President Johnson stunned the nation last night [March 31, Washington] by announcing he will not seek re-election next November. His surprise announcement came at the end of a Television speech in which he announced a halt to the bombing of most of North Viet Nam – “the first in what I hope will be a series of mutual moves toward peace.” Without any advance warning, he told the American people at the end of a televised address on Viet Nam, “I shall not seek and I will not accept the nomination” of the Democratic Party for the Presidency in the Presidential election. He preceded his bombshell announcement with a warning against divisiveness “and all its ugly consequences”. Unity, he said, “must not now be lost in suspicion and distrust and selfishness and politics among any of our people”. Believing this, the President added somberly, he had concluded that “I should not permit the Presidency to become involved in the partisan divisions that are developing in this political year.” “With America’s sons in the field far away and with America’s future under challenge here at home, with our hopes – and the world’s hopes – for peace in the balance every day. I do not believe that I should devote an hour or a day of my time to any personal partisan causes or to any duties other than the awesome duties of this office – the President of your country.” With dramatic suddenness Mr. Johnson declared: “I shall not seek – and will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President. “Let men everywhere, however, know that a strong, confident, vigilant America stands ready to seek an honourable peace and ready to defend an honourable cause, whatever the price, whatever the burden, whatever the sacrifice duty may require.”
