Letter to President Johnson - History Assignment

Dear Mr. President,

I am writing in response to your request for my input with regards to the ongoing conflict in Vietnam. Although there is no perfect answer I can give you, I will provide to you the best course that I feel should be followed.

With the invention and popularity of the television, this war is the first to be brought into Americans’ living rooms. Once peaceful dinnertime meals are being interrupted by the violence of this war. People see what the media puts out there, which abstractly is not always the complete and total truth. Do not let the media dictate the direction of this war. Walter Cronkite is not the General here, do not allow him to steer this war. Public opinion is important, even more so with regards to reelection. But do not let it cloud your judgment. War is never a pretty thing and is to be avoided whenever possible. This is not something we want to initiate unless there is absolute necessity. There will be civilian casualties. Get as many people out as you can and then attack full-force. The international community will be dealt with later. Our allies will stick with us. Once the full impact of our victory is learned, we will be viewed in a positive light.

The attacks need to come on the Vietcong quickly. We are giving them a chance to watch and learn. They can be in a position to study us and, given their knowledge of the area, learn how to overcome us easily. We need to surprise them with an all out attack. Make it impossible for the Chinese and Russians to further supply the Vietnamese and focus attacks on supply routes near the border. Worry less about the number of lives lost on their side, and worry more on bombing strategic locations. Power plants need to be taken care of, as well as industrial locations. Focusing on key military installations before they are completed would work to our advantage.

Also, keep in mind what worked in Europe with the last World War, which proved very successful. It is an unfortunate consequence of war, but civilian lives will be lost. The more we can keep the numbers down the better. Attack key cities now. If we allow this war to continue ineffectively, the total number of civilian lives will turn out to be higher. So make the attacks quick, hard, and decisive.

In conclusion, it is the military that needs to make the decisions on how we should proceed. It is not the politicians looking to be reelected and benefiting themselves, and the media’s place to run this war, and boosting their ratings. If we are to win this war, it will be with a firm hand and an iron will. Speak regularly with the public in numerous addresses to update them. Give the media something to follow. Do not allow people to make their decisions based on selective information given by the press.

Assignment for Public Speaking Class - Preliminary work for advertising

Introduction
• Establish Need (Hectic Lifestyle/Connecting to listener)- For a lot of women, time is a precious commodity. Women often work outside of the home, attend college, move kids from one sporting event to another… only to feel the frustration of housework piling up at home.

• Establish Need (Not enough money for full time help) Housekeeping services are available to some women, but what about the woman on a budget who can’t afford a housekeeper or a nanny?

o Solution – What if there was a way to take some of the pressure off without breaking the budget?

o Solution - Imagine giving up just one dinner at a restaurant a week to have all of your laundry picked up at your home, cleaned, ironed, folded AND delivered back to your home? For so many women this would be a dream come true, right?

Bailey’s Laundry Service.
• Founded by two retired schoolteachers and their granddaughter – college student.
o They weren’t looking to get rich, they just wanted to bring in some extra money.
o It started out in their home, doing laundry services for some family friends. Expanded.

• (Turning Point – Appeal to emotion) They realized the personal impact they had on people’s lives.
o Letter from a new client, Sophia.
o Husband was deployed overseas - three children and no family nearby to help.
o Navy wife
o Works two jobs to help make ends meet - exhausted at the end of the day to a house that needed cleaned and laundry that needed to be washed.
o The van arrived promptly at her house, picked up the clothes, and returned at the specified time that SHE chose.
o The clothes were clean, they were folded, and smelled so fresh.
o Extra couple of hours at the end of the night to spend with her kids. Keep in mind these kids missed their father and truly valued the time they had with their mother.

• Hidden value of service - $30 for that peace of mind.
• Even that one day of service was all she needed to take a deep breath and let someone else take care of things for a change.

Service Information
• Slipcovers, comforters, and dry cleaning of course come at a small extra charge of $2.00 an item, but what’s $2?
• Starch, bleach, and launder in Baby Soft upon request.
• All you have to do is place those items in a separate bag. When they pick up your items you simply request it and note will be taken.
• (Bonus) Complimentary mesh bags for the storage and transport of your clothes for the next service.
• As a special thank you first time customers receive 10% off their total.
• Tide clean and Snuggle soft clothes