State of the Union AddressesJohnson, Lyndon B. (Lyndon Baines)
History
State of the Union Addresses
Johnson, Lyndon B. (Lyndon Baines)
Presidents -- United States -- Messages; United States -- Politics and government -- Sources
I wish--with all of my heart--that the expenditures that are necessary to
build and to protect our power could all be devoted to the programs of
peace. But until world conditions permit, and until peace is assured,
America's might--and America's bravest sons who wear our Nation's
uniform--must continue to stand guard for all of us--as they gallantly do
tonight in Vietnam and other places in the world.
Yet neither great weapons nor individual courage can provide the conditions
of peace.
For two decades America has committed itself against the tyranny of want
and ignorance in the world that threatens the peace. We shall sustain that
commitment. This year I shall propose:
--That we launch, with other nations, an exploration of the ocean depths to
tap its wealth, and its energy, and its abundance.
--That we contribute our fair share to a major expansion of the
International Development Association, and to increase the resources of the
Asian Development Bank.
--That we adopt a prudent aid program, rooted in the principle of
self-help.
--That we renew and extend the food for freedom program.
Our food programs have already helped millions avoid the horrors of
famine.
But unless the rapid growth of population in developing countries is
slowed, the gap between rich and poor will widen steadily.
Governments in the developing countries must take such facts into
consideration. We in the United States are prepared to help assist them in
those efforts.
But we must also improve the lives of children already born in the villages
and towns and cities on this earth. They can be taught by great teachers
through space communications and the miracle of satellite television--and we
are going to bring to bear every resource of mind and technology to help
make this dream come true.
Let me speak now about some matters here at home.
Tonight our Nation is accomplishing more for its people than has ever been
accomplished before. Americans are prosperous as men have never been in
recorded history. Yet there is in the land a certain restlessness--a
questioning.
The total of our Nation's annual production is now above $800 billion. For
83 months this Nation has been on a steady upward trend of growth.
All about them, most American families can see the evidence of growing
abundance: higher paychecks, humming factories, new cars moving down new
highways. More and more families own their own homes, equipped with more
than 70 million television sets.
A new college is founded every week. Today more than half of the high
school graduates go on to college.
There are hundreds of thousands of fathers and mothers who never completed
grammar school--who will see their children graduate from college.
Why, then, this restlessness?
Because when a great ship cuts through the sea, the waters are always
stirred and troubled.
And our ship is moving. It is moving through troubled and new waters; it is
moving toward new and better shores.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account