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The Great Silent Majority: Section 5: Who Is With Me? Summary

I Need You to Have My Back, America

  • Nixon triumphantly states that he's chosen the second path (no surprise there).
  • He says that he's done so because it's the right thing to do, not the easy thing to do.
  • He also wants to remind America that Americans always choose the right thing to do.
  • This brings him to another topic: the protesters.
  • He says that he was just in San Francisco and ran into a protester who demanded that he bring all the troops home immediately.
  • This person has the right to make this claim, Nixon wants to remind everyone. But he also wants everyone listening to know that this person is so misguided.
  • Everyone has the right to protest, Nixon acknowledges.
  • He even admits that he and the protesters both want peace.
  • He wants peace because he cares. He wants peace because he's tired of so much death.
  • But he says that he also wants peace so that young people like the protester he saw in San Francisco can stop being so angry and live more peaceful lives.
  • He's chosen the path of peace, he assures America.
  • Nixon states that it's not hip to be a patriot these days, but he's gonna be patriotic anyway.
  • America is the land of the downtrodden, Nixon says.
  • America is the last hope for freedom, Nixon says.
  • America is the land of the brave and the free, Nixon says.
  • So, to all those in the "great silent majority," Nixon wants your support.
  • Nixon claims that the more support he gets from home, the easier it will be to get peace in Vietnam.
  • He claims to want to be united in peace.
  • Other presidents have dreamed of peace, Nixon claims. He wants to be seen as being no different.
  • He's the president, and as the president, he's going to make the hard choices.
  • Nixon promises that he will make that choice and it's the right one, and he bids the nation farewell.