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CU PRESIDENT JOHNSON
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TRANSCRIPT: (SEQ 1) PRESIDENT JOHNSON: "IN THE MEETING I HAVE JUST CONCLUDED WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS, FOLLOWING THAT MEETING I DIRECTED THE SECRETARY OF DEFENCE AND THE CHAIRMAN OF THE JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF TO ISSUE INSTRUCTIONS TO LAND AN ADDITIONAL 4500 MEN AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE MOMENT; THE DISTRIBUTION OF FOOD TO PEOPLE WHO'VE NOT EATEN FOR DAYS; THE NEED OF MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND ATTENTION TO THE SICK AND WOUNDED; THE HEALTH REQUIREMENTS TO AVOID AN EPIDEMIC BECAUSE THERE ARE HUNDRED WHO'VE BEEN DEAD FOR DAYS THAT ARE NOW IN THE STREETS AND THE FURTHER PROTECTION OF THE SECURITY OF EACH INDIVIDUAL THAT IS CAUGHT ON THAT ISLAND REQUIRE THE ATTENTION OF THE ADDITIONAL FORCES WHICH I HAVE ORDERED TO PROCEED TO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. IN ADDITION, THE ESTABLISHED MEN HAVE ALREADY SINCE THEY LANDED ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT, EVACUATED 3,000 PERSONS FROM 30 COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD FROM THIS ISLAND.



"WE BELIEVE THAT CHANGE COMES. AND WE'RE GLAD THAT IT DOES. AND IT SHOULD COME THROUGH PEACEFUL PROCESS. REVOLUTION IN ANY COUNTRY IS A MATTER FOR THAT COUNTRY TO DEAL WITH. IT BECOMES A MATTER CALLING FOR HEMISPHERIC ACTION ONLY WHEN, REPEAT ONLY, WHEN THE OBJECT IS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A COMMUNISTIC DICTATORSHIP."




Initials



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Background: PRESIDENT JOHNSON YESTERDAY ORDERED MORE U.S. MARINES INTO THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC PRINCIPALLY TO PREVENT THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A COMMUNISTIC DICTATORSHIP. THE PRESIDENT WAS SPEAKING ON A NATION-WIDE TELEVISION BROADCAST DURING WHICH HE SAID HE HAD DIRECTED MILITARY CHIEFS TO MOVE 4,500 MEN AT THE EARLIEST POSSIBLE MOMENT.

THE DOMINICAN REVOLT HAD STARTED AS A POPULAR DEMOCRATIC REVOLUTION BUT WAS TAKEN OVER BY A "BAND OF COMMUNIST CONSPIRATORS." A TRAGIC TURN IN EVENTS OCCURRED, SAID THE PRESIDENT, WHEN COMMUNIST LEADERS, MANY OF THEM TRAINED IN CUBA, SAW A CHANCE TO INCREASE DISORDER AND GAIN A FOOTHOLD IN THE REVOLUTION.

THOUSANDS OF LIVES, THE LIBERTY OF A NATION AND THE PRINCIPLES AND VALUES OF ALL THE AMERICAN STATES WERE AT STAKE IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. PRESIDENT JOHNSON CLAIMED. HE ADDED THAT THE ENTIRE U.S. MISSION IN SANTA DOMINGO HAD ASKED FOR FORCES TO PREVENT THE KILLING OF FOREIGNERS, AMERICAN AND OTHERWISE.

PRESIDENT JOHNSON SAID: