Made during the Nixon Administration, this film shows the review of the U.S. Navy and the Atlantic Fleet by President Richard M. Nixon. The film begins with images of the President awarding the Congressional Medal of Honor in a ceremony at the White House in Washington, D.C. The date was May 17, 1969 and the event was Armed Forces Day. The recipients of the Medal of Honor were CWO Frederick E. Ferguson and Sp4c. Thomas J. Kinsman. Nixon states that, “This is Armed Forces Day, and all over America today Americans will be reminded of what we owe to the young men who serve in the Armed Forces of the United States…These two men symbolize that service because they have rendered service in the highest tradition, far beyond the call of duty…and for reminding us of the fact that we sometimes forget–that Americans in this century have had to go into war not because we wanted war, but because we wanted peace. We have had to go into war not because we wanted conquest but because we didn’t want it; because we wanted every nation in this world to be and to have the right to choose its own way without conquest and without aggression. What a great goal you have fought for. What a great example you have set for us. You have made us proud to be Americans, proud of our flag, and, of course, proud of you.”
At 3:40, the aircraft carrier Saratoga is seen off the East Coast of the USA near Norfolk, preparing for a visit by the POTUS. At 5:55, Marine One lands and the President disembarks while a 21-gun salute is made. Nixon, 37th President, formerly served in the Navy. At 7:15, aircraft are launched from Saratoga while Nixon watches from the bridge. At 8:15, a drone target is shot down by a Talos missile. At 8:54, a SUBROC is launched by a Permit class submarine, USS Haddo. At 9:50 an F-4 Phantom and an F-111 show off bomb delivery and make a close fly-by while Nixon observes. K-A3 tankers are shown making a refueling while A-6 aircraft make a simulated dive bomb attack. At 11:40, Nixon gives a speech stating in part, “So, as I address the magnificent men of the Atlantic Fleet today, and, through you, all the Armed Forces of the United States of America around this world, just let me say this: When you hear the criticism sometimes of the “military complex” in this country, when you hear what is wrong with the United States and particularly what is wrong with our Armed Forces and what we are necessarily doing in the cause of peace and freedom in Vietnam and every place else in the world, just remember that history will record that never has a great nation had military forces more dedicated to peace, and whose activities made a greater contribution to peace than the Armed Forces of the United States. By what you do, by what you are, we will achieve peace in Vietnam and the Pacific and we are going to be able to keep peace in the world. I am proud to be here as the one who has been elected to lead this country and particularly proud to stand in the presence of the men over whom I am Commander in Chief. Thank you very much. My very best wishes to the peace forces of the United States and the world.”
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This film is part of the Periscope Film LLC archive, one of the largest historic military, transportation, and aviation stock footage collections in the USA. Entirely film backed, this material is available for licensing in 24p HD, 2k and 4k. For more information visit http://www.PeriscopeFilm.com
