Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1956-10-02

Four years ago you gave me 9
job to do.
The job was to establish fol
America a new direction.
You-the American people
wanted to turn away from pol
icieS Of the past that had meant
only trouble or torment for oul
Nation-a drifting war. and rae
ing infiation-bigger Fedora
spending and heavier Fedora
taxation-needless governmental
controls and recklessly unbal.
anced budgets-the building uI
of political power, and the tear
ing down of political morality
in Washington. And you were
thoroughly sick of the perpetual
atmosphere of uncertainty, anxi-
ETY. and crisis.
Set U. s. on New Road
So our job was clear. 1t was
to set America firmly on the new
road-toward secure peace based
on justice-and toward lasting
prosperity. widely shared. This
is the road of freedom in the life
Of the Northumberland integrity
in the life Of the Government.
This is the road of harmony
and balance among all the con-
structive forces of our land
Federal, State and local govern
ment. private enterprise, labor
and. above all, millions of self
reliant American citizens.
We have come a long way in
this new direction.
Today, there is lot of work
still to be done-which is not
surprising. What is surprising
however, is that there still seem
to be some who would like to &c
back to the old road-the zig
zig directionless road Of trial and
error, the road that was not
really a road at all, but an end
less series Of detours around
criseS-leading nowhere.
Now, my friends. / must
frankly admit one thing. I can
not find the choice-the choice
between going forwards or going
backwards-a very hard one to
make. have never found it SO
In all my experience-in what
ever part of the world have
tried to serve my country, in
whatever Office I have held. But
it does seem that a lot of polite
ians-especially at this time of
year-regard it as their main
business to make simple choices
seem extremely hard.
Three Basic Questions
! wish tonight to answer three
basic questions:
l. What is the job to be doneP
2. How much Of that Job has
already been done?
8. How do we get the rest
done?
So we begin, really, with this
question: What do we want this
country to be like as the next
four years unfold?
Let me give you some high
lights of the picture I keep be-
fore me.
l see an America in which
every man can eat his own bread
In peace, raise his own family in
security, and strengthen his own
spirit and mind in dignity.
This VIII be an America where
there are more than 20 million
jobs at good wages.
An America where the school,
room shortage is erased-where
every child can 60 to q good
school, and every young talent
can be developed to the fun,
An America in which farm
SURPRISES no longer crush down
farm prices-and the farmer.
And Observation-Disclosures
an America where no politician
any longer treats the farmer
himself, as product to be bid
Tor in the political market-place
Medical and Disaster Programs
I see an America where in
tensive medical research has con-
quered some of our most killing
and Gripping diseases - and
where effective Federal-State
programs win swiftly meet the
distress caused by violent ma
tural disaster.
An America where every family
can afford and find q decent
home.
An America where a mighty
network of highways spreads
across our country-and where
ocean ships sail into the ports
OF the Great Lakes, bringing a
fresh surge Of progress and
growth.
An America where long and
costly strikes will be rare
where older workers will be hired
entirely on the basis Of ability
and where local unemployment
problems will be attacked by
special programs of financial and
technical aid.
An America where we shall see
the benefits of our recent action
to conserve our soil and water
resources-while abundant new
supplies Of power win be un-
leashed for our surging indus
trial growth.
Lowest Cost and Lower Taxes
An America where the greatest
possible Government efficiency
allows the lowest possible Gov
eminent costs-and, hence. lower
taxes.
And Observation-Disclosures
an America whose Government
is not run by politicians who
think that the way to lower taxes
Is to increase expenditures. Our
way-to reduce expenditures-is
very old-fashioned. But it has
one important advantage-it
works.
see ahead an America whose