100 POINTS Read this line from Vice President Lyndon B. Johnson's "Memorial Day" speech.

But to fail to ask of him—and of all Americans—perseverance within the processes of a free and responsible society would be to fail to ask what the national interest requires of all its citizens.

What claim is Johnson arguing in this excerpt?

He's pointing out that the fight for equal rights is the work of all citizens in a free society.

He's saying that white Americans should encourage African Americans to fight harder.

He's accusing white Americans of not asking the right questions.

He's asking white Americans to fight harder on behalf of African Americans.