We observe today not a victory of party, but a celebration of freedom,
symbolizing an end as well as a beginning, signifying renewal as well as change.
For I has formed before you and Almighty God, the same solemn mode
our four Theirs prescribed nearly a century and three quarters ago. The world is
very different now, for man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish
all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yes,
the same revolutionary beliefs for which our four Theirs thought hostility issue around the globe,
the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the
state, but from the hand of God. We dare not forget today that
we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from
this time and place to friend and full alight that the torch has been passed
to a new generation of Americans born in this century, tempered by war,
discipline by a hard and bitter be proud of our ancient heritage, and unwilling
to witness or permit a small undoing of those human rights to which this nation
has always been committed, and to which we are committed today. At home
and around the world. Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well
or ill, that we shall pay any price, there any burden, meet
any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe, to assure the survival
and the success of liberty. This much we pledge and more For those old
allies whose cultural and spiritual origins we share, we pledge the loyalty of faithful
friends. United, there is little we cannot do in a host of cooperative
ventures. Divided, there is little we can do. All we dare not
meet a powerful challenge at odd and split asunder. To those new states whom
we welcome to the ranks of the free, we plange our words that one
form of colonial control shall not have passed away merely to be replaced by a
far more iron tyranny. We shall not always expect to find them supporting our
view, but we shall always hope to find them strongly supporting their own freedom,
and to remember that in the past, those who foolishly thought power by
riding the back of the tiger ended up inside. To those people in the
Houston villagers, a post the globe struggling to break the bonds of mass history,
we plant our best efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period
is required, not because the communists may be doing it, not because we
seek their votes, god because it is right. If a free society cannot
help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.
To our history republics south of our boyer, we offer a special pledge
to convert our good words into good deeds in a new alliance for progress,
to assist free men hand free governments in casting off the change of poverty.
But this peaceful revolution of hope cannot become the prey of hostile powers. Let
all our neighbors know that we shall join with them to oppose aggression of subversion
anywhere in the Americans. And let every other power know that this hemisphere intends
to remain the master of his own house. To that world assembly of sovereign
states, the United Ations, our lost best hope in an age where the
instruments of war have far our path the instruments of peace, our pange of
support to prevent it from becoming merely a forum per executive, to strengthen its
shields of the new and the whek, and to enlarge the area in which
it's written a run. Finally, to those nations who would make themselves our
adversary, we offer not a pledge, but a request that both guides begin
anew the quest for peace before the dark powers of destruction unleashed by science in
golf all humanity, in planned or accidental self destruction. We dare not tempt
them with weakness, are only with our arms are sufficient beyond out? Can
we be certain beyond out that they will never be employed? But neither can
two great and powerful groups of nations take comfort from our present course. Both
sides overburdened by the cost of modern weapons, both brightly alarmed by the sety
spread of the deadly atom, yet both racing to order that uncertain balance of
terror that saves the hand of mankind's final war. So let us begin anew,
remembering on both sides that stability is not a sign of weakness, and
sincerity is always subject to proof. Let us never negotiate out of fear God,
let us never fear to negotiate. That both both sides explore what problems
unite us, instead of belaboring those problems which divide us. Let both sides,
for the first time pomulate serious and precise proposals for the inspection and control
of arms, and bring the absolute power to destroy other nations under the absolute
control of all nations. Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science
instead of its terrors. Together, let us explore the stars, talk of
the desert, eradicate disease, half the ocean depth, and encourage the arts
and commerce leant. Both sides unite to heed in all corners of the earth
the command end of Isaiah, to undo the heavy burden and let the oppressed
go free. And if a beachhead of cooperation, they pushed back the jungle
of suspicion. Let both sides join in creating a new endeavor, not a
new balance of power, but a new world of law, where the strong
adjusts and the weak secured, and the peace preserved. All this will not
be finished in the first one hundred days, nor will it be finished in
the first one thousand days, nor in the life of this administration, nor
even cracked in our lifetime on this planet. But let us begin. In
your hands, my fellow citizens, more than mine, will rest the final
success or failure of our course. Since this country was founded, each generation
of Americans has been summoned to give testimony to its national loyalty. The graves
of young Americans who answered the call of service surround the globe. Now the
trumpet summons us again, not as a call to bear arms. The arms
we need, not as the calls of battle go in battle. We are
but a cause to bear the burden of a long twilight struggle, year in
and year out, rejoicing in hope, haitian and tribulation, a struggle against
the common enemies of man, tyranny, poverty, disease, and war itself.
Can we forge against these enemies a grand and global alliance north and south,
east and west that can assure a more fruitful life for all mankind?
Will you join in that historic efforts. In the long history of the world,
only a few generations have been granted the role of defending freedom in its
power of maximum danger. I do not shrink from this responsibility. High welcome
him. I do not believe that any of us would exchange places with any
other people or any other generation. The energy, the faith, the devotion
which we bring to this endeavor we'll light our country and all who serve it,
And the glow from that fire can truly light the world. And so
my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask
what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world,
ask not what American will do for you, but what together we can do
for the freedom of man. Finally, whether you are citizens of America or
citizens of the world, ask of us here the same high standards of strength
and sacrifice which we ask of you, with a good conscience, our only
sure reward, with history the final judge of our deeds. Let us go
forth to leave the land we love, asking his blessing and his health,
but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own.