– CBS Radio News – Johnson Addresses United Nations – June 25, 1965 – Gordon Skene Sound Collection –
In what is shaping up to being a very busy week in history, June 26th marks the anniversary of the first meeting of the United Nations in San Francisco. June 26th 1945 – eighty years ago.
On the 20th anniversary of that historic beginning, a gathering was held in San Francisco to commemorate the 20th anniversary beginning on June 25th 1965.
President Johnson delivered an address to mark the occasion. Sadly, the world hadn’t changed too much since that day in 1945. In 1965 we were still knee-deep in a Cold War. The Middle East, a question mark in 1945 was a hot-button issue ever since. On this day in 1965 we were slowly descending into the quagmire of Vietnam and the world was teetering on the edge of great social change. But the world, at least the super-powers in it had somehow kept the notion of World War 3 at bay. Probably because Washington and Moscow had red telephones and fingers on arsenals of nuclear weapons pointed at each other, guaranteed to vaporize just about all life as we knew it. The fear factor loomed large, and it was fear that kept a modicum of peace at hand.
But there was still cause for some celebration, and President Johnson was on hand to deliver an address and mark the occasion.
President Johnson: “On this historic and happy occasion we have met to celebrate 20 years of achievement and to look together at the work that we face in future meetings. I come to this anniversary not to speak of futility or failure nor of doubt and despair–I come to raise a voice of confidence in both the future of these United Nations and the fate of the human race.
The movement of history is glacial. On two decades of experience, none can presume to speak with certainty of the direction or the destiny of man’s affairs. But this we do know and this we do believe.
Futility and failure are not the truth of this organization brought into being here 20 years ago.
Where, historically, man has moved fitfully from war toward war, in these last two decades man has moved steadily away from war as either an instrument of national policy or a means of international decision.
Many factors have contributed to this change. But no one single factor has contributed more than the existence and the enterprise of the United Nations itself.
For there can be no doubt that the United Nations has taken root in human need and has established a shape, and a purpose, and a meaning of its Own”.
Here is that address as it was broadcast live over ABC Radio on June 25th 1965.
