you know I first came to Durham in 1946 as a freshman at Duke University and the
as a freshman at Duke University and the
as a freshman at Duke University and the war was just over World War two
war was just over World War two
war was just over World War two I grew up in Greensboro and the year
I grew up in Greensboro and the year
I grew up in Greensboro and the year just before I graduated from high school
just before I graduated from high school
just before I graduated from high school the war ended with two atomic bombs
the war ended with two atomic bombs
the war ended with two atomic bombs being dropped on Japan this was one of
being dropped on Japan this was one of
being dropped on Japan this was one of the most traumatic experiences for my
the most traumatic experiences for my
the most traumatic experiences for my own generation because it seemed to us
own generation because it seemed to us
own generation because it seemed to us that if we didn’t bring the situation
that if we didn’t bring the situation
that if we didn’t bring the situation under control that is the control of
under control that is the control of
under control that is the control of these nuclear weapons that humanity
these nuclear weapons that humanity
these nuclear weapons that humanity couldn’t survive humanity probably
couldn’t survive humanity probably
couldn’t survive humanity probably couldn’t survive a nuclear war now at
couldn’t survive a nuclear war now at
couldn’t survive a nuclear war now at first United States was the only country
first United States was the only country
first United States was the only country with you clear weapons but we understood
with you clear weapons but we understood
with you clear weapons but we understood very well the sooner or later other
very well the sooner or later other
very well the sooner or later other countries are going to get them and the
countries are going to get them and the
countries are going to get them and the destructive power is such that if they
destructive power is such that if they
destructive power is such that if they keep making them mankind for the first
keep making them mankind for the first
keep making them mankind for the first time in its history it’s going to have
time in its history it’s going to have
time in its history it’s going to have the ability to destroy itself and we
the ability to destroy itself and we
the ability to destroy itself and we developed that ability over those next
developed that ability over those next
developed that ability over those next few years at the height of the Cold War
few years at the height of the Cold War
few years at the height of the Cold War the United States and the Soviet Union
the United States and the Soviet Union
the United States and the Soviet Union each had nearly 60,000 nuclear warheads
each had nearly 60,000 nuclear warheads
each had nearly 60,000 nuclear warheads and most of them were many times more
and most of them were many times more
and most of them were many times more powerful than those bombs that destroyed
powerful than those bombs that destroyed
powerful than those bombs that destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki what are we gonna
Hiroshima and Nagasaki what are we gonna
Hiroshima and Nagasaki what are we gonna do about it
do about it
do about it how can we live with that well my wife
how can we live with that well my wife
how can we live with that well my wife who came to Duke from Tennessee the same
who came to Duke from Tennessee the same
who came to Duke from Tennessee the same year I did and I were charter members of
year I did and I were charter members of
year I did and I were charter members of an organization called unite world
an organization called unite world
an organization called unite world Federalist we thought if we didn’t
Federalist we thought if we didn’t
Federalist we thought if we didn’t create a world government to control
create a world government to control
create a world government to control these things well we weren’t going to
these things well we weren’t going to
these things well we weren’t going to survive as we learned more about the
survive as we learned more about the
survive as we learned more about the world and increasingly I became
world and increasingly I became
world and increasingly I became interested particularly not only in
interested particularly not only in
interested particularly not only in foreign languages but particularly in
foreign languages but particularly in
foreign languages but particularly in Russian it was the other great
Russian it was the other great
Russian it was the other great superpower developing it was the country
superpower developing it was the country
superpower developing it was the country that had probably been done more than
that had probably been done more than
that had probably been done more than any other to defeat Hitler and world war
any other to defeat Hitler and world war
any other to defeat Hitler and world war two had taken tremendous losses yes they
two had taken tremendous losses yes they
two had taken tremendous losses yes they were communists which was a terrible
were communists which was a terrible
were communists which was a terrible system that’s something else I
system that’s something else I
system that’s something else I understood but it did seem to me that
understood but it did seem to me that
understood but it did seem to me that look if we’re going to survive we’re
look if we’re going to survive we’re
look if we’re going to survive we’re going to have to deal with other
going to have to deal with other
going to have to deal with other countries in a way that prevents the
countries in a way that prevents the
countries in a way that prevents the future use of these nuclear weapons and
future use of these nuclear weapons and
future use of these nuclear weapons and it’s not going to be a world government
it’s not going to be a world government
it’s not going to be a world government probably given how different cultures
probably given how different cultures
probably given how different cultures are in the world that’s not a good idea
are in the world that’s not a good idea
are in the world that’s not a good idea because governments almost in any
because governments almost in any
because governments almost in any culture can if certain steps it made get
culture can if certain steps it made get
culture can if certain steps it made get too much powerful it’s gonna have to be
too much powerful it’s gonna have to be
too much powerful it’s gonna have to be done through diplomacy now when my wife
done through diplomacy now when my wife
done through diplomacy now when my wife and I were students we’re both Duke
and I were students we’re both Duke
and I were students we’re both Duke class of 1950 now before well before
class of 1950 now before well before
class of 1950 now before well before most of you were born there was another
most of you were born there was another
most of you were born there was another big problem facing us here at home and
big problem facing us here at home and
big problem facing us here at home and that was racial segregation every school
that was racial segregation every school
that was racial segregation every school we went to had only white and maybe a
we went to had only white and maybe a
we went to had only white and maybe a few Asian students and same is true of
few Asian students and same is true of
few Asian students and same is true of the colleges one of the first
the colleges one of the first
the colleges one of the first student legislators we went to was
student legislators we went to was
student legislators we went to was all-white first thing we did was vote
all-white first thing we did was vote
all-white first thing we did was vote have all of the students come in those
have all of the students come in those
have all of the students come in those from what we then call the colored
from what we then call the colored
from what we then call the colored colleges and the next year when they
colleges and the next year when they
colleges and the next year when they came we desegregated education in North
came we desegregated education in North
came we desegregated education in North Carolina so our generation as students
Carolina so our generation as students
Carolina so our generation as students did that well before the Supreme Court
did that well before the Supreme Court
did that well before the Supreme Court decision which eventually did well my
decision which eventually did well my
decision which eventually did well my own career moving ahead was one that
own career moving ahead was one that
own career moving ahead was one that took me out of the country I went into
took me out of the country I went into
took me out of the country I went into the Foreign Service because I was
the Foreign Service because I was
the Foreign Service because I was convinced that if we had to control
convinced that if we had to control
convinced that if we had to control these nuclear weapons we had to make
these nuclear weapons we had to make
these nuclear weapons we had to make sure that humanity didn’t stumble in to
sure that humanity didn’t stumble in to
sure that humanity didn’t stumble in to a situation where it would destroy
a situation where it would destroy
a situation where it would destroy itself as a foreign service officer I
itself as a foreign service officer I
itself as a foreign service officer I began to serve time and time again in
began to serve time and time again in
began to serve time and time again in the Soviet Union also I had several very
the Soviet Union also I had several very
the Soviet Union also I had several very interesting tours in Africa West Africa
interesting tours in Africa West Africa
interesting tours in Africa West Africa East Africa some in Europe but by the
East Africa some in Europe but by the
East Africa some in Europe but by the time of the Reagan administration I was
time of the Reagan administration I was
time of the Reagan administration I was probably the most experienced what we
probably the most experienced what we
probably the most experienced what we would call Russian specialists in the
would call Russian specialists in the
would call Russian specialists in the Foreign Service and in 1983 during sort
Foreign Service and in 1983 during sort
Foreign Service and in 1983 during sort of the second year of Reagan’s first
of the second year of Reagan’s first
of the second year of Reagan’s first term when he decided it was time to
term when he decided it was time to
term when he decided it was time to negotiate with the Soviet Union I was
negotiate with the Soviet Union I was
negotiate with the Soviet Union I was called on to come to the White House and
called on to come to the White House and
called on to come to the White House and to work out a negotiating plan now what
to work out a negotiating plan now what
to work out a negotiating plan now what was clear to me at that time was that
was clear to me at that time was that
was clear to me at that time was that the Soviet system was not working well
the Soviet system was not working well
the Soviet system was not working well they were overcommitted
they were overcommitted
they were overcommitted and also it was a system which was a
and also it was a system which was a
and also it was a system which was a totalitarian system that deprived people
totalitarian system that deprived people
totalitarian system that deprived people then and a very talented people of their
then and a very talented people of their
then and a very talented people of their basic human rights but
basic human rights but
basic human rights but they had enough nuclear weapons not only
they had enough nuclear weapons not only
they had enough nuclear weapons not only to destroy us but the whole world
to destroy us but the whole world
to destroy us but the whole world we had enough nuclear weapons not only
we had enough nuclear weapons not only
we had enough nuclear weapons not only to destroy them but the whole world in
to destroy them but the whole world in
to destroy them but the whole world in fact some people said you know if all
fact some people said you know if all
fact some people said you know if all these weapons are used you won’t destroy
these weapons are used you won’t destroy
these weapons are used you won’t destroy civilization or humanity just once
civilization or humanity just once
civilization or humanity just once you’ll do it seven times and somebody
you’ll do it seven times and somebody
you’ll do it seven times and somebody else calculated no no 20 times I said
else calculated no no 20 times I said
else calculated no no 20 times I said look after you’ve destroyed everything
look after you’ve destroyed everything
look after you’ve destroyed everything once why do you want to do it again
once why do you want to do it again
once why do you want to do it again I mean this it was almost alternate and
I mean this it was almost alternate and
I mean this it was almost alternate and you see and you say how could anybody
you see and you say how could anybody
you see and you say how could anybody think that way well we weren’t building
think that way well we weren’t building
think that way well we weren’t building these weapons to use them we were
these weapons to use them we were
these weapons to use them we were building them we because we thought if
building them we because we thought if
building them we because we thought if we don’t have at least as many as the
we don’t have at least as many as the
we don’t have at least as many as the other side they may use him on us so and
other side they may use him on us so and
other side they may use him on us so and then they would see us building more if
then they would see us building more if
then they would see us building more if we don’t be old enough to keep them from
we don’t be old enough to keep them from
we don’t be old enough to keep them from using her on us we will lose now one of
using her on us we will lose now one of
using her on us we will lose now one of the first things when Mikhail Gorbachev
the first things when Mikhail Gorbachev
the first things when Mikhail Gorbachev became the leader of the Soviet Union
became the leader of the Soviet Union
became the leader of the Soviet Union and we decided that he and Reagan would
and we decided that he and Reagan would
and we decided that he and Reagan would meet one of the first things we proposed
meet one of the first things we proposed
meet one of the first things we proposed to Gorbachev was a statement a nuclear
to Gorbachev was a statement a nuclear
to Gorbachev was a statement a nuclear war cannot be won must never be fought
war cannot be won must never be fought
war cannot be won must never be fought and therefore there can be no war
and therefore there can be no war
and therefore there can be no war between us they signed up to that and we
between us they signed up to that and we
between us they signed up to that and we took it seriously our Secretary of State
took it seriously our Secretary of State
took it seriously our Secretary of State then went to them with charts saying
then went to them with charts saying
then went to them with charts saying look at all this we’re putting into arms
look at all this we’re putting into arms
look at all this we’re putting into arms we’re robbing our people actually it was
we’re robbing our people actually it was
we’re robbing our people actually it was hurting them more than us we had a
hurting them more than us we had a
hurting them more than us we had a bigger economy we had a more productive
bigger economy we had a more productive
bigger economy we had a more productive economy and you know in their memoirs
economy and you know in their memoirs
economy and you know in their memoirs they say this was the most powerful
they say this was the most powerful
they say this was the most powerful argument that allowed us actually to end
argument that allowed us actually to end
argument that allowed us actually to end the Cold War and to end it by
the Cold War and to end it by
the Cold War and to end it by negotiation by beginning radical
negotiation by beginning radical
negotiation by beginning radical reduction of these nuclear weapons
reduction of these nuclear weapons
reduction of these nuclear weapons actually both Reagan and Gorbachev
actually both Reagan and Gorbachev
actually both Reagan and Gorbachev wanted to eliminate them altogether and
wanted to eliminate them altogether and
wanted to eliminate them altogether and they came very close to agreeing to that
they came very close to agreeing to that
they came very close to agreeing to that but it was story I would take much too
but it was story I would take much too
but it was story I would take much too long here it’s in my books as to how
long here it’s in my books as to how
long here it’s in my books as to how they came near to agreeing but then
they came near to agreeing but then
they came near to agreeing but then didn’t quite nevertheless we started on
didn’t quite nevertheless we started on
didn’t quite nevertheless we started on a course that in effect ended the Cold
a course that in effect ended the Cold
a course that in effect ended the Cold War and ended at that race but it didn’t
War and ended at that race but it didn’t
War and ended at that race but it didn’t eliminate these weapons
eliminate these weapons
eliminate these weapons how did we do that we did it by
how did we do that we did it by
how did we do that we did it by negotiation not by threatening them yes
negotiation not by threatening them yes
negotiation not by threatening them yes we wanted them to improve human rights
we wanted them to improve human rights
we wanted them to improve human rights but we talked to them privately about
but we talked to them privately about
but we talked to them privately about that again President Reagan understood
that again President Reagan understood
that again President Reagan understood you can’t put another leader under
you can’t put another leader under
you can’t put another leader under public pressure and expect that leader
public pressure and expect that leader
public pressure and expect that leader simply to back down makes him look weak
simply to back down makes him look weak
simply to back down makes him look weak you need to convince them that what you
you need to convince them that what you
you need to convince them that what you want them to do is actually in their
want them to do is actually in their
want them to do is actually in their interest and it was because they were
interest and it was because they were
interest and it was because they were hurting even more than we were from this
hurting even more than we were from this
hurting even more than we were from this arms race
arms race
arms race so through quiet diplomacy through
so through quiet diplomacy through
so through quiet diplomacy through appealing actually to what was their own
appealing actually to what was their own
appealing actually to what was their own real interests within just a few years
real interests within just a few years
real interests within just a few years we ended the confrontation the Cold War
we ended the confrontation the Cold War
we ended the confrontation the Cold War ended we thought this whole nuclear
ended we thought this whole nuclear
ended we thought this whole nuclear genie had been under control
genie had been under control
genie had been under control well what happened came in a new
well what happened came in a new
well what happened came in a new administration and suddenly we start
administration and suddenly we start
administration and suddenly we start talking about we won the Cold War as if
talking about we won the Cold War as if
talking about we won the Cold War as if Russia was defeated well she wasn’t
Russia was defeated well she wasn’t
Russia was defeated well she wasn’t defeated in the Cold War the Soviet
defeated in the Cold War the Soviet
defeated in the Cold War the Soviet Union broke up because of internal
Union broke up because of internal
Union broke up because of internal pressures after the pressures of the
pressures after the pressures of the
pressures after the pressures of the Cold War were released everything
Cold War were released everything
Cold War were released everything gorbachev did the end the Cold War was
gorbachev did the end the Cold War was
gorbachev did the end the Cold War was in their interest
in their interest
in their interest and then we began to act as if our power
and then we began to act as if our power
and then we began to act as if our power also made us better than anybody else
also made us better than anybody else
also made us better than anybody else that our system was one that well
that our system was one that well
that our system was one that well everybody should have and if they don’t
everybody should have and if they don’t
everybody should have and if they don’t want it we should impose it upon them
want it we should impose it upon them
want it we should impose it upon them and so what do we have today enough
and so what do we have today enough
and so what do we have today enough nuclear weapons in both Russia and the
nuclear weapons in both Russia and the
nuclear weapons in both Russia and the United States that again will destroy
United States that again will destroy
United States that again will destroy humanity if they’re ever used and we had
humanity if they’re ever used and we had
humanity if they’re ever used and we had an agreement goes way back into the
an agreement goes way back into the
an agreement goes way back into the nineteen seven is about
nineteen seven is about
nineteen seven is about non-proliferation the countries with
non-proliferation the countries with
non-proliferation the countries with nuclear weapons said okay we will
nuclear weapons said okay we will
nuclear weapons said okay we will gradually reduce ours and if other
gradually reduce ours and if other
gradually reduce ours and if other countries agree not to have them then we
countries agree not to have them then we
countries agree not to have them then we will eventually eliminate ours well we
will eventually eliminate ours well we
will eventually eliminate ours well we did reduce but you know after the end of
did reduce but you know after the end of
did reduce but you know after the end of the Cold War we stopped reducing both
the Cold War we stopped reducing both
the Cold War we stopped reducing both Russia and the United States Russia and
Russia and the United States Russia and
Russia and the United States Russia and the United States still have over ninety
the United States still have over ninety
the United States still have over ninety percent of the world’s nuclear weapons
percent of the world’s nuclear weapons
percent of the world’s nuclear weapons and instead of negotiating instead of
and instead of negotiating instead of
and instead of negotiating instead of trying to find a common interest we
trying to find a common interest we
trying to find a common interest we today are talking as if we in Russia are
today are talking as if we in Russia are
today are talking as if we in Russia are enemies again that’s a dangerous
enemies again that’s a dangerous
enemies again that’s a dangerous situation and it makes those of us who
situation and it makes those of us who
situation and it makes those of us who try to deal with this issue and the
try to deal with this issue and the
try to deal with this issue and the other thing wonder have we learned
other thing wonder have we learned
other thing wonder have we learned anything are we capable really of
anything are we capable really of
anything are we capable really of learning from our experience or do we
learning from our experience or do we
learning from our experience or do we look at our power as somehow the result
look at our power as somehow the result
look at our power as somehow the result of our virtue rather than a number of
of our virtue rather than a number of
of our virtue rather than a number of accidents of history and one which also
accidents of history and one which also
accidents of history and one which also if we are going to continue to deal with
if we are going to continue to deal with
if we are going to continue to deal with our problems that we need to concentrate
our problems that we need to concentrate
our problems that we need to concentrate first of all at home the other issue I
first of all at home the other issue I
first of all at home the other issue I mentioned that we had as the students
mentioned that we had as the students
mentioned that we had as the students we’ve made great progress
we’ve made great progress
we’ve made great progress we have a society for a fairer then it
we have a society for a fairer then it
we have a society for a fairer then it was as I grew up but we got a waste to
was as I grew up but we got a waste to
was as I grew up but we got a waste to go and you know when we were talking to
go and you know when we were talking to
go and you know when we were talking to the Soviet Union about human rights they
the Soviet Union about human rights they
the Soviet Union about human rights they had real problems Secretary of State
had real problems Secretary of State
had real problems Secretary of State George Shultz presented a list of cases
George Shultz presented a list of cases
George Shultz presented a list of cases that we thought human rights violation
that we thought human rights violation
that we thought human rights violation to Eduard Shevardnadze
to Eduard Shevardnadze
to Eduard Shevardnadze the the new foreign minister of the
the the new foreign minister of the
the the new foreign minister of the Soviet Union at that time he took that
Soviet Union at that time he took that
Soviet Union at that time he took that list and he said alright I’ll take this
list and he said alright I’ll take this
list and he said alright I’ll take this list back but tell me I think you need
list back but tell me I think you need
list back but tell me I think you need some advice about your the status of
some advice about your the status of
some advice about your the status of women and blacks in the United States
women and blacks in the United States
women and blacks in the United States can we talk about that she said of
can we talk about that she said of
can we talk about that she said of course I think we’re making progress
course I think we’re making progress
course I think we’re making progress we’ve got a ways to go we can use all
we’ve got a ways to go we can use all
we’ve got a ways to go we can use all the help we can get
the help we can get
the help we can get that was our spirit in our negotiations
that was our spirit in our negotiations
that was our spirit in our negotiations then and within 18 months and another
then and within 18 months and another
then and within 18 months and another private meeting when we brought up these
private meeting when we brought up these
private meeting when we brought up these human rights issues Shevardnadze took
human rights issues Shevardnadze took
human rights issues Shevardnadze took the list by that time he and Shultz are
the list by that time he and Shultz are
the list by that time he and Shultz are on a first-name basis and they were
on a first-name basis and they were
on a first-name basis and they were sitting at a meeting in New York there
sitting at a meeting in New York there
sitting at a meeting in New York there were just a few of us in the room and
were just a few of us in the room and
were just a few of us in the room and Shevardnadze took that list and he said
Shevardnadze took that list and he said
Shevardnadze took that list and he said okay George I’ll take this back to
okay George I’ll take this back to
okay George I’ll take this back to Moscow and of what you say is true I’m
Moscow and of what you say is true I’m
Moscow and of what you say is true I’m gonna do my best to do it to take care
gonna do my best to do it to take care
gonna do my best to do it to take care of it and then he paused and he said I
of it and then he paused and he said I
of it and then he paused and he said I want you know one thing I’m not doing
want you know one thing I’m not doing
want you know one thing I’m not doing this because you asked me to I’m doing
this because you asked me to I’m doing
this because you asked me to I’m doing it because it’s what my country needs to
it because it’s what my country needs to
it because it’s what my country needs to do short stood up Sharon Ozzie stood up
do short stood up Sharon Ozzie stood up
do short stood up Sharon Ozzie stood up they shook hands across the table and
they shook hands across the table and
they shook hands across the table and the American Secretary of State said
the American Secretary of State said
the American Secretary of State said Edward I will never ask you to do
Edward I will never ask you to do
Edward I will never ask you to do something that I do not think is in your
something that I do not think is in your
something that I do not think is in your country’s interest the Cold War was over
country’s interest the Cold War was over
country’s interest the Cold War was over well compare that today as to how we
well compare that today as to how we
well compare that today as to how we react publicly with the Russian
react publicly with the Russian
react publicly with the Russian president I’m not defending him but
president I’m not defending him but
president I’m not defending him but anymore constantly criticizing
anymore constantly criticizing
anymore constantly criticizing constantly constantly demanding things
constantly constantly demanding things
constantly constantly demanding things for them to do while at home don’t we
for them to do while at home don’t we
for them to do while at home don’t we have enough power problems to take care
have enough power problems to take care
have enough power problems to take care of ourselves that’s where our
of ourselves that’s where our
of ourselves that’s where our concentration needs to be and we must
concentration needs to be and we must
concentration needs to be and we must not forget that we have not yet solved
not forget that we have not yet solved
not forget that we have not yet solved this problem of nuclear weapons that’s
this problem of nuclear weapons that’s
this problem of nuclear weapons that’s one for your generation and I hope
one for your generation and I hope
one for your generation and I hope you’ll be able to deal with it at least
you’ll be able to deal with it at least
you’ll be able to deal with it at least as well as my generation did
as well as my generation did
as well as my generation did [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
”
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