Haunting Similarities

Richard Nixon's speech on the widening Indochinese war bore some remarkable --and haunting--similarities to speeches that the public has heard before. The earlier words are those of his predecessor, Lyndon Johnson. Samples:

NIXON

"We will not allow American men by the thousands to be killed by an enemy from privileged sanctuaries."

"If we did, credibility of the United States would be destroyed in every area of the world where only the power of the United States deters aggression."

"We will be conciliatory at the conference table, but we will not be humiliated. We will not be defeated."

"We shall avoid a wider war."

JOHNSON

"We could no longer stand by while attacks mounted and while the bases of the attackers were immune from reply."

--April 27, 1965 news conference

"If we are driven from the field in Viet Nam, then no nation can ever again have the same confidence in American promise or in American protection."

--July 28, 1965 news conference

"Our conclusions are plain. We will not surrender. We do not wish to enlarge the conflict. We desire peaceful settlement and talks."

--May 4, 1965, special message to Congress

"The United States still seeks no wider war."

--March 25, 1965 statement

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