Narrator. Welcome to "Meet the Nation". Today we have with us ten men each or whom
represents a particular war. They will be interviewed by Charles Brayman of the
"New York Times" and Harold Lawson of the "Washington Post". Your moderator
is Laurence Crantz. Mr. Crantz--
Crantz. Good day ladies and gentlemen. This is a special edition of "Meet the Nation". We
are happy today to have with us these distinguished men. We will start the questioning
with Mr. Brayman.
Brayman. Thank you Mr. Crantz. General Wolfe, please state your position on the French and
Indian War.
Wolfe. Certainly, I believe that the French and Indian War was the most important war in
America's history because, if you remember, the British, or later the Americans,
defeated the French and the Indians and this led to the expansion of the United States
into the rest of this continent. This war made our country what it is today and without
this war, our country would be just thirteen states.
Brayman. Thank you General Wolfe, General Washington, what is your position on the American
Revolution.
Washington.For many reasons, I think our war for independence made our nation what it is today.
Brayman. And what are those reasons for the war, sir?
Washington.We might still be a colony of England today. We would not have the Declaration of
Independence or the Constitution.
Brayman. I see. In other words, the American Revolution, in your opinion, was the most
important war.
Crantz. Mr. Lawson? Will you continue the questioning?
Lawson. Thank you Mr. Crantz. Admiral Perry, please explain your position with the War of
1812.
Perry. The War of 1812 was the most important war in forwarding democracy. It showed
that no foreign power could try and retake land as Britain tried. Of course she failed.
She failed because the United States was much stronger than Britain.
Lawson. Thank you Mr. Perry. Mr. Crockett, please explain to our viewers about the Mexican
War.
Crockett. Remember the Alamo! That's what it was all about. The Mexican War showed them
Mexicans that there ain't nobody that could conquer the United States of America.
We gave those Mexicans, dee-mock-acee.
Lawson. How did the Civil War become the most important war, General Lee?
Lee. The Civil War gave equality to every person. This gave us the democratic way of
life, as we know it today.
Crantz. Mr. Brayman? Will you continue the questioning?
Brayman. Yes thank you. Mr. Roosevelt, tell us about the Spanish-American War.
Roosevelt. Bully! Bully! The Spanish-American War showed the world how we tolerate people
who blow up our ships. Remember the Maine!! Bully!
Brayman. Mr. Roosevelt, you seem quite disturbed about this.
Roosevelt. Mr. Brayman? You can't be calm about a war.
Crantz. We have to pause for a moment. Here is a word from our sponsor.
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"Look at Life", everybody else does. Now back to our special edition of "Meet the
Nation".
Crantz. Mr. Brayman, will you continue questioning?
Brayman. Thank you Mr. Crantz. General Pershing, what did World War I do and what was it
supposed to have done?
Pershing. "The war to end all wars". World War I showed the Germans that the United States
can win over any country that tries to take over the world by force.
Brayman. Thank you, Mr. Pershing, General Eisenhower, how does World War II compare to
World War I and how do they differ?
Eisenhower.The United States continued their efforts laid out in World War I. The United States
showed Germany again that the world could not be taken over by another country.
By spreading our men throughout the world, we brought freedom to the world. The
real way that World War I differed from World War II was Adolf Hitler. He thought
he could rule the world for a thousand years, but we, the United States, proved that
he was wrong.
Crantz. Mr. Lawson? continue please.
Lawson. General MacArthur? What did we gain from the Korean Conflict?
MacArthur. We showed those Commies that they can't mess around with the United States Army,
and they can't invade a small country like Korea. We showed them that the United
States Army is the strongest army in the world.
Lawson. Tell us about Vietnam, Mr. Westmoreland.
Westmoreland. If we could just end this war in Vietnam, we could bring peace to the world. But
we can't end the Vietnam War because it is going on forever. The United States Army
was a strong army, but not anymore. This war is unwinnable.
Crantz. And that is our special edition of "Meet the Nation". Thank you representatives of the
American wars and thank you ladies and gentlemen for listening to this program.
Tune in next week for...
MacArthur. Now hold on there, I haven't told you about them dirty Commies. Those sadists are
nothing but a bunch of lousy, no good, jungle warfare, cruel individuals, with no
regard for human life.
Pershing. Let me tell you about the Vietnam War, Mr. Westmoreland. Every week about 150
of our men are killed and 2000, on average, are killed, who are the North Vietnamese.
Mr. Westmoreland?, who is it that we kill 2000 Viet Cong each week if they are
smaller than we are, and they know the countryside better than we do? How can we
possibly kill 2000 a week?
Westmoreland. We are just smarter than they are.
Crantz. Now gentlemen, please calm down, we are off the air.
MacArthur. Calm down? This is war. I declare war on Mr. Pershing!
Pershing. And I declare war on Mr. Westmoreland.
(a light focuses on the right side of the stage. a tall, fair-headed man walks on the
stage. he walks toward the table with the representatives of the wars. this character
shines like an angel.)
Washington.Who are you?
Peace. My name is Peace.
Crockett. Peace? What can YOU do?
Peace. I make peace for all wars.
Lee. Well, you better settle this war, here and now.
Peace. All right. Mr. Pershing, World War I was settled through Wilson's Fourteen Points.
It brought peace to the world. Mr. MacArthur, the dividing line between North and
South Korea, brought peace to that part of the world. Mr. Westmoreland, I am
trying to bring peace in Vietnam and those Paris Peace Talks are not doing a bit of
good. You better help peace come to Vietnam.
Westmoreland. You know he's right.
Peace. It isn't so much which war is more important, or which war led up to the democratic
society today, as it is to realize that peace conquers war and every war has resulted
in peace. If we could get peace in Vietnam, then my goals would be achieved. Let
us have peace in the world so that it will be a better place to live in. If you love one
another, we will have peace.
THE END
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