Is War the Answer?

The Cold War dominated most every aspect of U.S. Foreign Policy in the 1960s. Fearing the spread of communism throughout the world, the U.S. engaged militarily and diplomatically from Cuba and elsewhere in Central and South America to Southeast Asia and beyond.

Food Aid and Foreign Policy

Diplomatically, several initiatives such as Peace Corps and the continuation of the Food for Peace program aimed to bolster U.S. influence in developing nations around the world. Congressman Bob Dole, however, preferred a proposed program dubbed the "Bread and Butter Corps," which he envisioned as "a farmer-to-farmer type program."

"We can best help underdeveloped countries by teaching them the American 'know how' and 'show how.'" - Congressman Bob Dole, January 1967

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Kansas Livestock Association Letter to Bob Dole

Letter written to Bob Dole from a constituent who was a member of the Kansas Livestock Association. The constituent was in support of the "Bread and Butter Corps" Amendment.

"...your 'Bread and Butter Corps' proposal is as sound as anything can be." - Ashland, February 1966

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Bob Dole's Response to Honorable Clifford R. Hope Sr.

"I am convinced that food aid has become our most important foreign policy instrument and that every effort should be made to insure the farmer of a reasonable return for his willingness to increase production to help meet food needs around the world." - Congressman Bob Dole, June 1967

Dole responded to former U.S. Congressman from Kansas Clifford R. Hope of Garden City on June 22, 1967, regarding Hope's comments on Dole's speech at the First International Agribusiness Conference held in Chicago on May 11, 1967.

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Explanation of the Proposed Bread and Butter Corps Amendment

Explanation of the proposed "Bread and Butter Corps" amendment to Public Law 480 that would help agricultural economies of friendly countries combat the rising world food needs.

Farmer-to-Farmer

As explained in the Chicago Tribune, "the corps would consist of volunteers who are either formally trained in agriculture and home economics or have practical experience in these fields, and they would be sent abroad to show the less developed countries how to do a better job at growing their food." Land-grant colleges were to train volunteers. Dole was planning to offer an amendment to Public Law 480 - which established Food for Peace - to create the new program, and he would ask for a $35 million appropriation. Subsequently, Dole could report on May 3, that his "amendment was adopted - on a tentative basis - last Thursday by the House Committee on Agriculture."

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Committee on the World Food Crisis Newsletter

Newsletter from the Committee on the World Food Crisis that talks about Bob Dole's work with the "Bread and Butter Corps" Amendment.

Vietnam

"The United States could not afford an extension of the communist stronghold nor a growing doubt of American ability to lead and protect the Free World" - Congressman Bob Dole, November 1965

In 1964, after the assertion that the U.S. destroyers had been fired upon by the North Vietnamese in the Gulf of Tonkin, Congressman Bob Dole and his fellow House members voted unanimously to give President Lyndon Johnson the power to take all necessary measures to repel an armed attack against the forces of the United States and to prevent further aggression.

President Johnson sent combat troops in March 1965, and by the end of 1968, with no resolution in sight, over 500,000 men had been sent to Southeast Asia to fight the communist incursion.

U.S. troops would continue to fight until 1973.

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Pawnee Rock, Kansas, Constituent Letter

Letter to Bob Dole from a constituent in Pawnee Rock, Kansas, opposing the war in Vietnam.

"We want to urge you to use your influence and power to end this terrible war. We are disappointed that members of Congress from the Republican Party have supported this war and even urged that it be escalated." - Pawnee Rock, September 1965

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Lyons, Kansas, Constituent Letter

Letter to Bob Dole from a constituent in Lyons, Kansas, expressing their views on the Vietnam War and asking Dole to support withdrawal.

"Consider some foreign government installing a puppet regime in South Kansas and supplying that puppet with military 'advisors', plus billions of dollars in armaments. Consider the South Kansas army destroying South Kansas cities, farms and peoples."      - Lyons, September 1965

In a late November 1965 reply to a Liberal attorney, Dole insisted "the vast majority of our citizens, both young and old, support the position being taken in Viet Nam." He also believed it was "of considerable comfort to all patriotic Americans that apparently the long-haired demonstrators, draft card burners and their like are, in reality, a very small minority."
Although Dole held on to his support for the military engagement in Vietnam throughout the 1960s, like many of his constituents, he grew weary of the prolonged and increasingly costly conflict.

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Liberal, Kansas, Constituent Letter

"I strongly urge you to do everything you can to show the support of the people for our government's action in Southeast Asia." - Liberal, November 1965

In early 1966, Dole wrote to a WaKeeney attorney: "I can tell you that our mail is reflecting a change of attitude on the part of the people of western Kansas. Many are having second thoughts and misgivings about our policies there partly because they never know whether they are being told the truth and partly because the South Viet Namese government is 'up' one day and 'down' the next."

For their part, one Salina couple wrote in August 1967, to say that their "opinions about participation in the war in Vietnam have gradually turned to the reverse of what we believed to be best at the beginning." For them, "too high a price in lives and money is being required," and that "more good in teh world might be realized if less life and also less money were invested at home and abroad."

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Salina, Kansas, Constituent Letter on Vietnam

"...the only way to stop this carnage is to stop shooting." - Salina, March 1966

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Constituent Letter to Bob Dole

Letter written to Bob Dole from a Kansas constituent telling of how they lost their son in Vietnam and urging him to not support the war.

"We do not ask 'why our son', only why this War?"         - Shawnee Mission, November 1968

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Mother's Day Card

Mother's Day Card that was sent to Bob Dole protesting the Vietnam War.

"Dear Mom, Your Mother's Day card is a bit different this year. It is one I would encourage you to send to which ever one of your congressmen you think would do the most good." - Concordia, May 1967