The Presidential Military-Intervention Speech: a Primer

Key Point 1: Not Just Foreigners Are in Danger but Americans Too:

JOHNSON -- Dominican Republic: "Only an immediate landing of American forces could safeguard and protect the lives of thousands of Americans

NIXON -- Cambodia: "I have concluded that the actions of the enemy in the last 10 days clearly endanger the lives of Americans who are in Vietnam "

REAGAN -- Grenada: "There were then about 1,000 of our citizens on Grenada, 800 of them students in St. George's University Medical School."

BUSH -- Panama: "General Noriega's reckless threats and attacks upon Americans in Panama created an imminent danger to the 35,000 American citizens in Panama."

CLINTON -- did not address this point

Key Point 2: Look, I've Done Everything I Can

JOHNSON: "I and all the officials of the American government worked with every weapon at our command to ((restore peace))."

NIXON: "I say tonight: All the offers and approaches made previously remain on the conference table whenever Hanoi is ready to negotiate seriously."

REAGAN: did not address this point

BUSH: "I took this action only after reaching the conclusion that every other avenue was closed "

CLINTON: "For three years we and other nations have worked exhaustively to find a diplomatic solution, only to have the dictators reject each one."

Key Point 3: We Will Also Fight with Vaguely Wilsonian Rhetoric

JOHNSON: "At stake are the liberty of a nation and the principles and the values of all the American republics."

NIXON: "If, when the chips are down, the world's most powerful nation acts like a pitiful, helpless giant, the forces of totalitarianism and anarchy will threaten free nations and free institutions throughout the world."

REAGAN: "((Grenada)) was a Soviet-Cuban colony, being readied as a military bastion to export terror and undermine democracy. We got there just in time."

BUSH: "The Panamanian people want democracy, peace and the chance for a better life in dignity and freedom."

CLINTON: "History has taught us that preserving democracy in our own hemisphere strengthens America's security and prosperity."

Key Point 4: The Boys Will Be Home for Christmas, or Thereabouts

JOHNSON: Did not address this point

NIXON: "Once enemy forces are driven out of these sanctuaries and once their military supplies are destroyed, we will withdraw."

REAGAN: "It's our intention to get our men out as soon as possible."

BUSH: "The U.S. intends to withdraw the forces newly deployed to Panama as quickly as possible."

CLINTON: "The vast majority of our troops will come home in months, not years."