Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-11-21

l
her, I keep 1t. ....
I've been having an interesting
time at Key West-and have been
doing some things that I don't
have time for In Washington. Fol
one thing. I have been getting
some extra sleep. You know. the
President usually has so much
work to do that it keeps him busy
all day and most of the night.
Thinking About Election.
Down at Key West. have also
had more time than usual to think
about some of the things that lie
ahead of us.
One of the things I have been
thinking about is next years cleo
ton. I am sure that is a matter
of considerable interest to all OF
you people here tonight. It's a
matter of considerable interest to
me, too, and that's what I want
to talk to you about.
I'm not going to make any an
nouncement about who the candi-
date will be. although. I do have
some ideas on that subject. What
I want to talk about tonight is the
broad picture of what this cleo
ton means. I want to talk about
where this Nation stands in the
world and about what the future
holds in store for us. I want to
impress upon you, if can, just
how important that election next
year will be.
In a presidential election. we
do more than choose between the
candidateS-We also choose a
course of action for our country
to follow in the next four years
That is a matter for every one of
us to consider very seriously and.
I am sure, prayerfully. A wise
choice can do much to insure the
prosperity and security of our
Nation. A mistake in a preSi-
Dental election can cause the
country untold harm.
Recalls Harding Election.
You remember what happened
in 1920. When the people voted for
Harding, that meant a tremendous
change IN the course the United
States was following. 1t meant
that we turned our backs on the
newborn League Of Nations. It
meant that we tried to isolate our
selves-we simply shut our eyes to
the international facts of life.
Well, 1t didn't work. The United
States was major world power in
1920 even if it did not act like one
I think most people now recognize
that the country chose the wrong
course in 1920-and that choosing
the wrong course then had lot to
ido with the eventual necessity Of
fighting the Second World War.
Now. that is an example OF why
a presidential election in this
country is so vitality important. 1t
affects the future of every citizen.
and our national position in the
world. hope that We will never
repeat the mistake of 1920.
The course America chooses In
1852 will be even more important
than the choice in 1920. That is
because of the great change which
has taken place In our position
among the Nations of the world.
Time to Count Blessings.
We have now achieved a posi-
ton of leadership in the world
that gives us opportunities and
responsibilities never before equal
led in human history.
I think We should all understand
that. There is so much carping
criticism nowadays about what's
wrong with the country that peo-
pie don't seem to think much
about what's right with the coun-
try. You hear it on every hand:
The trouble with the country to-
day is this" and 1.-The trouble with
1.-THE country is that" We ought to
Istop once in while and spend a
little time counting our blessings.
So far as the United States is
concerned, we can all be proud of
where it stands and the condition
lit is in today. Some people, of
course. have political reasons why
they can't admit that to be true.
But 1t is a fact, nevertheless. We
have the strongest and most pro-
ductive economic system the world
has ever seen. We have come out
of the most devastating war OF all
time with our free institutions in
tact. This country today stands at
the highest point in it's history.
Proud of Moral Position.
One of the things that gives me
the greatest pride is our mora
position before the world.
we are taxing the lead in 8
great crusade for peace.
We are giving our unfalterins
support to the United Nations
because it is the worlds best hope
for peace.
We are striving nightly tt
build firm structure of inter.
national law and order, so thai
wars shall be no more.
We are using our strength. not
to take advantage Of the rest oil
mankind. but to help them-helr
them help themselves. We are
working for a better future fol-
the whole world. We are doine
that because we know the welfare
of all men will contribute to worle
peace. We know that helping
others is the best way-probably
1.-THE only Way-to achieve a bet.