President Ronald Reagan’s Speech to the Nation on the Release of TWA Hostages — Transcript

Full transcript

1. 0:00to the na good afternoon the 39
2. 0:02Americans held hostage for 17 days by
3. 0:05terrorists in Lebanon are free safe and
4. 0:08at this moment on their way to Frankfurt
5. 0:10Germany they'll be home again soon this
6. 0:13is a moment of joy for them for their
7. 0:15loved ones and for our nation and
8. 0:17America opens its heart in a prayer of
9. 0:20thanks to almighty God we can be
10. 0:22thankful that our faith courage and
11. 0:24firmness have paid off but this is no
12. 0:27moment for celebration let it be clearly
13. 0:30that the seven Americans still held
14. 0:32captive in Lebanon must be released
15. 0:35along with other innocent hostages from
16. 0:37other countries that the murderers of
17. 0:39Robert steum and of our Marines and
18. 0:42civilians in El Salvador must be held
19. 0:45accountable that those responsible for
20. 0:47terrorist acts throughout the world must
21. 0:49be taken on by civilized Nations that
22. 0:52the International Community must ensure
23. 0:55that all our airports are safe and that
24. 0:57civil air travel is safeguarded and the
25. 1:00the world must unite in taking decisive
26. 1:02action against terrorists against
27. 1:05Nations that sponsor terrorists and
28. 1:07against Nations that give terrorists
29. 1:09Safe Haven this drama has reminded us
30. 1:12how precious and fragile are the
31. 1:14freedoms and standards of decency of
32. 1:16civilized societies how greatly
33. 1:19civilized life depends on trust in other
34. 1:21human beings but how those values we
35. 1:24hold most dear must also be defended
36. 1:27with bravery a bravery that may lie
37. 1:29quite and deep but that will rise to
38. 1:32answer our call in every time of peril
39. 1:35Freedom democracy and peace have enemies
40. 1:38they must also have steadfast friends
41. 1:41the United States gives terrorists no
42. 1:43rewards and no guarantees we make no
43. 1:46concessions we make no deals Nations
44. 1:49that Harbor terrorists undermine their
45. 1:51own stability and endanger their own
46. 1:53people terrorist Beyond notice we will
47. 1:57fight back against you in Lebanon and
48. 2:00where we will fight back against your
49. 2:02cowardly attacks on American citizens
50. 2:04and property several countries have been
51. 2:07actively involved in efforts to free our
52. 2:09fellow citizens Syria has had a central
53. 2:13responsibility the efforts of the
54. 2:14Algerian government were likewise an
55. 2:16example of constructive cooperation
56. 2:18against the direct challenge of Lawless
57. 2:20terrorists King Hussein spoke out early
58. 2:23in forcefully in condemning the
59. 2:25hijacking Saudi Arabia also made an
60. 2:28effective contribution
61. 2:30throughout the past 17 days we have also
62. 2:33been in close touch with Israel and a
63. 2:35number of governments in Europe and the
64. 2:37Middle East as well as with
65. 2:39International organizations all of which
66. 2:41displayed great concern for the safety
67. 2:43and release of the hostages we will
68. 2:46remember and offer our thanks to all who
69. 2:48helped us and who stood with us and yes
70. 2:52we'll remember those who did not we will
71. 2:55not rest until Justice is done we will
72. 2:58not rest until the Community meets its
73. 3:01responsibility we call upon those who
74. 3:04help secure the release of these tww
75. 3:06passengers to show even greater energy
76. 3:08and commitment to secure the release of
77. 3:11all others held captive in Lebanon and
78. 3:15we call upon the world Community to
79. 3:17strengthen its cooperation to stamp out
80. 3:20this ugly vicious evil of
81. 3:23terrorism I just want to inject a
82. 3:26personal note here that like all of you
83. 3:30Nancy and I have been living with these
84. 3:32all these 17 days and like you we have
85. 3:35both been praying for what is now taking
86. 3:38place and like you we thank God and wait
87. 3:42with baited breath their final arrival
88. 3:46here on our Shores thank you