Richard Nixon photo

Remarks on Departure for the Middle East.

June 10, 1974

Mr. Vice President, members of the diplomatic corps, members of the Cabinet, and all of our friends who have been so gracious to come here to see us off on what we hope and believe will be another journey for peace:

It seems just a little while ago that we saw many of you when we left in 1972, first, on a trip to the People's Republic of China early in that year, and later, on a trip to the Soviet Union. Both of those journeys were ones 'that had a profound impact, not only on the relations between the nations involved but also on building a structure of peace for the whole world.

This trip will take us to a part of the world that has known nothing but war over the past 30 to 40 years. As we go to five countries, four of which have never been visited by an American President before, we realize that one trip is not going to solve differences that are very deep, that go back in some cases many years and in some cases centuries. But we also realize that a beginning has to be made. As a great philosopher once said, the beginning is often the most important part of the work. And the beginning has been made toward a different relation and a better relation between the nations in that area.

We have been proud to play a part in that beginning. The disengagement between Israel and Egypt, and later between Israel and Syria, on the part of Secretary of State Kissinger and others and that the United States played, is one that we can be proud of. But now as I go there, it will provide an opportunity to reaffirm support for the initiatives that have been undertaken to explore ways that we can have new and better relations between the United States and each nation in the area, and also to explore ways in which those nations in the area may have better relations with each other and build toward the permanent and lasting and just and equitable peace that all of them, we know, want and, certainly, that we want.

As we go, above everything else, we will bring to all the people that we will see, most of whom we will not have a chance to meet personally--but we will bring them, we know, from the hearts of all Americans, whatever their partisan affiliation, the best wishes, the hopes for peace and for friendship, not only between our countries and theirs but among all countries in that area. And with that kind of backing, with that kind of message from the people of the United States, we believe this trip, like the other journeys we have taken, will contribute to that lasting peace to which we, as Americans, are so deeply dedicated.

Thank you.

Note: The President spoke at 8:37 a.m. on the South Lawn of the White House.

Following the President's remarks, Vice President Gerald R. Ford responded as follows: Mr. President:

On behalf of everybody here this morning on this beautiful day in the Nation's Capital, let me express our appreciation for the great job you have done, and on behalf of 211 million Americans who, I think, join us in wishing you and Mrs. Nixon well, we will look forward to the successes which will, I think, materialize, building on what has been done in the past as we broaden the effort and broaden the accomplishments for peace.

We wish you well. Our prayers will be with you every day you are gone, and we look forward to a wonderful and successful trip.

Let us all say, on behalf of all Americans, God bless you.

Richard Nixon, Remarks on Departure for the Middle East. Online by Gerhard Peters and John T. Woolley, The American Presidency Project https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/node/255744

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