT'S WHAT WE ARE ASKING WE CAN'T TURN OUR BACKS ON THAT ANY LONGER 16:14:08 I'D LIKE TO VERY MUCH, IN MY OPINION WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO AS PRESIDENT TALKS ABOUT GETTING OUT A SEMBLANCE OF HONOR WHITE WASHING THIS ON QUESTION OF GETTING OUT WITH SOME CHANCE FOR PEACE, AS A MAN WHO HAS FOUGHT THERE THIS POLICY HAS NO CHANCE OF PEACE, NO CHANCE FOR PEACE WHEN YOU ARM THE PEOPLE OF ANOTHER COUNTRY AND TELL THEM THEY CAN FIGHT A WAR THAT'S CONTINUING A WAR GOING TO HAVE TO SOME DAY FACE UP TOT FACT THAT WE CONVINCED THOUSANDS THAT THEY COULD STAND UP FOR SOMETHING TO WHICH THEY COULDN'T AND FACE INCRIMINATION THAT THEIR LIVES WILL BE ON OUR CONSCIOUS, I DON'T THINK IT'S A QUESTION OF PEACE AT ALL VERY HYPOCRITICAL AND I THINK WE SHOULD FACE UP TO THAT 16:15:53 STILL REACTING TO 1945 POST WAR COLD WAR PERIOD REACTED TO FORCES AT WORK IN WORLD WAR II AND PARANOIA ABOUT RUSSIANS AND DIVIDED UP BETWEEN SUPER POWERS AND FOSTER DULLAS CREATION OF CITO TREATY, REACTION TO COMMUNIST MONOLITH, REACTING UNDER COLD WAR PRECEPTS, AS LONG AS WE HAVE SPIKE FORCE, BUT AS LONG AS WE HAVE ONES IN WHICH WE KNOW WE HAVE, WE HAVE STRIKE FORCE OF SUCH CAPABILITY, POLARIS SUBMARINE, UNDERWATER SEA DETECTION IS HARDEST KIND IN WORLD, WE HAVE THE ABILITY TO DESTROY THE HUMAN RACE, WHY DO WE HAVE TO CONSIDER THREATS AT ANY TIME A THREAT IS PROPOSED I WILL BE ON E OF THE FIRST PEOPLE TO PICK UP A GUN AND DEFEND IT, BUT RIGHT NOW WE ARE REACTING TO PARANOIA 16:17:39 MOST OF US DON'T WAN T TO BE ALIVE AFTERWARDS BECAUSE OF KIND OF WORLD IT WILL BE SO I THINK IT'S RIDICULOUS TO PLAY POWER GAME ON TOTAL WARFARE DELIVER TO FIGHT THOSE, FIGHT BASED ON LEGITIMATE THREATS, DEFINE THOSE THREATS AND THAT IS WHAT I WOULD SAY TO WORLD PEACE, BOGUS, THERE IS NO LINE, THREAT, NOT GOING TO TAKE OVER OUR MCDONALDS HAMBURGER STANDS 16:18:29 BUT SENATOR I WILL SAY THIS I THINK POLITICALLY HISTORICALLY ONE THING PEOPLE TRY TO DO IS AN ATTEMPT TO SATISFY THEIR FELT NEEDS AND YOU CAN SATISIFY THOSE NEEDS GIVING IT ONE NAME OR ANOTHER, AS LONG AS THOSE NEEDS ARE SATISFIED, THAT STRUCTURE WILL EXIST WHEN YOU NEGLECT THOSE NEEDS PEOPLE DEMAND NEW STRUCTURE AND THAT IS THE ONLY THREAT THIS COUNTRY FEELS NOT WOKEN UP TO WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE UNITED STATES 16:19:56 ONE OF TRAITS OF MY GENERATION I CAN ONLY SPEAK AS AN INDIVIDUAL ABOUT IT, CERTAINLY FRUSTRATED ABOUT IT IN PAST MONTHS, BUSINESSMEN, VARYING RANGE OF COMMENTS RANGING FROM WAR CRIMES TIRED NOW CAN'T DO ANYTHING I'VE SEEN UNRESPONSIVENESS ON RACIAL QUESTION, UNWILLINGNESS OF TOO MANY OF MEMBERS OF THIS BODY TO RESPOND TO TAKE GUTSY STANCE TO FACE QUESTIONS OTHER THAN OWN REELECTION MAKE A PROFILE OF COURAGE AND I'M ALTHOUGH WITH FAITH VERY VERY FULL OF 16:22:39 KERRY SEATED AT TABLE ALONE * GOOD SHOT * 16:23:31 SOMETHING TO SAY AT ONE POINT I COULDN'T GIVE YOU A FIGURE OF HABITUAL SMOKERS AND COULDN'T' SAY HOW MANY ARE HARD DRUG ADDICTS, BUT I DO KNOW THE PROBLEM OF RETURN VETERANS ACUTE, 12 DOLLAR HABIT IN SAIGON HABIT COST HIM SOME 90 DOLLARS TO SUPPORT DOESN'T HAVE ANY MONEY TURNS CRIMINAL IN A SENSE DROPS OUT, ALIENATION OF WAR, EMPTINESS NO REAL DRUG REHABILITATION PROGRAM 16:24:28 168 MEN ON WAITING LIST AND IT'S WIDESPREAD VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM, MADAM KEY AND BEING INVOLVED IN TRAFFIC, AND I THINK AT STAKE 16:25:06 IT'S NOT CONTROLLABLE IN THIS COUNTRY WHY SHOULD IT BE CONTROLLABLE IN THAT COUNTRY DEPENDS WHERE YOU ARE SENATOR WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HEROIN NOT TALKING ABOUT POT OR LSD IF YOU WALK UP IN HARLEM I'M SURE SOMEONE CAN HELP YOU PRETTY FAST 16:25:51 DON'T KNOW WHERE I CAME FORM, I HAVE DIRECT EXPERIENCE FORM THAT, AS YOU CAN RECALL OFTEN SPOT REPORTS FOR EACH INCLUDING GDA GUNFIRE DAMAGE ASSESSMENT, 15 I OFTEN WORRY ABOUT MY OWN MISSIONS STARS IN STRIPES THE INTELLIGENCE MISSIONS BASED ON FLIMSY INFORMATION, I THINK YOU SHOULD HAVE THEM IN TO TESTIFY, ONCE IN SAIGON AND HE GAVE ME A COMPLETE RUN DOWN ON HOW INTELLIGENCE SYSTEM SHOULD BE RE-SETUP 16:28:42 I'D LIKE TO SAY ON BEHALF OF VIETNAM VETERANS WE APPRECIATE EFFORT OF SENATORS ON BOARD TO HELP US IN THE EVENT WHEN WE WERE ARRESTED AND EXPRESS THE THOUGHTS I PUT FORWARD TODAY 16:29:14 KERRY STANDS, SHAKES HAND OF SENATORS 16:30:10 AS A VETERAN AS ONE WHO FEELS THIS ANGER, WE ARE ANGRY BECAUSE WE FEEL USED BY ADMINISTRATION OF COUNTRY 16:31:02 MY FEELINGS SENATOR ON WHAT HE DID IS A HORRIBLE THING, AND I HAVE NO BONE TO PICK WITH FACT HE WAS PROSECUTED BUT IN THIS QUESTION YOU HAVE TO SEPARATE GUILT FROM RESPONSIBILITY, CLEARLY REASONABILITY LIES IN MEN WHO ENCOURAGED BODY COUNTS AND COUNTRY WHICH ALLOWS A CHILD BEFORE AGE OF 14 TO SEE 12,000 VIOLENT DEATHS ON TELEVISION, GLORIFIES JOHN WAAYNE SYNDROME, CALISTHENICS ON A FOUR COUNT WHERE YOU SHOUT KILL, CRUCIFIED VIETNAMESE, CLEARLY RESPONSIBILITY FOR ALL OF THIS WHAT HAS PRODUCED IS HORRIBLE ADMIRATION IF YOU ARE GOING TO TRY HIM, YOU MUST AT THE SAME TIME YOU MUST TRY ALL THOSE OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE RESPONSIBILITY 16:32:48 ANY VERSION NOT TO SAY HE SHOULD BE FREED OR INNOCENT YOU CAN'T JUST TAKE HIM ALONE 16:33:08 WE ARE HERE TO ASK VEHEMENTLY WHERE ARE THE LEADERS OF OUR COUNTRY? WHERE IS LEADERSHIP? WE ARE HERE TO ASK WHERE ARE MCNAMARA, FITZPATRICK, WHERE ARE THEY WE THE MEN WHO THEY SENT OFF TO WAR HAVE RETURNED, DESERTED THEIR TROOPS NO MORE SERIOUS CRIME, ARMY SAY NEVER LEAVE WOUNDED, RETREATED BEHIND PIOUS SHIELD LEFT REAL STUFF OF REPLANTATION 16:34:10 HEAD ON SHOT OF KERRY 16:34:19 I'M NOT HERE AS JOHN KERRY BUT AS ONE MEMBER OF THOUSANDS OF VETERANS AND WERE IT POSSIBLE FOR ALL OF US TO BE HERE, I WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK 16:34:44 WOULD LIKE TO TALK REPRESENTING THOSE VETS IN DETROIT WE HAD INVESTIGATION IN WHICH 150 HONORABLY DISCHARGED VETERANS TESTIFIED WAR CRIMES IN SOUTH EAST ASIA, DAY TO DAY BASIS IMPOSSIBLE TO DESCRIBE WHAT HAPPENED, EMOTIONS IN ROOM FEELINGS OF MEN BUT THEY DID THEY TELE 16:35:26 CUT OFF LIMBS, BLOWN UP BODIES, RANDOMLY SHOT AT CIVILIANS, RAZED VILLAGES, SHOT CATTLE AND DOGS FOR FUN, POISONED FOOD STOCKS AND RAVAGED THE COUNTRYSIDE IN THE NORMAL RAVAGE OF WAR AND BOMBING POWER OF THIS COUNTRY WE CALLED THIS INVESTIGATION WINTER SOLDIER INVESTIGATION 16:36:57 *B ROLL - NO AUDIO OF ROOM* 16:37:44 SHAKING HANDS WITH SENATOR 16:38:31 COMMITTEE HEAR TESTIMONY FROM MISTER JOHN KERRY THESE ARE MEN WHO FOUGHT IN UNFORTUNATE WAR OF VIETNAM AND DESERVE TO BE HEARD 16:42:26 THANK YOU VERY MUCH I WOULD LIKE TO SAY FORMAL TERMS I APOLOGIZE IF MY STATEMENT IS GENERAL I HEARD THAT YOU WOULD HEAR ME WINTER SOLDIERS, THOMAS PLAPERS SUNSHINE PATRIOT QUIET, NOT TELL WHAT WENT ONE BUT WE FEEL BECAUSE OF WHAT THREATENED, NOT RED BUT RED COATS, BUT CRIMES ARE COMMITTING HAVE TO SPEAK OUT 16:43:20 TALK ABOUT RESULT IS OF THE FEELINGS MEN CARRY WITH THEM FROM VIETNAM, WEST POINT VICE PRESIDENT, SOME GLAMORIZE CRIMINAL MISFITS, ASIAN RICE PATTIES RALLYING POINT FOR EFFORT, BUT FOR US, COUNTRY SUPPOSE TO SUPPORT, TERRIBLE DISTORTION DISTORTION IN NO WAY CONSIDER OURSELVES MISFITS STANDING UP FOR US, SO MANY WHO DIED WOULD HAVE RETURNED TO JOIN MISFITS, SO MANY OF THOSE BEST MEN RETURN AS QUADRIPLEGICS AND AMPUTEES, WHICH FLY FLAG SO MANY CHOSEN AS PERSON SYMBOL, WE CANNOT CONSIDER OURSELVES BEST MEN ASHAMED AND HATED ON WHAT WE WERE CALLED TO DO I'M OUTCLASSED HERE, ALL OF YOU THOUGHT ABOUT EVERY POSSIBLE ALTERNATIVE TO GETTING OUT OF VIETNAM, SERIOUSNESS ASPECTS, BUT I WANT TO RELATE TO YOU FEELING THAT MANY EXPRESS 16:45:16 WE ARE ANGRIEST ABOUT ALL TOLD ABOUT VIETNAM ABOUT MYSTICAL WAR ON COMMUNISM, NOT ONLY WAS IT A CIVIL WAR AN EFFORT FOR YEARS SEEKING LIBERATION FROM ANY COLONIAL INFLUENCE BUT VIETNAMESE MOLDED AFTER OWN IMAGE HARD PUT AGAINST THREAT, WE FOUND MOST PEOPLE DIDN'T KNOW DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COMMUNISM AND DEMOCRACY ONLY WORK IN RICE PADDIES WITHOUT HELICOPTERS AND BOMBS, 16:46:05 EVERYTHING DO TO WITH WAR TO LEAVE THEM ALONE IN PEACE, PRECTICED ART OF SURVIVAL BY WHATEVER PRESENCE WE FOUND ALL TOO OFTEN AMERICAN MEN FOR WONT OF SUPPORT FOR ALLIES, MONIES FOR TAXIES FOR CORRUPT DICTORIAL REGIME MANY PEOPLE HAD ONE SIDED IDEA OF WHO WAS KEPT CLEAR SAW VIETNAM RAVAGED BY AMERICAN BOMBS AND SEARCH AND DESTROY MISSION AND VIETCONG TERRORISM, BLAME ALL ON VIETCONG 16:47:06 WE RATIONALIZED DESTROYING VILLAGES IN ORDER TO SAVE THEM, AND REFUSED TO GIVE UP AMERICAN SOLDIERS WHO HAND OUT CHOCOLATE BARS SHOOT ANYTHING THAT MOVES AND WATCHED AS AMERICA PLACES CHEAPNESS ON LIVES OF ORI8ENTALS 16:47:34 FALSIFICATION, GLORIFICATION OF BODY COUNTS, BACK OF ENEMY ABOUT TO BREAK FOUGHT USING WEAPONS AGAINST PEOPLE WHO NOT DREAM OF USING AGAINST A NON THIRD WORLD 16:48:03 MEN CHARGED UP HILLS BECAUSE MEN SAY THAT HILL MUST BE TAKE, LEAVE HILL FOR REOCCUPATION OF NORTH VIETNAMESE, PRIDE BLOWN INTO EXTRAVAGANZAS 16:48:28 WE SHOULDN'T' LOOSE, WE WOULDN'T' RETREAT LOST TO PROVE THAT POINT, HAMBURGER HILLS, KAISONGS, ALL MEN WHO FOUGHT THERE WATCHED QUIETLY 16:49:07 DOING IT WITH THOUSANDS OF RATIONALIZATIONS, PRESIDENT SAYS THE ISSUE IS COMMUNISM AND IF WE WILL LEAVE IT FOR COMMUNISTS OR WILL TRY TO BE A FREE PEOPLE, ,BUT NOT A FREE PEOPLE NOW UNDER US, WE CANNOT FIGHT COMMUNISM ALL OVER WORLD WE LEARN THAT LESSON BY NOW, THINK ABOUT POSTER OF UNCLE SAM AN I WANT YOU, AND YOUNG MAN COME OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL I'M GOING TO SERVE MY COUNTRY GOES TO VIETNAM AND SHOOTS AN KILLS WHEN HE GETS BACK HE FINDS HE ISN'T' REALLY WANTED 16:50:09 LARGEST UNEMPLOYMENT FIGURE VARIES WHO YOU GET IT FROM, 22% BUT LARGEST FIGURE ARE VETERANS OF THIS WAR, AND THOSE VETERANS 33% ARE BLACK, 1 OUT OF EVERY 10 IS A VETERANS OF VIETNAM HOSPITALS WON'T ACCOMMODATE THEIR DEMANDS 16:50:44 THEY ARE STILL DYING OVER THERE, AND NOT JUST AMERICANS VIETNAMESE, WE ARE RATIONALIZING LEAVING THAT COUNTRY SO THEY CAN GO ON KILLING FOR YEARS TO COME, WAR IS WINDING DOWN AND ALSO ALLOWED BODIES ONCE USED BY PRESIDENT TO PROVE THAT WE ARE WINNING TO BE USED AS EVIDENCE AGAINST A MAN WHO FOLLOWED ORDERS WE VETERANS CAN ONLY LOOK WITH AMAZEMENT THAT HERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HELICOPTER TROOP 16:51:38 NO GROUND TROOPS IN LAOS BUT HELICOPTER TROOPS FILL SAME BODY BAGS, AND ALLOWING THAT TO GO ON FOR MANY YEARS TO COME, WILL WE REALLY BE SATISFIED, WE ARE ASKING HERE IN WASHINGTON FRO SOME ACTION IN CONGRESS POWER DELAYS, MAINTAIN ARMIES, WE'VE COME HERE NOT FOR PRESIDENT, THIS BODY WILL BELIEVE WE A 16:52:34 PROBLEM OF THIS WAR IS NOT JUST QUESTION OF WAR AND DIPLOMACY IN PART OF EVERYTHING WE AR TRYING, QUESTION IS RACISM IN MILITARY USE OF WEAPONS, HYPOCRISY IN GENEVA CONVENTION, WHEN WE MORE THAN ANY OTHER BODY VIOLATE THOSE GENEVA CONVENTION, THE BOMBINGS THE TORTURE OF PRISONERS, THE KILLING OF PRISONERS, 16:53:26 THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO SAY, AMERICAN INDIAN FIEND OF MINE PUT IT TO ME VERY SUCCINCTLY, AS A BOY HE WATCHED TV AND USE TO CHEER COWBOYS WHEN CAME IN AND SHOT INDIANS, ONE DAY HE STOPPED IN VIETNAM AND SAID MY GOD I'M DOING TO THESE PEOPLE THE VERY SAME THEY DID TO MY PEOPLE ALSO HERE TO ASK 16:54:09 BLEACHING BEHIND THEM IN SUN OF COUNTRY, FINALLY THIS ADMINISTRATION DONE ULTIMATE DISHONOR, ATTEMPTED TO DISOWN US, AND SACRIFICES 16:54:28 WE DO NOT NEED THEIR TESTIMONY OUR OWN STARS AND STUMPS OF LIMBS ARE EVIDENCE MERCIFUL GOD WIPE AWAY SERVICE, WIPE AWAY MEMORY OF US 16:57:34 DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF VIETNAM ALL EIGHT OF MADAM BING POINTS IT WAS STATED BY MANY OTHER OFFICIALS OF THIS GOVERNMENT THAT IF UNTIED STATES SET A DATE OF WITHDRAWAL, POW'S WOULD BE RETURNED, I THINK THIS NEGATES ARGUMENT OF PRESIDENT, NEGOTIATION BLOCK FOR ARGUMENT CONCERNING ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~cue out~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~