REMARKS OF UNITED STATES SENATOR JOHN O. PASTORE AT THE LAUNCHING OF THE NUCLEAR SUBMARINE NARWHAL IN GROTON, CONNECTICUT, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 1967

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP69B00369R000200100003-0
• Release Decision: RIFPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 4
• Document Creation Date: December 15, 2016
• Document Release Date: May 24, 2004
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: September 9, 1967
• Content Type: SPEECH

Approved For Release 2004/06/23 : CIA-RDP69B00369R000200100003-0
Remarks of United States Senator John U. Pastore
at the launching of the nuclear submarine NARWHAL
in Groton, Connecticut, Saturday, September 9, 1967
I have come to this day and moment with pride -- pride in the
workers whose skills have made this splendid nuclear submarine
possible.
Pride in the nobility of purpose of the crew -- men of courage
who will guide this ship through the silent depths of the ocean -- alone
and unafraid.
This ceremony which marks the launching of the NA RWHA.L, the
SSN671, is a milestone in the annals of our submarine history. Just
thirteen short years ago the world's first nuclear submarine, the
NAUTILUS, designated SSN571, was launched from this same shipyard.
Here we are a hundred submarines later, and of these, ninety-two have
been nuclear powered. Only men of great foresight would have envisioned
this tremendous accomplishment.
I can think of no other important technological advancement which
has progressed as rapidly as has the use of nuclear propulsion for naval
vessels.
It was not too long ago from this shipyard that the forty-first and
last PC LARIS missile firing submarine was launched, marking the
completion of this program. There is little doubt that the PC:LARIS
submarine represents our most formidable deterrent to an all-out war.
I must say that these achievements would not have taken place
except for the persistent and aggressive support of the Joint Committee
on Atomic Energy -- with the help of Admiral Rickover and his associates
and I would want you all to know further that if world conditions persist
in the way they are today, the Joint Committee expects to see many more
nuclear submarines launched from these and other ways throughout this
great Nation.
Now, however, we have come to the crossroads in the development
of nuclear-powered submarines. With the present authorized POLARIS
program completed, we must give serious consideration to a further
expansion of this program and we must intensify our efforts to develop
new and more advanced nuclear attack submarines to meet the expand-
ing challenge of Soviet naval power and the new Chinese threat. I also
believe that we should actively pursue the replacement of all our
conventional submarines with nuclear submarines of advanced design.
Approved For Release 2004/06/23 : CIA-RDP69B00369R000200100003-0
 Approved For Release 2004/06/23 : CIA-RDP69B00369R000200100003-0
We have developed an irreplaceable reservoir of highly skilled
men, such as I see before me today, who have been largely responsible
for the clear supremacy the United States holds over any nation in the
world in the development of nuclear submarines. Many of you workers,
I might add, are friends from Rhode Island who journey he-?e each day
to join in this great endeavor to strengthen our national security.
We should insure that the great skills a--7d capabilities of the men
who design and build our nuclear warrv.ai ps a.' c;;' d not be dissipated.
But this is only one aspect of the continuing for American
nuclear propulsion suprerrt.
The nuci,ear.pcwered aircraft carrier ENTERPRISE has just
returned from its second deployment in action, off Vietnam. The
ENTERPRISE has proven so effective in battle in Vietnam that the
Secretary of Defense requested a new nuclear.-powered carrier in last
a :?'s defense bill and has told Congress that he intends to ask for one
more next year and another in a, future year.
The nuclear -rowered carrier a--,Proved by Congress la t year has
been named the NIMITZ after the late Fleet Admiral. Chester W. Nirnitz.
You might be interested to ?.know that about fifty-five years ago Lieutenant
Nimitz was Commanding Officer of the first United States submarine
NARWHAL, the predecessor of the nuclear submarine we are launching
today.
The Joint Commit--tee on Atomic Energy is proud of the active role
it has taken and is taking to bring into being a Nuclear Navy.
Our reward has been to see the POLARIS nuclear submarine emerge
as our first line of defense -- and the ENTERPRISE and its nuclear escort
vessels perform admirably in support of our limited objectives in the
Vietnam conflict.
The world into which the NARWHAL will sail is a world of conflict
and contradictions.
We are engaged in a military struggle aainst the forces of
commILMisin in Southeast Asia. At the sarrae time we are working with
communist nations at Geneva to produce a treaty banning the spread of
nuclear weapons -- a treaty which will lessen the possibility of a nuclear
holocaust.
Approved For Release 2004/06/23 : CIA-RDP69B00369R000200100003-0
 Approved For Release 2004/06/23 : CIA-RDP69B00369R000200100003-0
Our hopes and prayers are for a non-proliferation treaty and agree-
ments -- agreements to halt the arms race -- and, indeed, agreements to
eliminate all conflicts.
But we must understand military power and constantly be aware of
the capabilities of our potential enemies. We must stay in tune with
changing events..
A dramatic and upsetting event has recently taken place in the Far
East. In less than three years Red China has become, not only a nuclear
power -- but a thermonuclear power.
I suggest that they have made amazing and astonishing progress in
this brief span of time. Their accomplishments in the field of nuclear
weaponry are all the more significant because the internal strife within
China has apparently had little or no effect on their nuclear and missile
programs. In light of these factors, it appears that Communist China presents
a clear-cut threat to the free world.
At the beginning of the 90th Congress, as Chairman of the Joint
Committee, I initiated hearings on Red China's nuclear capability. One
of the most significant findings contained in the Joint Committee report that
followed was the statement based on CIA and Defense Department testimony
that:
The Chinese probably will achieve an operational
ICBM capability before 1972. Conceivably, it could be
ready as early as 1970-1971. "
Add to this new threat the fact that the Soviet Union's offensive
nuclear striking power is increasing in comparison to our own -- while
at the same time they are deploying one and probably two anti-ballistic
missile systems to defend their country -- which we are not doing -- I
repeat -- which we are not doing.
While for the moment we can find comfort and a certain amount of
security in the ideological schism, that mists between Red China and the
Soviet Union, we cannot discount the possibility that this breach could
be healed and thereby greatly affect the balance of nuclear power in the
world.
Which brings me to the important point that I want to make here today,
and that is this A- that the time has,, -nme for us to give serious and urgent
thought to a reappraisal of our defense posture,
We cannot live in a world of atomic energy and discount completely
the possibility of "surprise attack" on our Nation.
Approved For Release 2004/06/23 : CIA-RDP69B00369R000200100003-0
 A ' R eFn?arte lass juste r/ec~ently I pprovedOa budget o00o0000 seventy billion
dollars for defense, the largest single appropriations bill in our history --
and yet we have no effective anti-ballistic missile system.
I realize the cost to do this is high -- indeed staggering -- however,
if we can afford to spend twenty-four billion dollars a year in defense of a
neighbor, and I mean Vietnam, we can certainly spend as much to insure
the life and security of our American society.
Our offensive weapons are second to none -- but it has been our
announced and continuing policy for generations never to strike first.
Today in effect -- we are asking the American people to be
prepared to accept near nuclear annihilation because our strategy calls
for absorbing the first nuclear strike.
We are not an aggressive people. We do not covet other nations'
territory. We only ask that those who desire to be free -- stay free. I
merely point out that we must be as strong in defense to preserve our
society as we must be strong in offense to discourage and deter an attack.
With all our offensive power, our defense posture could be our
Achilles' heel, We cannot sit back and let ourselves be lulled into a sense of false
security, relying only on the hope that fear of retaliation will deter potential
aggressors.
Development of an ABM system is, I repeat, extremely expensive
but, indeed, necessary. In this kind of a world, the alternatives are few,
The security of our country -- the ultimate in its defense -- deserves
the highest national priority.
An affluent America -- with so much to lose -- must not face this
mortal challenge cheaply.
We should move full speed ahead on building an anti-ballistic missile
system. In this connection, I am happy to say that Senator Henry M. Jackson
of Washington, Chairman of the Subcommittee on Military Application of the
Joint Committee on Atomic Energy, and one of the Senate's leading experts
on military affairs, will soon hold hearings on the ABM question.
The Joint Committee on Atomic Energy will pursue the development
of an ABM system with the same vigor that it pressed for the development of
the H-Bomb and our first nuclear submarine, the NAUTILUS.
Both endeavors were successful and greatly increased the security
of this great Nation,
This new submarine, the N'ARV? HAL, represents another link in the
chain of undersea security so necessary in!!his turbulent world.
It is into this difficult and dangerous world that you the officers and
men of the NARWHAL -- will soon sail.
Your task is vital to our security.
Your m? io ill
rov~d~ oe eTease 0 l t-CIA-RDP69B00369R000200100003-0
r edica ion is unsurpassed and our pride in you is unbounded.