Remarks General Andrew J. Goodpaster
December 4, 1996
National Press Club
Opening Remarks by General Andrew J. Goodpaster
I welcome the opportunity to talk with you about the
reduction of the world's nuclear weapons arsenals. It is an issue
that ranks in the highest order of importance for American
security (and that of others) in the coming century.
To do what needs to be done means giving high priority to
the issue and sustained commitment to the efforts amidst a vast
number of other demands. This will not be easy. Nor can it be
taken for granted, whatever the merits of the case, in a security
process where the more urgent is in constant battle with the more
important (and quite regularly wins). It will take firm top-level
decision and determined follow-up leadership over many years to
move the needed nuclear policies and action forward.
But it can and must be done. Two considerations fundamental
to security interests and possibilities should now shape the
nuclear future;
First, as so often emphasized by President Eisenhower (who
had a talent for getting to the heart of such questions), nuclear
weapons are the only thing that can destroy the United State of
America.
Second, the Cold War is over and unlikely to return, hard as
it may be to comprehend this historic fact in all its dimensions,
and to seize the opportunities that are now available to
re-orient our policies accordingly.
Nowhere is this more salient than in reducing the world's
arsenals of nuclear weapons.
RESUME OF GENERAL ANDREW J. GOODPASTER, USA (Ret.)
General Goodpaster's public service spans seven decades and
includes advising U.S. presidents from Eisenhower through
Clinton. He began his Army career in 1939 after graduating from
West Point. In World War II, he commanded the 48th Engineer
Combat Battalion in North Africa and Italy receiving the
Distinguished Service Cross. During the last year of the war,
then Lt. Colonel Goodpaster served as a war planner for General
Marshall.
Following the war, General Goodpaster served as President
Eisenhower's staff secretary and assistant for national security
activities He also commanded the 8th Infantry Division and was
Director of the Joint Staff, Commandant of the National War
College, Deputy Commander of U.S. forces in Vietnam. and the
commander of NATO forces. He assisted President Nixon in
organizing his administration for the conduct of foreign policy
and international security affairs. After retiring, General
Goodpaster was recalled to serve as the Superintendent of the
U.S. Military Academy during troubled times. In 1980, President
Carter called on General Goodpaster to be his special
representative for talks with foreign governments following the
Soviet invasion of Afghanistan. He also served on the Citadel
faculty and was the President of the institute for Defense
Analyses.
In addition to an engineering degree from the U.S. Military
Academy. General Goodpaster holds an M.A and Ph.D. m
international relations from Princeton University. He authored
the book. For the Common Defense, and numerous articles and
reports.
General Goodpaster has been awarded the U.S. Medal of Freedom as
well as military decorations including the Distinguished Service
Cross; the Defense Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster; the
Silver Star; and the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster and many
foreign awards.
General Butler Statement
Joint Statement with General Goodpaster
Statement of 60 International Generals
Anti-Nuclear Update | Proposition One | Abolition 2000