America is not fighting to win a war. We are fighting to give an application to an old Greek proverb, read more

America is not fighting to win a war. We are fighting to give an application to an old Greek proverb, which is that the purpose of war is not to annihilate an enemy but to get him to mend his ways. And we are confident we can get the enemy to mend his.

It [the war in Vietnam] poisons everything. It has disrupted the economy, envenomed our politics, hurt the alliance, divided our read more

It [the war in Vietnam] poisons everything. It has disrupted the economy, envenomed our politics, hurt the alliance, divided our people, and now it is interfering with this critical question of the arms race.

I defended him [John McCain] in those hearings when some stupid-ass right-wing idiot accused him of being the Manchurian Candidate, read more

I defended him [John McCain] in those hearings when some stupid-ass right-wing idiot accused him of being the Manchurian Candidate, that somehow the Vietnamese had brainwashed him. This is the most unbelievably callous, degrading, nonsensical piece of crap I've ever heard in my life, coming from some chicken hawk out there, to hurl at somebody who spent as long as he did being tortured and standing up for his country, and caring about it as much as he did. It's incredible that people would behave like that, absolutely stunning.

I deplore this kind of politics. I think the ad is dishonest and dishonorable. As it is, none of these read more

I deplore this kind of politics. I think the ad is dishonest and dishonorable. As it is, none of these individuals served on the boat (Kerry) commanded. Many of his crew have testified to his courage under fire. I think John Kerry served honorably in Vietnam.

First thing I killed was no kind of thing at all. It was an enemy soldier. Which is a hell read more

First thing I killed was no kind of thing at all. It was an enemy soldier. Which is a hell of a lot easier to say, than the first thing I ever killed was a man.

If, when the chips are down, the world's most powerful nation, the United States of America, acts like a pitiful, read more

If, when the chips are down, the world's most powerful nation, the United States of America, acts like a pitiful, helpless giant, the forces of totalitarianism and anarchy will threaten free nations and free institutions throughout the world.

I seriously doubt if we will ever have another war. This is probably the very last one.

I seriously doubt if we will ever have another war. This is probably the very last one.

I would rather be a one-term President and do what I believe is right than to be a two-term President read more

I would rather be a one-term President and do what I believe is right than to be a two-term President at the cost of seeing America become a second-rate power and to see this Nation accept the first defeat in its proud 190-year history.

I believe that when you know something's going wrong, you make it right. That's what I learned in Vietnam. When read more

I believe that when you know something's going wrong, you make it right. That's what I learned in Vietnam. When I came back from that war I saw that it was wrong. Some people don't like the fact that I stood up to say no, but I did