In this WSB newsfilm clip from October 7, 1970, United States president Richard M. Nixon visits Savannah, Georgia with his wife, daughter, and son-in-law to dedicate the Ocean Science Center of the Atlantic at Skidaway Island and comments about the Vietnam War during the dedication.

The clip begins with a crowd surrounding the presidential motorcade. Secret Service men encircle a car. President Nixon and his wife, Pat, wave to the crowd from a hole in the roof of the car. The crowd fills the streets of downtown Savannah with barely enough room for the cars in the motorcade to pass through. In the crowd, a white man holds his daughter as she waves. At one point, President Nixon stands on the hood of a parked car, later climbing down from the car to walk through the crowd. He and Pat also shake hands with people in the crowd. A sign above the crowd reads "Hal Suit makes sense" referring to Republican gubernatorial candidate Hal Suit.

Next, sailors in dress white uniforms stand on the deck of a boat next to Robert Roebling, owner of the boat and the man who donated Skidaway Island to the state. Nixon walks down the ramp to the boat. Onboard the "Royal Eagle," Nixon sits with Roebling and waves to a crowd of people. Later, on Skidaway Island, people clap while patriotic music plays in the background. Nixon walks down a path with his wife, his daughter Julie and his son-in-law David Eisenhower, grandson of president Dwight D. Eisenhower. The crowd continues to cheer for Nixon. Nixon later speaks from a stage draped with red, white, and blue bunting. He comments on his invitation to Savannah by Republican gubernatorial candidate Hal Suit and Democratic governor Lester Maddox, calling the event "bipartisan" because of the two invitations. After a break in the clip, Nixon speaks about the United States' involvement in the Vietnam War. He states his goal to end the war "in a way that serves the peace, that builds the peace, that discourages aggression and that's what we're doing in Vietnam and we're going to accomplish it." He disagrees with the idea that the country's best young men have gone to Canada to avoid the draft; rather, he asserts that those serving in Vietnam represent the nation's finest. Finally, the audience and dignitaries on the podium stand and clap. Nixon, standing with his wife and Governor Maddox, waves at the crowd.

President Richard M. Nixon visited Savannah, Georgia on October 7, 1970 to dedicate the Ocean Science Center of the Atlantic at Skidaway Island. Nixon was invited by Republican gubernatorial candidate Hal Suit. Democratic governor Lester Maddox objected to the politicization of the president's visit, but attended the event out of respect for the office of the president. Following the visit to Savannah, Nixon and his family flew to Florida for a brief vacation.

Title supplied by cataloger.

The Civil Rights Digital Library received support from a National Leadership Grant for Libraries awarded to the University of Georgia by the Institute of Museum and Library Services for digital conversion and description of the WSB-TV Newsfilm Collection.

1 clip (about 3 min.): color, sound ; 16 mm.

Original found in the WSB-TV newsfilm collection.

WSB-TV newsfilm clip of United States president Richard M. Nixon speaking about the Vietnam War while in town to dedicate the Ocean Science Center of the Atlantic on Skidaway Island, Savannah, Georgia, 1970 October 7, WSB-TV newsfilm collection, reel 1680, 38:53/41:56, Walter J. Brown Media Archives and Peabody Awards Collection, The University of Georgia Libraries, Athens, Ga, as presented in the Digital Library of Georgia.

Forms part of: Civil Rights Digital Library.