The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-03-05
President

FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT
 President
 propose 10 follow my custom o speaking frankly to the nation con corning our common problems.
 I speak at this victory dinner no only as the head of the democra tic party but as the representative of all Americans who have faith il political and economic democracy.
 Our victory was not sectional. I did not come from compromises ant bargains. It was the voice of twen ty-seven million voters-from ever, part of the land.
 Majority Party
 The democratic party, once ; minority party, is today the major ity party by the greatest majorit, any party ever had.
 It will remain the majority part! so long as 1t continues to juitif, the faith of millions who had al most lost faith-so long as 1t con tinues to make modern denocrac, work-so long and no longer. w are celebrating the l936 victory That was not a final victory. It wa 6 victory whereby our party wor further opportunity to lead In tht solution of the pressing problem, that perplex our generation. Whe. ther we shall celebrate in 1888, l94( and in l944, as we celebrate tonight will deservedly depend upon whe' ther the party continues on it course and solves those problems. And if l have aught to say 1t wil continue or. It's course and 1t vii solve those problems.
 After election day in 1936, soml of our supporters were uneasy les we grasp the excuse of a false ert of good feeling to evade our obliga' tons. They were worried by the evi symptom that the propaganda ane the epithetS of last summer and fal had died down.
 Today, however, those who placed their confidence in us are treasured For the tumult and the shouting have broken forth anew-and iron substantially the same elements ol opposition. This new roar is thu best evidence in the world that w have begun to keep our promises that we nave begun to move against conditions under which one-third oi this nation is still ill-nourished, i'll. clad, ill-housed.
 We gave warning last November that we had only just begun tc fight. Did some people really believe we did not mean 1t? We'll meant 1t, and you meant 1t.
 A few days ago, distinguished member of the congress came to set me to talk about national problem. in general and about the problem of the judiciary in particular.
 I said to him.:
 Greater Ambition
 John, want to tell you some. thing that is very personal to me something that you have right te hear from my own lips. I have 6 great ambition in life"
 My friend pricxed up his ears.
 I went on: T am by no mean. satisfied with having twice beer elected president of the Unites States by very large majorities. have an even greater ambition"
 By this time, my friend was sit. ting on the edge of his chair.
 l continued: "joiin, my ambition relates to January 20, 1941."
 could feel just what horric thoughts my friend was thinking.
 So in order to relieve his anxiety l went on to say:
 My great ambition on January %. 1941. is to turn over this desl and chair in the White House to my successor, whoever he may be. witt the assurance that am at the samt ] time turning over to him as pres. ident. a nation intact, nation al peace, nation prosperous, a natior clear in its knowledge of whaI powers it has to serve it's own citi. zens, a nation that is in position to use those powers to the full fl order to rlove forward steadily t meet the modern needs of humanity "a nation which has thus proved that the democratic form and meth ods of national government can ana will succeed.
 "In these coming years want tc provide such assurance. I want tG get the nation as far along the road Of progress as I can. do not want to leave 1t to my successor in ths condition in which Buchanan lefl t to Lincoln"
 My friends. that ambition Of mine Tor my successor can well be thu serious ambition Of every citizeE who wants his United States to bs handed down intact to his children and grandchildren.
 spoke ilI the dead earnegtneel Of anxiety. I speak to you tonight in the same eaTnestness. For no 0nl who sees as whole today's picture Of this ration and the world eaF help but reel concern for the future To the president of the Unitef States there come every dag thou sands e5 messages e appeal, os pse, test. es information and advses messages from rich and poor. fEOH business aan and farmer. from fae. AM..ms u.a..m.n sa4f.A n.am.ssa m..a