Hartke, Vance, (1919-2003) Congressional Record Proceedings and Debates of the 88th Congress, Second Session.

One issue of "Congressional Record" dated February 21 1966, related to the Vietnam War. The newsletter is a transcript of a speech by Hartke given before Congress on the war in Vietnam. The speech focused on five topics; the history of our involvement, where we stand now, what lies down each of the alternate routes, what we can expect of our relationships with the world as a result, and where nonmilitary solutions might lead us. Hartke first looks at the history of Vietnam before the war, and the United States eventual involvement in the region. Hartke also looks at the politics of the current southern Vietnamese areas. Notes in a quote from General Westmoreland that, "80 percent of the Vietcong fighting in in the Mekong Delta area south of Saigon, were born and reared in that area. They were not infiltrators or Communists from the North." Hartke claims throughout the text that the war must be reevaluated and the consequences of the war need to be recognized. These consequences, he determines, are escalating inflation and taxes, and an increasing loss of money for public programs. Hartke declares that the war must be reexamined and a cost benefit ratio must be looked at. He recommends a slow withdrawal of troops while holding talks to minimize the loss of life, and maintain the South Vietnamese government.