1969년 7월 18일, 사람들은 아폴로 11호가 제대로 달에 착륙 할지 두근 두근 염통이 쫄깃 쫄깃 했답니다.
그때 연설문 작성자 윌리엄 사파이어는 최악의 경우를 대비해서 사고 관련 연설문을 작성해서 닉슨의 보좌관 Haldeman에게 보냅니다.
연설문의 내용은 용기 있게 달에 도전한 닐 암스트롱과 애드윈 알드린 이 영웅적으로 죽었고, 그들은 다시 살아날 수 없다는것은 알지만 자신들의 희생으로 인류의 희망은 계속된다는 개소리를 하고 있음.
다행히 사고는 발생되지 않음.
To: H. R. Haldeman
From: Bill Safire
July 18, 1969.
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IN EVENT OF MOON DISASTER:
Fate has ordained that the men who went to the moon to explore in peace will stay on the moon to rest in peace.
These brave men, Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin, know that there is no hope for their recovery. But they also know that there is hope for mankind in their sacrifice.
These two men are laying down their lives in mankind’s most noble goal: the search for truth and understanding.
They will be mourned by their families and friends; they will be mourned by the nation; they will be mourned by the people of the world; they will be mourned by a Mother Earth that dared send two of her sons into the unknown.
In their exploration, they stirred the people of the world to feel as one; in their sacrifice, they bind more tightly the brotherhood of man.
In ancient days, men looked at the stars and saw their heroes in the constellations. In modern times, we do much the same, but our heroes are epic men of flesh and blood.
Others will follow, and surely find their way home. Man’s search will not be denied. But these men were the first, and they will remain the foremost in our hearts.
For every human being who looks up at the moon in the nights to come will know that there is some corner of another world that is forever mankind.
PRIOR TO THE PRESIDENT’S STATEMENT:
The President should telephone each of the widows-to-be.
AFTER THE PRESIDENT’S STATEMENT, AT THE POINT WHEN NASA ENDS COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE MEN:
A clergyman should adopt the same procedure as a burial at sea, commending their souls to “the deepest of the deep,” concluding with the Lord’s Prayer.