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Some of Reagan's aides were fearful that summoning a joint session of Congress was too dramatic and would shift the political spotlight away from the budding economic recovery. Only twelve other times in the past 30 years have Presidents called such a special session.*But Reagan told his advisers that he felt it was necessary to make a major impact. "I have not succeeded in explaining to the public why they should care about Central and South America," he told a small group of national security advisers in late March. "This is of enormous importance to me personally."
Reagan began by stressing the strategic importance of the region. "Two-thirds of all our foreign trade and petroleum pass through the Panama Canal and the Caribbean," he said. "In a European crisis, at least half of our supplies for NATO would go through these areas by sea... Because of its importance, the Caribbean Basin is a magnet for adventurism."
The President admitted that human rights were still a problem in El Salvador, but he extolled the nation's commitment to democracy and the bravery of its voters in turning out heavily in last year's elections. By contrast, the Cuban-backed regime in Nicaragua was depicted as an unmitigated villain, reneging on its promise to hold free elections, censoring its press and export-big its revolution despite the friendship and aid the U.S. had offered when the new government came to power in 1979. In the two years after the revolution, Reagan reminded his listeners, the U.S. provided five times as much aid ($118 million) to Nicaragua as in the two years prior to the revolution. This aid to the new regime was thought to be more than any other country gave initially. Declared Reagan: "It is the ultimate in hypocrisy for the unelected Nicaraguan government to charge that we seek their overthrow, when they are doing everything that they can to bring down the elected government of El Salvador." Republicans stood and cheered, exhorting their colleagues across the aisle to "Stand up! Stand up!" After sustained applause, House Speaker Tip O'Neill turned, smiling, to Vice President George Bush, and they joined the standing ovation.
The President flatly pledged that the U.S. was not planning to attack the regime in Nicaragua. "We do not seek its overthrow," he said. But he added that the U.S. "will not protect the Nicaraguan government from the anger of its own people." Using one of the lines suggested by Kirkpatrick, he argued that continued military aid must be given to those countries like El Salvador that are resisting Nicaraguan-supported rebels. "I do not believe that a majority of Congress or the country is prepared to stand by passively while the people of Central America are delivered to totalitarianism."
But Reagan was careful to balance his talk of military needs in Central America with an awareness of the political, economic and social problems that must be solved. "Seventy-seven cents out of every dollar we will spend in the area this year goes for food, fertilizers and other essentials for economic growth," he said. "We will support dialogue and negotiations both among the countries of the region and within each country."