March 23, 2024 (EIRNS)—Today is the 41st anniversary of President Ronald Reagan’s announcement of his decision to adopt Lyndon LaRouche’s proposal for the United States to make an offer to the Soviet Union for the two nuclear weapons powers to cooperate in the development of a space-based defense against nuclear weapons, using “new physical principles” such as laser beams and/or particle beams to intersect and destroy ICBMs in flight. LaRouche had held back-channel meetings on behalf of the Reagan Administration with representatives of the Soviet Union for about one year, while discussing the idea with representatives of the U.S. President. In a nationally televised address seen by the world on the evening of March 23, 1983, Reagan made his famous announcement, to the shock of the “establishment.” His words:
“I call upon the scientific community in our country, those who gave us nuclear weapons, to turn their great talents now to the cause of mankind and peace; to give us the means of rendering these nuclear weapons impotent and obsolete.”
