Credits: Reagan, Ronald. “Address Before a Joint Session of the Congress on Central America”. April 27, 1983. House Chamber of the Capitol, Washington D.C, United States.
Introduction
In this video, Ronald Reagan gives a speech to Congress urging them to support his aid plan for Central America. In his speech, Reagan contends that the United States should continue intervening in the affairs of Central America in order to protect the safety of its own people. Reagan explains that the well-being of Central America impacts the security of the United States due to El Salvador’s geographical proximity and the countries’ economic ties. While he addresses Central America as a whole, Reagon pays particular attention to El Salvador. Reagan claims that “democracy is beginning to take root in El Salvador” as the government adopts new reforms and free elections. Yet, Reagan argues that the Salvadoran government needs help defeating the pesky insurgent guerrilla groups who are posing a threat to this democracy. Throughout his speech, Reagan does not hide his disdain for the FLMN guerrilla groups calling them terrorists and accusing them of purposefully sabotaging El Salvador’s economy. Reagan also takes jabs at the press who has shown support for these groups. Toward the end of his speech, Reagan lists his four goals for US involvement in Central America which include using US influence to promote democracy, providing economic aid, helping to protect the countries’ civilians, and supporting peace negotiations. Reagan ends his speech by requesting support for his Central America funding plan and by reminding Congress that the United States has a responsibility to protect democracy, especially in the Western Hemisphere.
This speech clearly shows the reason why Reagan supported EL Salvador’s government throughout his entire presidency. When he became president, Reagan reinstated sending aid to different countries in Central America including El Salvador. This US-provided support included money, weapons, and other military supplies. In addition, many of the army’s soldiers (including the soldiers in the Altacatl Battalion) received training on guerrilla warfare and counter-insurgency strategies from US military officials. Over the entire conflict, the Reagan Administration spent billions of dollars supporting El Salvador’s government and the Salvadoran Army.
Source Excerpts:
“Are democracies required to remain passive while threats to their security and prosperity accumulate? Must we just accept the destabilization of an entire region from the Panama Canal to Mexico on our southern border? Must we sit by while independent nations of this hemisphere are integrated into the most aggressive empire the modern world has seen?”
“I don’t believe there’s a majority in the Congress or the country that counsels passivity, resignation, defeatism, in the face of this challenge to freedom and security in our own hemisphere.”
“In summation, I say to you that tonight there can be no question: The national security of all the Americas is at stake in Central America. If we cannot defend ourselves there, we cannot expect to prevail elsewhere. Our credibility would collapse, our alliances would crumble, and the safety of our homeland would be put in jeopardy.”
Link to Full Transcript: https://www.reaganlibrary.gov/archives/speech/address-joint-session-congress-central-america
Reagan, Ronald. “Address before a Joint Session of the Congress on Central America.” Ronald Reagan: Presidential Library and Museum, April 27, 1983.