The 90th Congress Session had gotten over the crises. The finance of the war, keeping domestic programs going, and passim key legislation and included in the bill is passed, in socialt increase security benefits, the operational funding of the model cities content, and a program. And expanded federal jurisdiction of the pollution. And even more recently was the consumer legislation. The full record would show more accomplished consumer legislation in a twoyear time than in all of the other 88 congresses. Are entry is, yes, it is for the young and old in the worker and the businessman, the farmer and the teacher, and the student and the patient and the doctor. Our fight is not a part of america. Our site is for all of america. Our fight is for all of america. January the first, are terrorists on many of the products we import were dropped iffs on many of the products we import were dropped. This will mean your export sales for the american businessmen and farmers. Those who negotiate in geneva drove a hard bargain. We believe it was fair. In early december, the white house announced the first family had decided to spend Christmas Day in washington. Coupled with this was the news that the president had videotaped an interview with white house correspondents from the 3 Major Television networks. The informal session was the first for a president since 1964, and it do for playback in primetime on the evening of the 19th. Its expected audience was close to 52 million viewers. On the 18th, the day of the taping, washington and the world received sudden and tragic news. From the moment that the wire service teletypes and the white house had clattered out to their messages about Prime Minister holt, there was little doubt that the president s Holiday Plans would undergo drastic change. Just how drastic, few knew until the morning of the 19th. In less than 24 hours, and entourage, an entourage of 300 newsmen and aides had been assembled for the trip to australia. It was a dramatic demonstration of the Resources Available to an american president , president and his readiness to put them to use. Behind all the headlines was a simple act of homage to a trusted friend. At state was the need to reaffirm the bond with australias people, we press both the allies and the communists would be steadfastness of the american, commitment in asia. The first refueling stop was Travis Airport base in northern california. Among the servicemen that came to meet the president was one charmer who caught his eye, fourmonthold madwoman green. Madeleine green. At the base hospital, he spent the greater part of an hour talking to the wounded veterans back in vietnam. At 2 05 p. M. , california time, sped over san franciscos golden gate. Gathering together here in australia, are leaders from the north, east, and west. This tell us much of the kind of man that harold was into the kind of leadership you brought fresh truly and forcefully, to the community of the three nations and the kind of world he was helping to shape. By way of welcome to canberra, the Prime Ministers successor assured president johnson that despite the changes in leadership, there would be no change in the commitment of australia to south vietnam. Following their 90 minute briefing on the war, president johnson plunged into an 18 hour day of protocol and courtesy visits, and a full round of bilateral discussions with australian and asian leaders. On the periphery of the orient, a new issue is building. I saw it, i went there last year, i visited their country and the people. As the new asia becomes a reality, there is a hope the people on the mainland will turn deadlines to the challenge of economic and social development. The people turn to the task of living in dignity, and Mutual Respect with their neighbors. On friday, december 22, the scene shifted to melbourne. With somber crowds and the church bells from st. Pauls cathedral. His days were truly short. His vision was long. He saw that we had to begin to build a new community in asia and in all of the pacific. A community of nations dedicated together to the works of progress of all their peoples. The sense of that community is already coming into being. Other men and leaders will carry that cause forward, in this and all the other lands that rim this great ocean. History is going to preserve an honored place in its memory for the name of harold holt, at a critical time. It was he who saw the vision and he who assumed leadership and imbued us with a new spirit, and with a fuller faith. Following the visit to australia, a curtain of secrecy had enveloped the president ial caravan. As it did, speculation of the next touchdown point again. Just before 11 00 on the evening of the 22nd, the president ial party arrived at the airbase in thailand, home of the 388th Tactical Fighter wing and a Takeoff Point for the air forces f105s, making daily combat runs over north vietnam. After a four hour rest, the president walked to the tire rack for a meeting with the pilots and crews, tarmac for a meeting with the pilots and crews. I bring with me the love of your families and the infection of your friends, for thinking of you, and the affection of your friends, who are thinking of you and are praying for your safekeeping every hour. I bring with me the gratitude of the nation you serve so honorably and so well. Through the use of air power, and a mere handful of you, are beating down more than a half a to the knocked out oinning pinning down more than a half a million north vietnamese. They are increasing the cost of infiltration, and air power is providing the mobility, which meets and with, which meets and which matches the stealth of an enemy whose tactics are based on certain hit and run tactics. Let no man in any other land misread the spirit of america, rooted in the steadfastness, steadfastness and resolve of a nation that is Holding Firmly and faithfully to its course. As i meet and greet you this morning, i say on behalf of of your families and friends, on behalf of all of the American People and their allies, god bless you. You, everyone of you, and we shall always be deeply in your debt. Thank you and good morning. [laughter] [applause] once over the asian mainland, the president s next stop seemed almost inevitable. I wish i couldve brought you something more than just myself. I wish i couldve brought you some gift that would wrap up the care and concern of your families and loved ones. I wish i couldve brought you a sign that the struggle that you are in will soon be over. I can bring you the assurance of what you have fought to achieve, the enemy cannot win in vietnam now. He can harass, terrorize, inflict casualties while taking far greater losses himself. But he cannot win. There must have been times that you wish that this cup might pass from you, that it might go to some other generation, or come from some other place and time. It didnt. It came here and it is with us now. You have taken it with courage that makes all of your countrymen proud. I pray that you will be strengthened this Christmas Day in wartime by all of your loved ones and people. By the great confidence that you are inspiring in others. And by your own great, steadfast courage. May god bless you and may god