Preparatory notes for two speeches given by Caspar Weinberger, Secretary of Defense from 1981 until 1987, given at two very different points in his career. Weinberger came to be known as "Cap the Knife" for his reputation for cutting costs.
1) Three autograph pages of notes on ruled 8x12.5 in paper, with the heading "For January 6, 1981 / My Priorities for Defense Department." These appear to be Weinberger's draft notes for his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Forces Committee, which occurred on January 6, 1981. In them, Weinberger writes: "As long as we are perceived by our potential enemies, as well as by our allies, as ill-equipped, weak, irresolute, quiet-ridden and unwilling and unable to do anything but be patient, we can expect increasingly hostile actions against our people abroad, and actions that weaken our position in the world, such as we have seen in Angola, Afghanistan, Iran and elsewhere. Very good-; significantly age-toned.
2)A typed, hand-annotated text of a speech entitled "The Uses of Military Power--Ten Years Later," with the words "Final Draft / 1994" written in the upper right corner of the first page. Weinberger gave the original "Uses of Military Power" speech during his tenure as Secretary of Defense. In it, he outlined what became known as the Weinberger Doctrine, which delineated the circumstances under which the United States might deploy troops in military engagements. 18 pages, single-sided, with scattered ink annotations. Also included is a note on Weinberger's personal stationery, in his hand, reading "I was one of those who argued most strenuously--but alas not persuasively enough--against our sending troops as part of their MNF and of our remaining there after it became clear neither Israel nor Syria had agreed to withdraw." Very good. Slightly age-toned with minor bumping to edges and corners; rusted paperclip stain to first and last page.
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