Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, Members of the Congress: This 82d Congress faces as grave a task as any Congress in the history of our Republic. The actions you take will be watched by the whole world. These actions will measure the ability of a free people, acting through their chosen representatives and their free institutions, to meet a deadly challenge to their way of life. We can meet this challenge foolishly or wisely. We can meet it timidly or bravely, shamefully or honorably. I know that the 82d Congress will meet this challenge in a way worthy of our great heritage. I know that your debates will be earnest, responsible, constructive, and to the point. I know that from these debates there will come the great decisions needed to carry us forward. At this critical time, I am glad to say that our country is in a healthy condition. Our democratic institutions are sound and strong. We have more men and women at work than ever before. We are able to produce more than ever before--in fact, far more than any country ever produced in the history of the world. I am confident that we can succeed in the great task that lies before us. We will succeed, but we must all do our part. We must all act together as citizens of this great Republic. As we meet here today, American soldiers are fighting a bitter campaign in Korea. We pay tribute to their courage, devotion, and gallantry. Our men are fighting, alongside their United Nations allies, because they know, as we do, that the aggression in Korea is part of the attempt of the Russian Communist dictatorship to take over the world, step by step. Our men are fighting a long way from home, but they are fighting for our lives and our liberties. They are fighting to protect our right to meet here today--our right to govern ourselves as a free nation. The threat of world conquest by Soviet Russia endangers our liberty and endangers the kind of world in which the free spirit of man can survive. This threat is aimed at all peoples who strive to win or defend their own freedom and national independence. Indeed, the state of our Nation is in great part the state of our friends and allies throughout the world. The gun that points at them points at us, also. The threat is a total threat and the danger is a common danger. All free nations are exposed and all are in peril. Their only security lies in banding together. No one nation can find protection in a selfish search for a safe haven from the storm. The free nations do not have any aggressive purpose. We want only peace in the world--peace for all countries. No threat to the security of any nation is concealed in our plans and programs. We had hoped that the Soviet Union, with its security assured by the Charter of the United Nations, would be willing to live and let live. But I am sorry to say that has not been the case. The imperialism of the czars has been replaced by the even more ambitious, more crafty, and more menacing imperialism of the rulers of the Soviet Union. This new imperialism has powerful military forces. It is keeping millions of men under arms. It has a large air force and a strong submarine force. It has complete control of the men and equipment of its satellites. It has kept its subject peoples and its economy in a state of perpetual mobilization. The present rulers of the Soviet Union have shown that they are willing to use this power to destroy the free nations and win domination over the whole world. The Soviet imperialists have two ways of going about their destructive work. They use the method of subversion and internal revolution, and they use the method of external aggression. In preparation for either of these methods of attack, they stir up class strife and disorder. They encourage sabotage. They put out poisonous propaganda. They deliberately try to prevent economic improvement. If their efforts are successful, they foment a revolution, as they did in Czechoslovakia and China, and as they tried, unsuccessfully, to do in Greece. If their methods of subversion are blocked, and if they think they can get away with outright warfare, they resort to external aggression. This is what they did when they loosed the armies of their puppet states against the Republic of Korea, in an evil war by proxy. We of the free world must be ready to meet both of these methods of Soviet action. We must not neglect one or the other. The free world has power and resources to meet these two forms of aggression--resources that are far greater than those of the Soviet dictatorship. We have skilled and vigorous peoples, great industrial strength, and abundant sources of raw materials. And above all, we cherish liberty. Our common ideals are a great part of our strength. These ideals are the driving force of human progress. The free nations believe in the dignity and the worth of man. We believe in independence for all nations. We believe that free and independent nations can band together into a world order based on law. We have laid the cornerstone of such a peaceful world in the United Nations. We believe that such a world order can and should spread the benefits of modern science and industry, better health and education, more food and rising standards of living--throughout the world. These ideals give our cause a power and vitality that Russian communism can never command. The free nations, however, are bound together by more than ideals. They are a real community bound together also by the ties of self-interest and self-preservation. If they should fall apart, the results would be fatal to human freedom. Our own national security is deeply involved with that of the other free nations. While they need our support, we equally need theirs. Our national safety would be gravely prejudiced if the Soviet Union were to succeed in harnessing to its war machine the resources and the manpower of the free nations on the borders of its empire. If Western Europe were to fall to Soviet Russia, it would double the Soviet supply of coal and triple the Soviet supply of steel. If the free countries of Asia and Africa should fall to Soviet Russia, we would lose the sources of many of our most vital raw materials, including uranium, which is the basis of our atomic power. And Soviet command of the manpower of the free nations of Europe and Asia would confront us with military forces which we could never hope to equal. In such a situation, the Soviet Union could impose its demands on the world, without resort to conflict, simply through the preponderance of its economic and military power. The Soviet Union does not have to attack the United States to secure domination of the world. It can achieve its ends by isolating us and swallowing up all our allies. Therefore, even if we were craven enough I do not believe we could be--but, I say, even if we were craven enough to abandon our ideals, it would be disastrous for us to withdraw from the community of free nations. We are the most powerful single member of this community, and we have a special responsibility. We must take the leadership in meeting the challenge to freedom and in helping to protect the rights of independent nations. This country has a practical, realistic program of action for meeting this challenge. First, we shall have to extend economic assistance, where it can be effective. The best way to stop subversion by the Kremlin is to strike at the roots of social injustice and economic disorder. People who have jobs, homes, and hopes for the future will defend themselves against the underground agents of the Kremlin. Our programs of economic aid have done much to turn back Communism. In Europe the Marshall plan has had an electrifying result. As European recovery progressed, the strikes led by the Kremlin's agents in Italy and France failed. All over Western Europe the Communist Party took worse and worse beatings at the polls. The countries which have received Marshall plan aid have been able, through hard work, to expand their productive strength-in many cases, to levels higher than ever before in their history. Without this strength they would be completely incapable of defending themselves today. They are now ready to use this strength in helping to build a strong combined defense against aggression. We shall need to continue some economic aid to European countries. This aid should now be specifically related to the building of their defenses. In other parts of the world our economic assistance will need to be more broadly directed toward economic development. In the Near East, in Africa, in Asia, we must do what we can to help people who are striving to advance from misery, poverty, and hunger. We must also continue to help the economic growth of our good neighbors in this hemisphere. These actions will bring greater strength for the free world. They will give many people a real stake in the future and reason to defend their freedom. They will mean increased production of goods they need and materials we need. Second, we shall need to continue our military assistance to countries which want to defend themselves. The heart of our common defense effort is the North Atlantic community. The defense of Europe is the basis for the defense of the whole free world--ourselves included. Next to the United States, Europe is the largest workshop in the world. It is also a homeland of the great religious beliefs shared by many of our citizens beliefs which are now threatened by the tide of atheistic communism. Strategically, economically, and morally, the defense of Europe is a part of our own defense. That is why we have joined with the countries of Europe in the North Atlantic Treaty, pledging ourselves to work with them. There has been much discussion recently over whether the European countries are willing to defend themselves. Their actions are answering this question. Our North Atlantic Treaty partners have strict systems of universal military training. Several have recently increased the term of service. All have taken measures to improve the quality of training. Forces are being trained and expanded as rapidly as the necessary arms and equipment can be supplied from their factories and ours. Our North Atlantic Treaty partners, together, are building armies bigger than our own. None of the North Atlantic Treaty countries, including our own country, has done enough yet. But real progress is being made. Together, we have worked out defense 'plans. The military leaders of our own country took part in working out these plans, and are agreed that they are sound and within our capabilities. To put these plans into action, we sent to Europe last week one of our greatest military commanders, General Dwight D. Eisenhower. General Eisenhower went to Europe to assume command of the united forces of the North Atlantic Treaty countries, including our own forces in Germany. The people of Europe have confidence in General Eisenhower. They know his ability to put together a fighting force of allies. His mission is vital to our security. We should all stand behind him, and give him every bit of help we can. Part of our job will be to reinforce the military strength of our European partners by sending them weapons and equipment as our military production expands. Our program of military assistance extends to the nations in the Near East and the Far East which are trying to defend their freedom. Soviet communism is trying to make these nations into colonies, and to use their people as cannon fodder in new wars of conquest. We want their people to be free men and to enjoy peace. Our country has always stood for freedom for the peoples of Asia. Long, long ago it stood for the freedom of the peoples of Asia. Our history shows this. We have demonstrated it in the Philippines. We have demonstrated it in our relations with Indonesia, India, and with China. We hope to join in restoring the people of Japan to membership in the community of free nations. It is in the Far East that we have taken up arms, under the United Nations, to preserve the principle of independence for free nations. We are fighting to keep the forces of Communist aggression from making a slave state out of Korea. Korea has tremendous significance for the world. It means that free nations, acting through the United Nations, are fighting together against aggression. We will understand the importance of this best if we look back into history. If the democracies had stood up against the invasion of Manchuria in 1931, or the attack on Ethiopia in 1935, or the seizure of Austria in 1938, if they had stood together against aggression on those occasions as the United Nations has done in Korea, the whole history of our time would have been different. The principles for which we are fighting in Korea are right and just. They are the foundations of collective security and of the future of free nations. Korea is not only a country undergoing the torment of aggression; it is also a symbol. It stands for right and justice in the world against oppression and slavery. The free world must always stand for these principles--and we will stand with the free world. As the third part of our program, we will continue to work for peaceful settlements in international disputes. We will support the United Nations and remain loyal to the great principles of international cooperation laid down in its charter. We are willing, as we have always been, to negotiate honorable settlements with the Soviet Union. But we will not engage in appeasement. The Soviet rulers have made it clear that we must have strength as well as right on our side. If we build our strength--and we are building it--the Soviet rulers may face the facts and lay aside their plans to take over the world. That is what we hope will happen, and that is what we are trying to bring about. That is the only realistic road to peace. These are the main elements of the course our Nation must follow as a member of the community of free nations. These are the things we must do to preserve our security and help create a peaceful world. But they will be successful only if we increase the strength of our own country. Here at home we have some very big jobs to do. We are building much stronger military forces--and we are building them fast. We are preparing for full wartime mobilization, if that should be necessary. And we are continuing to build a strong and growing economy, able to maintain whatever effort may be required for as long as necessary. We are building our own Army, Navy, and Air Force to an active strength of nearly 3 1/2 million men and women. We are stepping up the training of the reserve forces, and establishing more training facilities, so that we can rapidly increase our active forces far more on short notice. We are going to produce all the weapons and equipment that such an armed force will need. Furthermore, we will make weapons for our allies, and weapons for our own reserve supplies. On top of this, we will build the capacity to turn out on short notice arms and supplies that may be needed for a full-scale war. Fortunately, we have a good start on this because of our enormous plant capacity and because of the equipment on hand from the last war. For example, many combat ships are being returned to active duty from the "mothball fleet" and many others can be put into service on very short notice. We have large reserves of arms and ammunition and thousands of workers skilled in arms production. In many cases, however, our stocks of weapons are low. In other cases, those on hand are not the most modern. We have made remarkable technical advances. We have developed new types of jet planes and powerful new tanks. We are concentrating on producing the newest types of weapons and producing them as fast as we can. This production drive is more selective than the one we had during World War II, but it is just as urgent and intense. It is a big program and it is a costly one. Let me give you two concrete examples. Our present program calls for expanding the aircraft industry so that it will have the capacity to produce 50,000 modern military planes a year. We are preparing the capacity to produce 35,000 tanks a year. We are not now ordering that many planes or that many tanks, and we hope that we never have to, but we mean to be able to turn them out if we need them. The planes we are producing now are much bigger, much better, and much more expensive than the planes we had during the last war. We used to think that the B-17 was a huge plane, and the blockbuster it carried a huge load. But the B-36 can carry five of these blockbusters in its belly, and it can carry them five times as far. Of course, the B-36 is much more complicated to build than the B-17, and far more expensive. One B-17 costs $275,000, while now one B-36 costs $3 ½ million. I ask you to remember that what we are doing is to provide the best and most modern military equipment in the world for our fighting forces. This kind of defense production program has two parts. The first part is to get our defense production going as fast as possible. We have to convert plants and channel materials to defense production. This means heavy cuts in civilian uses of copper, aluminum, rubber, and other essential materials. It means shortages in various consumer goods. The second part is to increase our capacity to produce and to keep our economy strong for the long pull. We do not know how long Communist aggression will threaten the world. Only by increasing our output can we carry the burden of preparedness for an indefinite period in the future. This means that we will have to build more power plants and more steel mills, grow more cotton, mine more copper, and expand our capacity in many other ways. The Congress will need to consider legislation, at this session, affecting all the aspects of our mobilization job. The main subjects on which legislation will be needed are: First, appropriations for our military buildup. Second, extension and revision of the Selective Service Act. Third, military and economic aid to help build up the strength of the free world. Fourth, revision and extension of the authority to expand production and to stabilize prices, wages, and rents. Fifth, improvement of our agricultural laws to help obtain the kinds of farm products we need for the defense effort. Sixth, improvement of our labor laws to help provide stable labor-management relations and to make sure that we have steady production in this emergency. Seventh, housing and training of defense workers and the full use of all our manpower resources. Eighth, means for increasing the supply of doctors, nurses, and other trained medical personnel critically needed for the defense effort. Ninth, aid to the States to meet the most urgent needs of our elementary and secondary schools. Some of our plans will have to be deferred for the time being. But we should do all we can to make sure our children are being trained as good and useful citizens in the critical times ahead. Tenth, a major increase in taxes to meet the cost of the defense effort. The Economic Report and the Budget Message will discuss these subjects further. In addition, I shall send to the Congress special messages containing detailed recommendations on legislation needed at this Session. In the months ahead the Government must give priority to activities that are urgent--like military procurement and atomic energy and power development. It must practice rigid economy in its nondefense activities. Many of the things we would normally do must be curtailed or postponed. But in a long-term defense effort like this one, we cannot neglect the measures needed to maintain a strong economy and a healthy democratic society. The Congress, therefore, should give continued attention to the measures which our country will need for the long pull. And it should act upon such legislation as promptly as circumstances permit. To take just one example--we need to continue and complete the work of rounding out our system of social insurance. We still need to improve our protection against unemployment and old age. We still need to provide insurance against the loss of earnings through sickness, and against the high costs of modern medical care. And above all, we must remember that the fundamentals of our strength rest upon the freedoms of our people. We must continue our efforts to achieve the full realization of our democratic ideals. We must uphold the freedom of speech and the freedom of conscience in our land. We must assure equal rights and equal opportunities to all our citizens. As we go forward this year in the defense of freedom, let us keep dearly before us the nature of our present effort. We are building up our strength, in concert with other free nations, to meet the danger of aggression that has been turned loose on the world. The strength of the free nations is the world's best hope of peace. I ask the Congress for unity in these crucial days. Make no mistake about my meaning. I do not ask, or expect, unanimity. I do not ask for an end to debate. Only by debate can we arrive at decisions which are wise, and which reflect the desires of the American people. We do not have a dictatorship in this country, and we never will have one in this country. When I request unity, what I am really asking for is a sense of responsibility on the part of every Member of this Congress. Let us debate the issues, but let every man among us weigh his words and his deeds. There is a sharp difference between harmful criticism and constructive criticism. If we are truly responsible as individuals, I am sure that we will be unified as a government. Let us keep our eyes on the issues and work for the things we all believe in. Let each of us put our country ahead of our party, and ahead of our own personal interests. I had the honor to be a Member of the Senate during World War II, and I know from experience that unity of purpose and of effort is possible in the Congress without any lessening of the vitality of our two-party system. Let us all stand together as Americans. Let us stand together with all men everywhere who believe in human liberty. Peace is precious to us. It is the way of life we strive for with all the strength and wisdom we possess. But more precious than peace are freedom and justice. We will fight, if fight we must, to keep our freedom and to prevent justice from being destroyed. These are the things that give meaning to our lives, and which we acknowledge to be greater than ourselves. This is our cause--peace, freedom, justice. We will pursue this cause with determination and humility, asking divine guidance that in all we do we may follow the will of God.
Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, Members of the Congress: This 82d Congress faces as grave a task as any Congress in the history of our Republic. The actions you take will be watched by the whole world. These actions will measure the ability of a free people, acting through their chosen representatives and their free institutions, to meet a deadly challenge to their way of life. We can meet this challenge foolishly or wisely. We can meet it timidly or bravely, shamefully or honorably. I know that the 82d Congress will meet this challenge in a way worthy of our great heritage. I know that your debates will be earnest, responsible, constructive, and to the point. I know that from these debates there will come the great decisions needed to carry us forward. At this critical time, I am glad to say that our country is in a healthy condition. Our democratic institutions are sound and strong. We have more men and women at work than ever before. We are able to produce more than ever before--in fact, far more than any country ever produced in the history of the world. I am confident that we can succeed in the great task that lies before us. We will succeed, but we must all do our part. We must all act together as citizens of this great Republic. As we meet here today, American soldiers are fighting a bitter campaign in Korea. We pay tribute to their courage, devotion, and gallantry. Our men are fighting, alongside their United Nations allies, because they know, as we do, that the aggression in Korea is part of the attempt of the Russian Communist dictatorship to take over the world, step by step. Our men are fighting a long way from home, but they are fighting for our lives and our liberties. They are fighting to protect our right to meet here today--our right to govern ourselves as a free nation. The threat of world conquest by Soviet Russia endangers our liberty and endangers the kind of world in which the free spirit of man can survive. This threat is aimed at all peoples who strive to win or defend their own freedom and national independence. Indeed, the state of our Nation is in great part the state of our friends and allies throughout the world. The gun that points at them points at us, also. The threat is a total threat and the danger is a common danger. All free nations are exposed and all are in peril. Their only security lies in banding together. No one nation can find protection in a selfish search for a safe haven from the storm. The free nations do not have any aggressive purpose. We want only peace in the world--peace for all countries. No threat to the security of any nation is concealed in our plans and programs. We had hoped that the Soviet Union, with its security assured by the Charter of the United Nations, would be willing to live and let live. But I am sorry to say that has not been the case. The imperialism of the czars has been replaced by the even more ambitious, more crafty, and more menacing imperialism of the rulers of the Soviet Union. This new imperialism has powerful military forces. It is keeping millions of men under arms. It has a large air force and a strong submarine force. It has complete control of the men and equipment of its satellites. It has kept its subject peoples and its economy in a state of perpetual mobilization. The present rulers of the Soviet Union have shown that they are willing to use this power to destroy the free nations and win domination over the whole world. The Soviet imperialists have two ways of going about their destructive work. They use the method of subversion and internal revolution, and they use the method of external aggression. In preparation for either of these methods of attack, they stir up class strife and disorder. They encourage sabotage. They put out poisonous propaganda. They deliberately try to prevent economic improvement. If their efforts are successful, they foment a revolution, as they did in Czechoslovakia and China, and as they tried, unsuccessfully, to do in Greece. If their methods of subversion are blocked, and if they think they can get away with outright warfare, they resort to external aggression. This is what they did when they loosed the armies of their puppet states against the Republic of Korea, in an evil war by proxy. We of the free world must be ready to meet both of these methods of Soviet action. We must not neglect one or the other. The free world has power and resources to meet these two forms of aggression--resources that are far greater than those of the Soviet dictatorship. We have skilled and vigorous peoples, great industrial strength, and abundant sources of raw materials. And above all, we cherish liberty. Our common ideals are a great part of our strength. These ideals are the driving force of human progress. The free nations believe in the dignity and the worth of man. We believe in independence for all nations. We believe that free and independent nations can band together into a world order based on law. We have laid the cornerstone of such a peaceful world in the United Nations. We believe that such a world order can and should spread the benefits of modern science and industry, better health and education, more food and rising standards of living--throughout the world. These ideals give our because a power and vitality that Russian communism can never command. The free nations, however, are bound together by more than ideals. They are a real community bound together also by the ties of self-interest and self-preservation. If they should fall apart, the results would be fatal to human freedom. Our own national security is deeply involved with that of the other free nations. While they need our support, we equally need theirs. Our national safety would be gravely prejudiced if the Soviet Union were to succeed in harnessing to its war machine the resources and the manpower of the free nations on the borders of its empire. If Western Europe were to fall to Soviet Russia, it would double the Soviet supply of coal and triple the Soviet supply of steel. If the free countries of Asia and Africa should fall to Soviet Russia, we would lose the sources of many of our most vital raw materials, including uranium, which is the basis of our atomic power. And Soviet command of the manpower of the free nations of Europe and Asia would confront us with military forces which we could never hope to equal. In such a situation, the Soviet Union could impose its demands on the world, without resort to conflict, simply through the preponderance of its economic and military power. The Soviet Union does not have to attack the United States to secure domination of the world. It can achieve its ends by isolating us and swallowing up all our allies. Therefore, even if we were craven enough I do not believe we could be--but, I say, even if we were craven enough to abandon our ideals, it would be disastrous for us to withdraw from the community of free nations. We are the most powerful single member of this community, and we have a special responsibility. We must take the leadership in meeting the challenge to freedom and in helping to protect the rights of independent nations. This country has a practical, realistic program of action for meeting this challenge. First, we shall have to extend economic assistance, where it can be effective. The best way to stop subversion by the Kremlin is to strike at the roots of social injustice and economic disorder. People who have jobs, homes, and hopes for the future will defend themselves against the underground agents of the Kremlin. Our programs of economic aid have done much to turn back Communism. In Europe the Marshall plan has had an electrifying result. As European recovery progressed, the strikes led by the Kremlin's agents in Italy and France failed. All over Western Europe the Communist Party took worse and worse beatings at the polls. The countries which have received Marshall plan aid have been able, through hard work, to expand their productive strength-in many cases, to levels higher than ever before in their history. Without this strength they would be completely incapable of defending themselves today. They are now ready to use this strength in helping to build a strong combined defense against aggression. We shall need to continue some economic aid to European countries. This aid should now be specifically related to the building of their defenses. In other parts of the world our economic assistance will need to be more broadly directed toward economic development. In the Near East, in Africa, in Asia, we must do what we can to help people who are striving to advance from misery, poverty, and hunger. We must also continue to help the economic growth of our good neighbors in this hemisphere. These actions will bring greater strength for the free world. They will give many people a real stake in the future and reason to defend their freedom. They will mean increased production of goods they need and materials we need. Second, we shall need to continue our military assistance to countries which want to defend themselves. The heart of our common defense effort is the North Atlantic community. The defense of Europe is the basis for the defense of the whole free world--ourselves included. Next to the United States, Europe is the largest workshop in the world. It is also a homeland of the great religious beliefs shared by many of our citizens beliefs which are now threatened by the tide of atheistic communism. Strategically, economically, and morally, the defense of Europe is a part of our own defense. That is why we have joined with the countries of Europe in the North Atlantic Treaty, pledging ourselves to work with them. There has been much discussion recently over whether the European countries are willing to defend themselves. Their actions are answering this question. Our North Atlantic Treaty partners have strict systems of universal military training. Several have recently increased the term of service. All have taken measures to improve the quality of training. Forces are being trained and expanded as rapidly as the necessary arms and equipment can be supplied from their factories and ours. Our North Atlantic Treaty partners, together, are building armies bigger than our own. None of the North Atlantic Treaty countries, including our own country, has done enough yet. But real progress is being made. Together, we have worked out defense 'plans. The military leaders of our own country took part in working out these plans, and are agreed that they are sound and within our capabilities. To put these plans into action, we sent to Europe last week one of our greatest military commanders, General Dwight D. Eisenhower. General Eisenhower went to Europe to assume command of the united forces of the North Atlantic Treaty countries, including our own forces in Germany. The people of Europe have confidence in General Eisenhower. They know his ability to put together a fighting force of allies. His mission is vital to our security. We should all stand behind him, and give him every bit of help we can. Part of our job will be to reinforce the military strength of our European partners by sending them weapons and equipment as our military production expands. Our program of military assistance extends to the nations in the Near East and the Far East which are trying to defend their freedom. Soviet communism is trying to make these nations into colonies, and to use their people as cannon fodder in new wars of conquest. We want their people to be free men and to enjoy peace. Our country has always stood for freedom for the peoples of Asia. Long, long ago it stood for the freedom of the peoples of Asia. Our history shows this. We have demonstrated it in the Philippines. We have demonstrated it in our relations with Indonesia, India, and with China. We hope to join in restoring the people of Japan to membership in the community of free nations. It is in the Far East that we have taken up arms, under the United Nations, to preserve the principle of independence for free nations. We are fighting to keep the forces of Communist aggression from making a slave state out of Korea. Korea has tremendous significance for the world. It means that free nations, acting through the United Nations, are fighting together against aggression. We will understand the importance of this best if we look back into history. If the democracies had stood up against the invasion of Manchuria in 1931, or the attack on Ethiopia in 1935, or the seizure of Austria in 1938, if they had stood together against aggression on those occasions as the United Nations has done in Korea, the whole history of our time would have been different. The principles for which we are fighting in Korea are right and just. They are the foundations of collective security and of the future of free nations. Korea is not only a country undergoing the torment of aggression; it is also a symbol. It stands for right and justice in the world against oppression and slavery. The free world must always stand for these principles--and we will stand with the free world. As the third part of our program, we will continue to work for peaceful settlements in international disputes. We will support the United Nations and remain loyal to the great principles of international cooperation laid down in its charter. We are willing, as we have always been, to negotiate honorable settlements with the Soviet Union. But we will not engage in appeasement. The Soviet rulers have made it clear that we must have strength as well as right on our side. If we build our strength--and we are building it--the Soviet rulers may face the facts and lay aside their plans to take over the world. That is what we hope will happen, and that is what we are trying to bring about. That is the only realistic road to peace. These are the main elements of the course our Nation must follow as a member of the community of free nations. These are the things we must do to preserve our security and help create a peaceful world. But they will be successful only if we increase the strength of our own country. Here at home we have some very big jobs to do. We are building much stronger military forces--and we are building them fast. We are preparing for full wartime mobilization, if that should be necessary. And we are continuing to build a strong and growing economy, able to maintain whatever effort may be required for as long as necessary. We are building our own Army, Navy, and Air Force to an active strength of nearly 3 1/2 million men and women. We are stepping up the training of the reserve forces, and establishing more training facilities, so that we can rapidly increase our active forces far more on short notice. We are going to produce all the weapons and equipment that such an armed force will need. Furthermore, we will make weapons for our allies, and weapons for our own reserve supplies. On top of this, we will build the capacity to turn out on short notice arms and supplies that may be needed for a full-scale war. Fortunately, we have a good start on this because of our enormous plant capacity and because of the equipment on hand from the last war. For example, many combat ships are being returned to active duty from the "mothball fleet" and many others can be put into service on very short notice. We have large reserves of arms and ammunition and thousands of workers skilled in arms production. In many cases, however, our stocks of weapons are low. In other cases, those on hand are not the most modern. We have made remarkable technical advances. We have developed new types of jet planes and powerful new tanks. We are concentrating on producing the newest types of weapons and producing them as fast as we can. This production drive is more selective than the one we had during World War II, but it is just as urgent and intense. It is a big program and it is a costly one. Let me give you two concrete examples. Our present program calls for expanding the aircraft industry so that it will have the capacity to produce 50,000 modern military planes a year. We are preparing the capacity to produce 35,000 tanks a year. We are not now ordering that many planes or that many tanks, and we hope that we never have to, but we mean to be able to turn them out if we need them. The planes we are producing now are much bigger, much better, and much more expensive than the planes we had during the last war. We used to think that the B-17 was a huge plane, and the blockbuster it carried a huge load. But the B-36 can carry five of these blockbusters in its belly, and it can carry them five times as far. Of course, the B-36 is much more complicated to build than the B-17, and far more expensive. One B-17 costs $275,000, while now one B-36 costs $3 ½ million. I ask you to remember that what we are doing is to provide the best and most modern military equipment in the world for our fighting forces. This kind of defense production program has two parts. The first part is to get our defense production going as fast as possible. We have to convert plants and channel materials to defense production. This means heavy cuts in civilian uses of copper, aluminum, rubber, and other essential materials. It means shortages in various consumer goods. The second part is to increase our capacity to produce and to keep our economy strong for the long pull. We do not know how long Communist aggression will threaten the world. Only by increasing our output can we carry the burden of preparedness for an indefinite period in the future. This means that we will have to build more power plants and more steel mills, grow more cotton, mine more copper, and expand our capacity in many other ways. The Congress will need to consider legislation, at this session, affecting all the aspects of our mobilization job. The main subjects on which legislation will be needed are: First, appropriations for our military buildup. Second, extension and revision of the Selective Service Act. Third, military and economic aid to help build up the strength of the free world. Fourth, revision and extension of the authority to expand production and to stabilize prices, wages, and rents. Fifth, improvement of our agricultural laws to help obtain the kinds of farm products we need for the defense effort. Sixth, improvement of our labor laws to help provide stable labor-management relations and to make sure that we have steady production in this emergency. Seventh, housing and training of defense workers and the full use of all our manpower resources. Eighth, means for increasing the supply of doctors, nurses, and other trained medical personnel critically needed for the defense effort. Ninth, aid to the States to meet the most urgent needs of our elementary and secondary schools. Some of our plans will have to be deferred for the time being. But we should do all we can to make sure our children are being trained as good and useful citizens in the critical times ahead. Tenth, a major increase in taxes to meet the cost of the defense effort. The Economic Report and the Budget Message will discuss these subjects further. In addition, I shall send to the Congress special messages containing detailed recommendations on legislation needed at this Session. In the months ahead the Government must give priority to activities that are urgent--like military procurement and atomic energy and power development. It must practice rigid economy in its nondefense activities. Many of the things we would normally do must be curtailed or postponed. But in a long-term defense effort like this one, we cannot neglect the measures needed to maintain a strong economy and a healthy democratic society. The Congress, therefore, should give continued attention to the measures which our country will need for the long pull. And it should act upon such legislation as promptly as circumstances permit. To take just one example--we need to continue and complete the work of rounding out our system of social insurance. We still need to improve our protection against unemployment and old age. We still need to provide insurance against the loss of earnings through sickness, and against the high costs of modern medical care. And above all, we must remember that the fundamentals of our strength rest upon the freedoms of our people. We must continue our efforts to achieve the full realization of our democratic ideals. We must uphold the freedom of speech and the freedom of conscience in our land. We must assure equal rights and equal opportunities to all our citizens. As we go forward this year in the defense of freedom, let us keep dearly before us the nature of our present effort. We are building up our strength, in concert with other free nations, to meet the danger of aggression that has been turned loose on the world. The strength of the free nations is the world's best hope of peace. I ask the Congress for unity in these crucial days. Make no mistake about my meaning. I do not ask, or expect, unanimity. I do not ask for an end to debate. Only by debate can we arrive at decisions which are wise, and which reflect the desires of the American people. We do not have a dictatorship in this country, and we never will have one in this country. When I request unity, what I am really asking for is a sense of responsibility on the part of every Member of this Congress. Let us debate the issues, but let every man among us weigh his words and his deeds. There is a sharp difference between harmful criticism and constructive criticism. If we are truly responsible as individuals, I am sure that we will be unified as a government. Let us keep our eyes on the issues and work for the things we all believe in. Let each of us put our country ahead of our party, and ahead of our own personal interests. I had the honor to be a Member of the Senate during World War II, and I know from experience that unity of purpose and of effort is possible in the Congress without any lessening of the vitality of our two-party system. Let us all stand together as Americans. Let us stand together with all men everywhere who believe in human liberty. Peace is precious to us. It is the way of life we strive for with all the strength and wisdom we possess. But more precious than peace are freedom and justice. We will fight, if fight we must, to keep our freedom and to prevent justice from being destroyed. These are the things that give meaning to our lives, and which we acknowledge to be greater than ourselves. This is our because--peace, freedom, justice. We will pursue this because with determination and humility, asking divine guidance that in all we do we may follow the will of God.
president speaker members of the congress this 82d congress faces as grave a task as any congress in the history of our republic the actions you take will be watched by the whole world these actions will measure the ability of a free people acting through their chosen representatives and their free institutions to meet a deadly challenge to their way of life we can meet this challenge foolishly or wisely we can meet it timidly or bravely shamefully or honorably i know that the 82d congress will meet this challenge in a way worthy of our great heritage i know that your debates will be earnest responsible constructive and to the point i know that from these debates there will come the great decisions needed to carry us forward at this critical time i am glad to say that our country is in a healthy condition our democratic institutions are sound and strong we have more men and women at work than ever before we are able to produce more than ever before in fact far more than any country ever produced in the history of the world i am confident that we can succeed in the great task that lies before us we will succeed but we must all do our part we must all act together as citizens of this great republic as we meet here today american soldiers are fighting a bitter campaign in korea we pay tribute to their courage devotion and gallantry our men are fighting alongside their united nations allies because they know as we do that the aggression in korea is part of the attempt of the russian communist dictatorship to take over the world step by step our men are fighting a long way from home but they are fighting for our lives and our liberties they are fighting to protect our right to meet here today our right to govern ourselves as a free nation the threat of world conquest by soviet russia endangers our liberty and endangers the kind of world in which the free spirit of man can survive this threat is aimed at all peoples who strive to win or defend their own freedom and national independence indeed the state of our nation is in great part the state of our friends and allies throughout the world the gun that points at them points at us also the threat is a total threat and the danger is a common danger all free nations are exposed and all are in peril their only security lies in banding together no one nation can find protection in a selfish search for a safe haven from the storm the free nations do not have any aggressive purpose we want only peace in the world peace for all countries no threat to the security of any nation is concealed in our plans and programs we had hoped that the soviet union with its security assured by the charter of the united nations would be willing to live and let live but i am sorry to say that has not been the case the imperialism of the czars has been replaced by the even more ambitious more crafty and more menacing imperialism of the rulers of the soviet union this new imperialism has powerful military forces it is keeping millions of men under arms it has a large air force and a strong submarine force it has complete control of the men and equipment of its satellites it has kept its subject peoples and its economy in a state of perpetual mobilization the present rulers of the soviet union have shown that they are willing to use this power to destroy the free nations and win domination over the whole world the soviet imperialists have two ways of going about their destructive work they use the method of subversion and internal revolution and they use the method of external aggression in preparation for either of these methods of attack they stir up class strife and disorder they encourage sabotage they put out poisonous propaganda they deliberately try to prevent economic improvement if their efforts are successful they foment a revolution as they did in czechoslovakia and china and as they tried unsuccessfully to do in greece if their methods of subversion are blocked and if they think they can get away with outright warfare they resort to external aggression this is what they did when they loosed the armies of their puppet states against the republic of korea in an evil war by proxy we of the free world must be ready to meet both of these methods of soviet action we must not neglect one or the other the free world has power and resources to meet these two forms of aggression resources that are far greater than those of the soviet dictatorship we have skilled and vigorous peoples great industrial strength and abundant sources of raw materials and above all we cherish liberty our common ideals are a great part of our strength these ideals are the driving force of human progress the free nations believe in the dignity and the worth of man we believe in independence for all nations we believe that free and independent nations can band together into a world order based on law we have laid the cornerstone of such a peaceful world in the united nations we believe that such a world order can and should spread the benefits of modern science and industry better health and education more food and rising standards of living throughout the world these ideals give our because a power and vitality that russian communism can never command the free nations however are bound together by more than ideals they are a real community bound together also by the ties of and if they should fall apart the results would be fatal to human freedom our own national security is deeply involved with that of the other free nations while they need our support we equally need theirs our national safety would be gravely prejudiced if the soviet union were to succeed in harnessing to its war machine the resources and the manpower of the free nations on the borders of its empire if western europe were to fall to soviet russia it would double the soviet supply of coal and triple the soviet supply of steel if the free countries of asia and africa should fall to soviet russia we would lose the sources of many of our most vital raw materials including uranium which is the basis of our atomic power and soviet command of the manpower of the free nations of europe and asia would confront us with military forces which we could never hope to equal in such a situation the soviet union could impose its demands on the world without resort to conflict simply through the preponderance of its economic and military power the soviet union does not have to attack the united states to secure domination of the world it can achieve its ends by isolating us and swallowing up all our allies therefore even if we were craven enough i do not believe we could be but i say even if we were craven enough to abandon our ideals it would be disastrous for us to withdraw from the community of free nations we are the most powerful single member of this community and we have a special responsibility we must take the leadership in meeting the challenge to freedom and in helping to protect the rights of independent nations this country has a practical realistic program of action for meeting this challenge first we shall have to extend economic assistance where it can be effective the best way to stop subversion by the kremlin is to strike at the roots of social injustice and economic disorder people who have jobs homes and hopes for the future will defend themselves against the underground agents of the kremlin our programs of economic aid have done much to turn back communism in europe the marshall plan has had an electrifying result as european recovery progressed the strikes led by the kremlin agents in italy and france failed all over western europe the communist party took worse and worse beatings at the polls the countries which have received marshall plan aid have been able through hard work to expand their productive many cases to levels higher than ever before in their history without this strength they would be completely incapable of defending themselves today they are now ready to use this strength in helping to build a strong combined defense against aggression we shall need to continue some economic aid to european countries this aid should now be specifically related to the building of their defenses in other parts of the world our economic assistance will need to be more broadly directed toward economic development in the near east in africa in asia we must do what we can to help people who are striving to advance from misery poverty and hunger we must also continue to help the economic growth of our good neighbors in this hemisphere these actions will bring greater strength for the free world they will give many people a real stake in the future and reason to defend their freedom they will mean increased production of goods they need and materials we need second we shall need to continue our military assistance to countries which want to defend themselves the heart of our common defense effort is the north atlantic community the defense of europe is the basis for the defense of the whole free world ourselves included next to the united states europe is the largest workshop in the world it is also a homeland of the great religious beliefs shared by many of our citizens beliefs which are now threatened by the tide of atheistic communism strategically economically and morally the defense of europe is a part of our own defense that is why we have joined with the countries of europe in the north atlantic treaty pledging ourselves to work with them there has been much discussion recently over whether the european countries are willing to defend themselves their actions are answering this question our north atlantic treaty partners have strict systems of universal military training several have recently increased the term of service all have taken measures to improve the quality of training forces are being trained and expanded as rapidly as the necessary arms and equipment can be supplied from their factories and ours our north atlantic treaty partners together are building armies bigger than our own none of the north atlantic treaty countries including our own country has done enough yet but real progress is being made together we have worked out defense the military leaders of our own country took part in working out these plans and are agreed that they are sound and within our capabilities to put these plans into action we sent to europe last week one of our greatest military commanders general dwight eisenhower general eisenhower went to europe to assume command of the united forces of the north atlantic treaty countries including our own forces in germany the people of europe have confidence in general eisenhower they know his ability to put together a fighting force of allies his mission is vital to our security we should all stand behind him and give him every bit of help we can part of our job will be to reinforce the military strength of our european partners by sending them weapons and equipment as our military production expands our program of military assistance extends to the nations in the near east and the far east which are trying to defend their freedom soviet communism is trying to make these nations into colonies and to use their people as cannon fodder in new wars of conquest we want their people to be free men and to enjoy peace our country has always stood for freedom for the peoples of asia long long ago it stood for the freedom of the peoples of asia our history shows this we have demonstrated it in the philippines we have demonstrated it in our relations with indonesia india and with china we hope to join in restoring the people of japan to membership in the community of free nations it is in the far east that we have taken up arms under the united nations to preserve the principle of independence for free nations we are fighting to keep the forces of communist aggression from making a slave state out of korea korea has tremendous significance for the world it means that free nations acting through the united nations are fighting together against aggression we will understand the importance of this best if we look back into history if the democracies had stood up against the invasion of manchuria in 1931 or the attack on ethiopia in 1935 or the seizure of austria in 1938 if they had stood together against aggression on those occasions as the united nations has done in korea the whole history of our time would have been different the principles for which we are fighting in korea are right and just they are the foundations of collective security and of the future of free nations korea is not only a country undergoing the torment of aggression it is also a symbol it stands for right and justice in the world against oppression and slavery the free world must always stand for these principles and we will stand with the free world as the third part of our program we will continue to work for peaceful settlements in international disputes we will support the united nations and remain loyal to the great principles of international cooperation laid down in its charter we are willing as we have always been to negotiate honorable settlements with the soviet union but we will not engage in appeasement the soviet rulers have made it clear that we must have strength as well as right on our side if we build our strength and we are building it the soviet rulers may face the facts and lay aside their plans to take over the world that is what we hope will happen and that is what we are trying to bring about that is the only realistic road to peace these are the main elements of the course our nation must follow as a member of the community of free nations these are the things we must do to preserve our security and help create a peaceful world but they will be successful only if we increase the strength of our own country here at home we have some very big jobs to do we are building much stronger military forces and we are building them fast we are preparing for full wartime mobilization if that should be necessary and we are continuing to build a strong and growing economy able to maintain whatever effort may be required for as long as necessary we are building our own army navy and air force to an active strength of nearly 3 million men and women we are stepping up the training of the reserve forces and establishing more training facilities so that we can rapidly increase our active forces far more on short notice we are going to produce all the weapons and equipment that such an armed force will need furthermore we will make weapons for our allies and weapons for our own reserve supplies on top of this we will build the capacity to turn out on short notice arms and supplies that may be needed for a war fortunately we have a good start on this because of our enormous plant capacity and because of the equipment on hand from the last war for example many combat ships are being returned to active duty from the mothball fleet and many others can be put into service on very short notice we have large reserves of arms and ammunition and thousands of workers skilled in arms production in many cases however our stocks of weapons are low in other cases those on hand are not the most modern we have made remarkable technical advances we have developed new types of jet planes and powerful new tanks we are concentrating on producing the newest types of weapons and producing them as fast as we can this production drive is more selective than the one we had during world war ii but it is just as urgent and intense it is a big program and it is a costly one let me give you two concrete examples our present program calls for expanding the aircraft industry so that it will have the capacity to produce modern military planes a year we are preparing the capacity to produce tanks a year we are not now ordering that many planes or that many tanks and we hope that we never have to but we mean to be able to turn them out if we need them the planes we are producing now are much bigger much better and much more expensive than the planes we had during the last war we used to think that the was a huge plane and the blockbuster it carried a huge load but the can carry five of these blockbusters in its belly and it can carry them five times as far of course the is much more complicated to build than the and far more expensive one costs while now one costs 3 ½ million i ask you to remember that what we are doing is to provide the best and most modern military equipment in the world for our fighting forces this kind of defense production program has two parts the first part is to get our defense production going as fast as possible we have to convert plants and channel materials to defense production this means heavy cuts in civilian uses of copper aluminum rubber and other essential materials it means shortages in various consumer goods the second part is to increase our capacity to produce and to keep our economy strong for the long pull we do not know how long communist aggression will threaten the world only by increasing our output can we carry the burden of preparedness for an indefinite period in the future this means that we will have to build more power plants and more steel mills grow more cotton mine more copper and expand our capacity in many other ways the congress will need to consider legislation at this session affecting all the aspects of our mobilization job the main subjects on which legislation will be needed are first appropriations for our military buildup second extension and revision of the selective service act third military and economic aid to help build up the strength of the free world fourth revision and extension of the authority to expand production and to stabilize prices wages and rents fifth improvement of our agricultural laws to help obtain the kinds of farm products we need for the defense effort sixth improvement of our labor laws to help provide stable relations and to make sure that we have steady production in this emergency seventh housing and training of defense workers and the full use of all our manpower resources eighth means for increasing the supply of doctors nurses and other trained medical personnel critically needed for the defense effort ninth aid to the states to meet the most urgent needs of our elementary and secondary schools some of our plans will have to be deferred for the time being but we should do all we can to make sure our children are being trained as good and useful citizens in the critical times ahead tenth a major increase in taxes to meet the cost of the defense effort the economic report and the budget message will discuss these subjects further in addition i shall send to the congress special messages containing detailed recommendations on legislation needed at this session in the months ahead the government must give priority to activities that are urgent like military procurement and atomic energy and power development it must practice rigid economy in its nondefense activities many of the things we would normally do must be curtailed or postponed but in a defense effort like this one we can not neglect the measures needed to maintain a strong economy and a healthy democratic society the congress therefore should give continued attention to the measures which our country will need for the long pull and it should act upon such legislation as promptly as circumstances permit to take just one example we need to continue and complete the work of rounding out our system of social insurance we still need to improve our protection against unemployment and old age we still need to provide insurance against the loss of earnings through sickness and against the high costs of modern medical care and above all we must remember that the fundamentals of our strength rest upon the freedoms of our people we must continue our efforts to achieve the full realization of our democratic ideals we must uphold the freedom of speech and the freedom of conscience in our land we must assure equal rights and equal opportunities to all our citizens as we go forward this year in the defense of freedom let us keep dearly before us the nature of our present effort we are building up our strength in concert with other free nations to meet the danger of aggression that has been turned loose on the world the strength of the free nations is the world best hope of peace i ask the congress for unity in these crucial days make no mistake about my meaning i do not ask or expect unanimity i do not ask for an end to debate only by debate can we arrive at decisions which are wise and which reflect the desires of the american people we do not have a dictatorship in this country and we never will have one in this country when i request unity what i am really asking for is a sense of responsibility on the part of every member of this congress let us debate the issues but let every man among us weigh his words and his deeds there is a sharp difference between harmful criticism and constructive criticism if we are truly responsible as individuals i am sure that we will be unified as a government let us keep our eyes on the issues and work for the things we all believe in let each of us put our country ahead of our party and ahead of our own personal interests i had the honor to be a member of the senate during world war ii and i know from experience that unity of purpose and of effort is possible in the congress without any lessening of the vitality of our system let us all stand together as americans let us stand together with all men everywhere who believe in human liberty peace is precious to us it is the way of life we strive for with all the strength and wisdom we possess but more precious than peace are freedom and justice we will fight if fight we must to keep our freedom and to prevent justice from being destroyed these are the things that give meaning to our lives and which we acknowledge to be greater than ourselves this is our because peace freedom justice we will pursue this because with determination and humility asking divine guidance that in all we do we may follow the will of god
president speaker members congress 82d congress faces grave task congress history republic actions take watched whole world actions measure ability free people acting chosen representatives free institutions meet deadly challenge way life meet challenge foolishly wisely meet timidly bravely shamefully honorably know 82d congress meet challenge way worthy great heritage know debates earnest responsible constructive point know debates come great decisions needed carry us forward critical time glad say country healthy condition democratic institutions sound strong men women work ever able produce ever fact far country ever produced history world confident succeed great task lies us succeed must part must act together citizens great republic meet today american soldiers fighting bitter campaign korea pay tribute courage devotion gallantry men fighting alongside united nations allies know aggression korea part attempt russian communist dictatorship take world step step men fighting long way home fighting lives liberties fighting protect right meet today right govern free nation threat world conquest soviet russia endangers liberty endangers kind world free spirit man survive threat aimed peoples strive win defend freedom national independence indeed state nation great part state friends allies throughout world gun points points us also threat total threat danger common danger free nations exposed peril security lies banding together one nation find protection selfish search safe storm free nations aggressive purpose want peace world peace countries threat security nation concealed plans programs hoped soviet union security assured charter united nations would willing live let live sorry say case imperialism czars replaced even ambitious crafty menacing imperialism rulers soviet union new imperialism powerful military forces keeping millions men arms large air force strong submarine force complete control men equipment satellites kept subject peoples economy state perpetual mobilization present rulers soviet union shown willing use power destroy free nations win domination whole world soviet imperialists two ways going destructive work use method subversion internal revolution use method external aggression preparation either methods attack stir class strife disorder encourage sabotage put poisonous propaganda deliberately try prevent economic improvement efforts successful foment revolution czechoslovakia china tried unsuccessfully greece methods subversion blocked think get away outright warfare resort external aggression loosed armies puppet states republic korea evil war proxy free world must ready meet methods soviet action must neglect one free world power resources meet two forms aggression resources far greater soviet dictatorship skilled vigorous peoples great industrial strength abundant sources raw materials cherish liberty common ideals great part strength ideals driving force human progress free nations believe dignity worth man believe independence nations believe free independent nations band together world order based law laid cornerstone peaceful world united nations believe world order spread benefits modern science industry better health education food rising standards living throughout world ideals give power vitality russian communism never command free nations however bound together ideals real community bound together also ties fall apart results would fatal human freedom national security deeply involved free nations need support equally need national safety would gravely prejudiced soviet union succeed harnessing war machine resources manpower free nations borders empire western europe fall soviet russia would double soviet supply coal triple soviet supply steel free countries asia africa fall soviet russia would lose sources many vital raw materials including uranium basis atomic power soviet command manpower free nations europe asia would confront us military forces could never hope equal situation soviet union could impose demands world without resort conflict simply preponderance economic military power soviet union attack united states secure domination world achieve ends isolating us swallowing allies therefore even craven enough believe could say even craven enough abandon ideals would disastrous us withdraw community free nations powerful single member community special responsibility must take leadership meeting challenge freedom helping protect rights independent nations country practical realistic program action meeting challenge first shall extend economic assistance effective best way stop subversion kremlin strike roots social injustice economic disorder people jobs homes hopes future defend underground agents kremlin programs economic aid done much turn back communism europe marshall plan electrifying result european recovery progressed strikes led kremlin agents italy france failed western europe communist party took worse worse beatings polls countries received marshall plan aid able hard work expand productive many cases levels higher ever history without strength would completely incapable defending today ready use strength helping build strong combined defense aggression shall need continue economic aid european countries aid specifically related building defenses parts world economic assistance need broadly directed toward economic development near east africa asia must help people striving advance misery poverty hunger must also continue help economic growth good neighbors hemisphere actions bring greater strength free world give many people real stake future reason defend freedom mean increased production goods need materials need second shall need continue military assistance countries want defend heart common defense effort north atlantic community defense europe basis defense whole free world included next united states europe largest workshop world also homeland great religious beliefs shared many citizens beliefs threatened tide atheistic communism strategically economically morally defense europe part defense joined countries europe north atlantic treaty pledging work much discussion recently whether european countries willing defend actions answering question north atlantic treaty partners strict systems universal military training several recently increased term service taken measures improve quality training forces trained expanded rapidly necessary arms equipment supplied factories north atlantic treaty partners together building armies bigger none north atlantic treaty countries including country done enough yet real progress made together worked defense military leaders country took part working plans agreed sound within capabilities put plans action sent europe last week one greatest military commanders general dwight eisenhower general eisenhower went europe assume command united forces north atlantic treaty countries including forces germany people europe confidence general eisenhower know ability put together fighting force allies mission vital security stand behind give every bit help part job reinforce military strength european partners sending weapons equipment military production expands program military assistance extends nations near east far east trying defend freedom soviet communism trying make nations colonies use people cannon fodder new wars conquest want people free men enjoy peace country always stood freedom peoples asia long long ago stood freedom peoples asia history shows demonstrated philippines demonstrated relations indonesia india china hope join restoring people japan membership community free nations far east taken arms united nations preserve principle independence free nations fighting keep forces communist aggression making slave state korea korea tremendous significance world means free nations acting united nations fighting together aggression understand importance best look back history democracies stood invasion manchuria 1931 attack ethiopia 1935 seizure austria 1938 stood together aggression occasions united nations done korea whole history time would different principles fighting korea right foundations collective security future free nations korea country undergoing torment aggression also symbol stands right justice world oppression slavery free world must always stand principles stand free world third part program continue work peaceful settlements international disputes support united nations remain loyal great principles international cooperation laid charter willing always negotiate honorable settlements soviet union engage appeasement soviet rulers made clear must strength well right side build strength building soviet rulers may face facts lay aside plans take world hope happen trying bring realistic road peace main elements course nation must follow member community free nations things must preserve security help create peaceful world successful increase strength country home big jobs building much stronger military forces building fast preparing full wartime mobilization necessary continuing build strong growing economy able maintain whatever effort may required long necessary building army navy air force active strength nearly 3 million men women stepping training reserve forces establishing training facilities rapidly increase active forces far short notice going produce weapons equipment armed force need furthermore make weapons allies weapons reserve supplies top build capacity turn short notice arms supplies may needed war fortunately good start enormous plant capacity equipment hand last war example many combat ships returned active duty mothball fleet many others put service short notice large reserves arms ammunition thousands workers skilled arms production many cases however stocks weapons low cases hand modern made remarkable technical advances developed new types jet planes powerful new tanks concentrating producing newest types weapons producing fast production drive selective one world war ii urgent intense big program costly one let give two concrete examples present program calls expanding aircraft industry capacity produce modern military planes year preparing capacity produce tanks year ordering many planes many tanks hope never mean able turn need planes producing much bigger much better much expensive planes last war used think huge plane blockbuster carried huge load carry five blockbusters belly carry five times far course much complicated build far expensive one costs one costs 3 ½ million ask remember provide best modern military equipment world fighting forces kind defense production program two parts first part get defense production going fast possible convert plants channel materials defense production means heavy cuts civilian uses copper aluminum rubber essential materials means shortages various consumer goods second part increase capacity produce keep economy strong long pull know long communist aggression threaten world increasing output carry burden preparedness indefinite period future means build power plants steel mills grow cotton mine copper expand capacity many ways congress need consider legislation session affecting aspects mobilization job main subjects legislation needed first appropriations military buildup second extension revision selective service act third military economic aid help build strength free world fourth revision extension authority expand production stabilize prices wages rents fifth improvement agricultural laws help obtain kinds farm products need defense effort sixth improvement labor laws help provide stable relations make sure steady production emergency seventh housing training defense workers full use manpower resources eighth means increasing supply doctors nurses trained medical personnel critically needed defense effort ninth aid states meet urgent needs elementary secondary schools plans deferred time make sure children trained good useful citizens critical times ahead tenth major increase taxes meet cost defense effort economic report budget message discuss subjects addition shall send congress special messages containing detailed recommendations legislation needed session months ahead government must give priority activities urgent like military procurement atomic energy power development must practice rigid economy nondefense activities many things would normally must curtailed postponed defense effort like one neglect measures needed maintain strong economy healthy democratic society congress therefore give continued attention measures country need long pull act upon legislation promptly circumstances permit take one example need continue complete work rounding system social insurance still need improve protection unemployment old age still need provide insurance loss earnings sickness high costs modern medical care must remember fundamentals strength rest upon freedoms people must continue efforts achieve full realization democratic ideals must uphold freedom speech freedom conscience land must assure equal rights equal opportunities citizens go forward year defense freedom let us keep dearly us nature present effort building strength concert free nations meet danger aggression turned loose world strength free nations world best hope peace ask congress unity crucial days make mistake meaning ask expect unanimity ask end debate debate arrive decisions wise reflect desires american people dictatorship country never one country request unity really asking sense responsibility part every member congress let us debate issues let every man among us weigh words deeds sharp difference harmful criticism constructive criticism truly responsible individuals sure unified government let us keep eyes issues work things believe let us put country ahead party ahead personal interests honor member senate world war ii know experience unity purpose effort possible congress without lessening vitality system let us stand together americans let us stand together men everywhere believe human liberty peace precious us way life strive strength wisdom possess precious peace freedom justice fight fight must keep freedom prevent justice destroyed things give meaning lives acknowledge greater peace freedom justice pursue determination humility asking divine guidance may follow god
president speaker member congress 82d congress face grave task congress history republic action take watch whole world action measure ability free people act chosen representative free institution meet deadly challenge way life meet challenge foolishly wisely meet timidly bravely shamefully honorably know 82d congress meet challenge way worthy great heritage know debate earnest responsible constructive point know debate come great decision need carry u forward critical time glad say country healthy condition democratic institution sound strong men woman work ever able produce ever fact far country ever produce history world confident succeed great task lie u succeed must part must act together citizen great republic meet today american soldier fight bitter campaign korea pay tribute courage devotion gallantry men fight alongside united nation ally know aggression korea part attempt russian communist dictatorship take world step step men fight long way home fight life liberty fight protect right meet today right govern free nation threat world conquest soviet russia endangers liberty endangers kind world free spirit man survive threat aim people strive win defend freedom national independence indeed state nation great part state friends ally throughout world gun point point u also threat total threat danger common danger free nation expose peril security lie band together one nation find protection selfish search safe storm free nation aggressive purpose want peace world peace country threat security nation conceal plan program hop soviet union security assure charter united nation would willing live let live sorry say case imperialism czar replace even ambitious crafty menace imperialism ruler soviet union new imperialism powerful military force keep million men arm large air force strong submarine force complete control men equipment satellite kept subject people economy state perpetual mobilization present ruler soviet union show willing use power destroy free nation win domination whole world soviet imperialist two way go destructive work use method subversion internal revolution use method external aggression preparation either method attack stir class strife disorder encourage sabotage put poisonous propaganda deliberately try prevent economic improvement effort successful foment revolution czechoslovakia china try unsuccessfully greece method subversion block think get away outright warfare resort external aggression loose army puppet state republic korea evil war proxy free world must ready meet method soviet action must neglect one free world power resource meet two form aggression resource far great soviet dictatorship skilled vigorous people great industrial strength abundant source raw material cherish liberty common ideal great part strength ideal drive force human progress free nation believe dignity worth man believe independence nation believe free independent nation band together world order base law laid cornerstone peaceful world unite nation believe world order spread benefit modern science industry well health education food rise standard live throughout world ideal give power vitality russian communism never command free nation however bound together ideal real community bound together also tie fall apart result would fatal human freedom national security deeply involved free nation need support equally need national safety would gravely prejudice soviet union succeed harness war machine resource manpower free nation border empire western europe fall soviet russia would double soviet supply coal triple soviet supply steel free country asia africa fall soviet russia would lose source many vital raw material include uranium basis atomic power soviet command manpower free nation europe asia would confront u military force could never hope equal situation soviet union could impose demand world without resort conflict simply preponderance economic military power soviet union attack united state secure domination world achieve end isolate u swallow ally therefore even craven enough believe could say even craven enough abandon ideal would disastrous u withdraw community free nation powerful single member community special responsibility must take leadership meeting challenge freedom help protect right independent nation country practical realistic program action meeting challenge first shall extend economic assistance effective best way stop subversion kremlin strike root social injustice economic disorder people job home hop future defend underground agent kremlin program economic aid do much turn back communism europe marshall plan electrify result european recovery progress strike lead kremlin agent italy france fail western europe communist party take bad bad beating poll country receive marshall plan aid able hard work expand productive many case level higher ever history without strength would completely incapable defend today ready use strength help build strong combine defense aggression shall need continue economic aid european country aid specifically related building defense part world economic assistance need broadly direct toward economic development near east africa asia must help people strive advance misery poverty hunger must also continue help economic growth good neighbor hemisphere action bring great strength free world give many people real stake future reason defend freedom mean increase production good need material need second shall need continue military assistance country want defend heart common defense effort north atlantic community defense europe basis defense whole free world include next united state europe large workshop world also homeland great religious belief share many citizen belief threaten tide atheistic communism strategically economically morally defense europe part defense join country europe north atlantic treaty pledge work much discussion recently whether european country willing defend action answer question north atlantic treaty partner strict system universal military training several recently increase term service take measure improve quality training force train expand rapidly necessary arm equipment supply factory north atlantic treaty partner together build army big none north atlantic treaty country include country do enough yet real progress make together worked defense military leader country take part work plan agree sound within capability put plan action send europe last week one great military commander general dwight eisenhower general eisenhower go europe assume command united force north atlantic treaty country include force germany people europe confidence general eisenhower know ability put together fight force ally mission vital security stand behind give every bit help part job reinforce military strength european partner send weapon equipment military production expand program military assistance extends nation near east far east try defend freedom soviet communism try make nation colony use people cannon fodder new war conquest want people free men enjoy peace country always stand freedom people asia long long ago stand freedom people asia history show demonstrate philippine demonstrate relation indonesia india china hope join restore people japan membership community free nation far east take arm united nation preserve principle independence free nation fight keep force communist aggression make slave state korea korea tremendous significance world mean free nation act united nation fight together aggression understand importance best look back history democracy stand invasion manchuria 1931 attack ethiopia 1935 seizure austria 1938 stand together aggression occasion united nation do korea whole history time would different principle fight korea right foundation collective security future free nation korea country undergoing torment aggression also symbol stand right justice world oppression slavery free world must always stand principle stand free world third part program continue work peaceful settlement international dispute support unite nation remain loyal great principle international cooperation lay charter willing always negotiate honorable settlement soviet union engage appeasement soviet ruler make clear must strength well right side build strength build soviet ruler may face fact lay aside plan take world hope happen try bring realistic road peace main element course nation must follow member community free nation thing must preserve security help create peaceful world successful increase strength country home big job build much strong military force build fast prepare full wartime mobilization necessary continue build strong grow economy able maintain whatever effort may require long necessary building army navy air force active strength nearly 3 million men woman step training reserve force establish training facility rapidly increase active force far short notice go produce weapon equipment arm force need furthermore make weapon ally weapon reserve supply top build capacity turn short notice arm supply may need war fortunately good start enormous plant capacity equipment hand last war example many combat ship return active duty mothball fleet many others put service short notice large reserve arm ammunition thousand worker skilled arm production many case however stock weapon low case hand modern make remarkable technical advance develop new type jet plane powerful new tank concentrate produce new type weapon produce fast production drive selective one world war ii urgent intense big program costly one let give two concrete example present program call expand aircraft industry capacity produce modern military plane year prepare capacity produce tank year order many plane many tank hope never mean able turn need plane produce much big much well much expensive plane last war use think huge plane blockbuster carry huge load carry five blockbuster belly carry five time far course much complicate build far expensive one cost one cost 3 ½ million ask remember provide best modern military equipment world fight force kind defense production program two part first part get defense production go fast possible convert plant channel material defense production mean heavy cut civilian us copper aluminum rubber essential material mean shortage various consumer good second part increase capacity produce keep economy strong long pull know long communist aggression threaten world increase output carry burden preparedness indefinite period future mean build power plant steel mill grow cotton mine copper expand capacity many way congress need consider legislation session affect aspect mobilization job main subject legislation need first appropriation military buildup second extension revision selective service act third military economic aid help build strength free world fourth revision extension authority expand production stabilize price wag rent fifth improvement agricultural law help obtain kind farm product need defense effort sixth improvement labor law help provide stable relation make sure steady production emergency seventh housing training defense worker full use manpower resource eighth mean increase supply doctor nurse train medical personnel critically need defense effort ninth aid state meet urgent need elementary secondary school plan deferred time make sure child train good useful citizen critical time ahead tenth major increase tax meet cost defense effort economic report budget message discuss subject addition shall send congress special message contain detailed recommendation legislation need session month ahead government must give priority activity urgent like military procurement atomic energy power development must practice rigid economy nondefense activity many thing would normally must curtail postponed defense effort like one neglect measure need maintain strong economy healthy democratic society congress therefore give continued attention measure country need long pull act upon legislation promptly circumstance permit take one example need continue complete work round system social insurance still need improve protection unemployment old age still need provide insurance loss earnings sickness high cost modern medical care must remember fundamental strength rest upon freedom people must continue effort achieve full realization democratic ideal must uphold freedom speech freedom conscience land must assure equal right equal opportunity citizen go forward year defense freedom let u keep dearly u nature present effort building strength concert free nation meet danger aggression turn loose world strength free nation world best hope peace ask congress unity crucial day make mistake meaning ask expect unanimity ask end debate debate arrive decision wise reflect desire american people dictatorship country never one country request unity really ask sense responsibility part every member congress let u debate issue let every man among u weigh word deed sharp difference harmful criticism constructive criticism truly responsible individual sure unified government let u keep eye issue work thing believe let u put country ahead party ahead personal interest honor member senate world war ii know experience unity purpose effort possible congress without lessen vitality system let u stand together american let u stand together men everywhere believe human liberty peace precious u way life strive strength wisdom possess precious peace freedom justice fight fight must keep freedom prevent justice destroy thing give mean life acknowledge great peace freedom justice pursue determination humility ask divine guidance may follow god