I have noted for example that a republican Sena tor has said that this action i have taken means that my party has lost a ll cha nce of winning the November elections And others are saying today that this move against enemy sanctuaries will make me a one-term president No one is more aware than i am of the political consequences of the action I have taken. It is tempting to take the easy political path to blame this war on previous Administrations, and to bring all of our men home immediate ly --regardless of the consequences, even though that would mean defeat for the United States to desert 18 million South Vietnamese people who have put their trust in us; to expose them to the same sla ug hter and savagery which the leaders of North Vietnam inf licted on hundreds of thousands of north vietnamese who chose freedom when the Communists took over north vietnam in 1954 To get peace at any price now, even though i know that a peace of humilia tion for the United states would lead to a bigger war or surrender later. I have rejected political considerations in making this decision. Whether my party gains in November is nothing compared to the lives of 400, 000 brave Americans fighting for our country and for the cause of peace and freedom in Vietnam Whether I may be a one-term president is ins ign if icant compared to w hether by our failure to act in this crisis the United States proves itself to be unworthy to lead the forces of freedom in this critical period in world history I would rather be a one-term president and do what i believe was right than to be a two-term president at the cost of seeing America become a second-rate power and to see this nation accept the first defeat in its proud 190-year history I realize in this war there are honest, deep differences in this country about whether re should have become involved that there are differences to how the war should have been conducted But the decision I announce tonight transcends those dif ferences for the lives of American men are involved The opportunity for 150, 000 Americans to come home in the next 12 months is Involve The future of 18-million people in South vietnam and 7 mil lion people in Cambod ia is involved The possibility of winning a just peace in Vietnam and in the pacif ic is at stake. It is customary to conclude a speech from the white House by asking support for the President of the United States. Tonight i depart from that precedent. what i ask isI have noted, for example, that a Republican Senator has said that this action I have taken means that my party has lost all chance of winning the November elections. And others are saying today that this move against enemy sanctuaries will make me a one-term President. No one is more aware than I am of the political consequences of the action I have taken. It is tempting to take the easy political path, to blame this war on previous Administrations, and to bring all of our men home immediately -- regardless of the consequences, even though that would mean defeat for the United States; to desert 18 million South Vietnamese people who have put their trust in us; to expose them to the same slaughter and savagery which the leaders of North Vietnam inflicted on hundreds of thousands of North Vietnamese who chose f reedom when the Communists took over North Vietnam in 1954. To get peace at any price now, even though I know that a peace of humiliation for the United States would lead to a bigger war or surrender later. I have rejected all political considerations in making this decision. Whether my party gains in November is nothing compared to the lives of 400,000 brave Americans fighting for our country and for the cause of peace and f reedom in Vietnam. Whether I may be a one-term President is insignificant compared to whether by our failure to act in this crisis the United States proves itself to be unworthy to lead the forces of f reedom in this critical period in world history. I would rather be a one-term president and do what I believe was right than to be a two-term President at the cost of seeing America become a second-rate power and to see this nation accept the first defeat in its proud 190-year history. I realize in this war there are honest, deep differences in this country about whether we should have become involved; that there are differences to how the war should have been conducted. But the decision I announce tonight transcends those dif ferences, for the lives of American men are involved. The opportunity for 150,000 Americans to come home in the next 12 months is involved. The future of 18-million people in South Vietnam and 7 million people in Cambodia is involved. The possibility of winning a just peace in Vietnam and in the Pacific is at stake. It is customary to conclude a speech f rom the White House by asking support for the President of the United States. Tonight, I depart f rom that precedent. What I ask is