Space Program Persuasive Speech
Finally, if we are to win the battle that is now going on around the world between freedom and
tyranny, the dramatic achievements in space which occurred in recent weeks should have made
clear to us all, as did the Sputnik in 1957, the impact of this adventure on the minds of men
everywhere, who are attempting to make a determination of which road they should take.
Since early in my term, our efforts in space have been under review. With the advice of the Vice
President, who is Chairman of the National Space Council, we have examined where we are strong
and where we are not, where we may succeed and where we may not.
Now it is time to take longer strides—time for a great new American enterprise—time for this nation
to take a clearly leading role in space achievement, which in many ways may hold the key to our
future on earth.
I believe we possess all the resources and talents necessary. But the facts of the matter are that we
have never made the national decisions or marshaled the national resources needed for such
leadership. We have never specified long-range goals on an urgent time schedule, or managed our
resources and our time so as to insure their fulfillment.
Recognizing the head start obtained by the Soviets with their large rocket engines, which gives
them several months of lead time, and recognizing the likelihood that they will exploit this lead for
some time to come in spectacular achievements, we nevertheless are required to make new efforts
on our own.
I therefore ask the Congress, above and beyond the increases I have earlier requested for space
activities, to provide the funds which are needed to meet the following national goals:
First, I believe that this nation should commit itself to achieving the goal, before this decade is out,
of landing a man on the moon and returning him safely to the earth.
No single space project in this period will be more impressive to mankind, or more important for the
long-range exploration of space; and none will be so difficult or expensive to accomplish.
Secondly, an additional 23 million dollars, together with other funds already available, will accelerate
development of the Rover nuclear rocket. This gives us the possibility someday of an even more
exciting exploration of space, perhaps beyond the moon, perhaps to the very ends of the solar
system itself.
Third, an additional 50 million dollars will make possible the development of liquid hydrogen
boosters which will accelerate the development of the Saturn C-5.
Fourth, an additional 75 million dollars will make possible the development of the advanced
communications and meteorological satellites.
