69篇世界名人英语演讲词

一、MartinLutherKing,Jr.

"IHaveaDream'1

Iamhappytojoinwithyoutodayinwhatwillgodowninhistoryasthegreatestdemonstrationforfreedominthe

historyofournation.

Fivescoreyearsago,agreatAmerican,inwhosesymbolicshadowwestandtoday,signedtheEmancipation

Proclamation.ThismomentousdecreecameasagreatbeaconlightofhopetomillionsofNegroslaveswhohadbeen

searedintheflamesofwitheringinjustice.Itcameasajoyousdaybreaktoendthelongnightoftheircaptivity.

Butonehundredyearslater,theNegrostillisnotfree.Onehundredyearslater,thelifeoftheNegroisstillsadly

crippledbythemanaclesofsegregationandthechainsofdiscrimination.Onehundredyearslater,theNegroliveson

alonelyislandofpovertyinthemidstofavastoceanofmaterialprosperity.Onehundredyearslater,theNegrois

stilllanguishedinthecomersofAmericansocietyandfindshimselfanexileinhisownland.Andsowe*vecome

heretodaytodramatizeashamefulcondition.

Inasensewe'vecometoournation'scapitaltocashacheck.Whenthearchitectsofourrepublicwrotethe

magnificentwordsoftheConstitutionandtheDeclarationofIndependence,theyweresigningapromissorynoteto

whicheveryAmericanwastofallheir.Thisnotewasapromisethatallmen,yes,blackmenaswellaswhitemen,

wouldbeguaranteedthe"unalienableRights"of"Life,LibertyandthepursuitofHappiness."Itisobvioustodaythat

Americahasdefaultedonthispromissorynote,insofarashercitizensofcolorareconcerned.Insteadofhonoringthis

sacredobligation,AmericahasgiventheNegropeopleabadcheck,acheckwhichhascomebackmarked

"insufficientfunds.'1

Butwerefusetobelievethatthebankofjusticeisbankrupt.Werefusetobelievethatthereareinsufficientfundsin

thegreatvaultsofopportunityofthisnation.Andso,we'vecometocashthischeck,acheckthatwillgiveusupon

demandtherichesoffreedomandthesecurityofjustice.

WehavealsocometothishallowedspottoremindAmericaofthefierceurgencyofNow.Thisisnotimetoengage

intheluxuryofcoolingoffortotakethetranquilizingdrugofgradualism.Nowisthetimetomakerealthepromises

ofdemocracy.Nowisthetimetorisefromthedarkanddesolatevalleyofsegregationtothesunlitpathofracial

justice.Nowisthetimetoliftournationfromthequicksandsofracialinjusticetothesolidrock,ofbrotherhood.

NowisthetimetomakejusticearealityforallofGod'schildren.

Itwouldbefatalforthenationtooverlooktheurgencyofthemoment.ThisswelteringsummeroftheNegro's

legitimatediscontentwillnotpassuntilthereisaninvigoratingautumnoffreedomandequality.Nineteensixty-three

isnotanend,butabeginning.AndthosewhohopethattheNegroneededtoblowoffsteamandwillnowbecontent

willhavearudeawakeningifthenationreturnstobusinessasusual.Andtherewillbeneitherrestnortranquilityin

AmericauntiltheNegroisgrantedhiscitizenshiprights.Thewhirlwindsofrevoltwillcontinuetoshakethe

foundationsofournationuntilthebrightdayofjusticeemerges.

ButthereissomethingthatImustsaytomypeople,whostandonthewarmthresholdwhichleadsintothepalaceof

justice:Intheprocessofgainingourrightfulplace,wemustnotbeguiltyofwrongfuldeeds.Letusnotseekto

satisfyourthirstforfreedombydrinkingfromthecupofbitternessandhatred.Wemustforeverconductourstruggle

onthehighplaneofdignityanddiscipline.Wemustnotallowourcreativeprotesttodegenerateintophysical

violence.Againandagain,wemustrisetothemajesticheightsofmeetingphysicalforcewithsoulforce.

ThemarvelousnewmilitancywhichhasengulfedtheNegrocommunitymustnotleadustoadistrustofallwhite

people,formanyofourwhitebrothers,asevidencedbytheirpresenceheretoday,havecometorealizethattheir

destinyistiedupwithourdestiny.Andtheyhavecometorealizethattheirfreedomisinextricablyboundtoour

freedom.

Wecannotwalkalone.

Andaswewalk,wemustmakethepledgethatweshallalwaysmarchahead.

Wecannotturnback.

Therearethosewhoareaskingthedevoteesofcivilrights,"Whenwillyoubesatisfied?"Wecanneverbesatisfied

aslongastheNegroisthevictimoftheunspeakablehorrorsofpolicebrutality.Wecanneverbesatisfiedaslongas

ourbodies,heavywiththefatigueoftravel,cannotgainlodginginthemotelsofthehighwaysandthehotelsofthe

cities.*Wecannotbesatisfiedaslongasthenegro'sbasicmobilityisfromasmallerghettotoalargerone.Wecan

neverbesatisfiedaslongasourchildrenarestrippedoftheirself-hoodandrobbedoftheirdignitybyasignstating:

“ForWhitesOnly."*WecannotbesatisfiedaslongasaNegroinMississippicannotvoteandaNegroinNewYork

believeshehasnothingforwhichtovote.No,no,wearenotsatisfied,andwewillnotbesatisfieduntil"justicerolls

downlikewaters,andrighteousnesslikeamightystream."1

Iamnotunmindfulthatsomeofyouhavecomehereoutofgreattrialsandtribulations.Someofyouhavecome

freshfromnarrowjailcells.Andsomeofyouhavecomefromareaswhereyourquest—questforfreedomleftyou

batteredbythestormsofpersecutionandstaggeredbythewindsofpolicebrutality.Youhavebeentheveteransof

creativesuffering.Continuetoworkwiththefaiththatunearnedsufferingisredemptive.GobacktoMississippi,go

backtoAlabama,gobacktoSouthCarolina,gobacktoGeorgia,gobacktoLouisiana,gobacktotheslumsand

ghettosofournortherncities,knowingthatsomehowthissituationcanandwillbechanged.

Letusnotwallowinthevalleyofdespair,Isaytoyoutoday,myfriends.

Andsoeventhoughwefacethedifficultiesoftodayandtomorrow,Istillhaveadream.Itisadreamdeeplyrooted

intheAmericandream.

Ihaveadreamthatonedaythisnationwillriseupandliveoutthetruemeaningofitscreed:"Weholdthesetruthsto

beself-evident,thatallmenarecreatedequal.”

IhaveadreamthatonedayontheredhillsofGeorgia,thesonsofformerslavesandthesonsofformerslaveowners

willbeabletositdowntogetheratthetableofbrotherhood.

IhaveadreamthatonedayeventhestateofMississippi,astateswelteringwiththeheatofinjustice,swelteringwith

theheatofoppression,willbetransformedintoanoasisoffreedomandjustice.

Ihaveadreamthatmyfourlittlechildrenwillonedayliveinanationwheretheywillnotbejudgedbythecolorof

theirskinbutbythecontentoftheircharacter.

Ihaveadreamtoday!

Ihaveadreamthatoneday,downinAlabama,withitsviciousracists,withitsgovernorhavinghislipsdrippingwith

thewordsof"interposition1'and"nullification1'-onedayrightthereinAlabamalittleblackboysandblackgirlswill

beabletojoinhandswithlittlewhiteboysandwhitegirlsassistersandbrothers.

Ihaveadreamtoday!

Ihaveadreamthatonedayeveryvalleyshallbeexalted,andeveryhillandmountainshallbemadelow,therough

placeswillbemadeplain,andthecrookedplaceswillbemadestraight;nandthegloryoftheLordshallberevealed

andallfleshshallseeittogether.1'2

Thisisourhope,andthisisthefaiththatIgobacktotheSouthwith.

Withthisfaith,wewillbeabletohewoutofthemountainofdespairastoneofhope.Withthisfaith,wewillbeable

totransformthejanglingdiscordsofournationintoabeautifulsymphonyofbrotherhood.Withthisfaith,wewillbe

abletoworktogether,topraytogether,tostruggletogether,togotojailtogether,tostandupforfreedomtogether,

knowingthatwewillbefreeoneday.

Andthiswillbetheday-thiswillbethedaywhenallofGod'schildrenwillbeabletosingwithnewmeaning:

Mycountry*tisofthee,sweetlandofliberty,oftheeIsing.

Landwheremyfathersdied,landofthePilgrim'spride,

Fromeverymountainside,letfreedomring!

AndifAmericaistobeagreatnation,thismustbecometrue.

AndsoletfreedomringfromtheprodigioushilltopsofNewHampshire.

LetfreedomringfromthemightymountainsofNewYork.

LetfreedomringfromtheheighteningAllegheniesofPennsylvania.

Letfreedomringfromthesnow-cappedRockiesofColorado.

LetfreedomringfromthecurvaceousslopesofCalifornia.

Butnotonlythat:

LetfreedomringfromStoneMountainofGeorgia.

LetfreedomringfromLookoutMountainofTennessee.

LetfreedomringfromeveryhillandmolehillofMississippi.

Fromeverymountainside,letfreedomring.

Andwhenthishappens,whenweallowfreedomring,whenweletitringfromeveryvillageandeveryhamlet,from

everystateandeverycity,wewillbeabletospeedupthatdaywhenallofGod'schildren,blackmenandwhitemen,

JewsandGentiles,ProtestantsandCatholics,willbeabletojoinhandsandsinginthewordsoftheoldNegro

spiritual:

Freeatlast!Freeatlast!

ThankGodAlmighty,wearefreeatlast!3

二、JohnF.Kennedy

InauguralAddress

VicePresidentJohnson,Mr.Speaker,Mr.ChiefJustice,PresidentEisenhower,VicePresidentNixon,President

Truman,reverendclergy,fellowcitizens:

Weobservetodaynotavictoryofparty,butacelebrationoffreedom-symbolizinganend,aswellasabeginning—

signifyingrenewal,aswellaschange.ForIhaveswornbeforeyouandAlmightyGodthesamesolemnoathour

forebearsprescribednearlyacenturyandthree-quartersago.

Theworldisverydifferentnow.Formanholdsinhismortalhandsthepowertoabolishallformsofhumanpoverty

andallformsofhumanlife.Andyetthesamerevolutionarybeliefsforwhichourforebearsfoughtarestillatissue

aroundtheglobe--thebeliefthattherightsofmancomenotfromthegenerosityofthestate,butfromthehandof

God.

Wedarenotforgettodaythatwearetheheirsofthatfirstrevolution.Letthewordgoforthfromthistimeandplace,

tofriendandfoealike,thatthetorchhasbeenpassedtoanewgenerationofAmericans—borninthiscentury,

temperedbywar,disciplinedbyahardandbitterpeace,proudofourancientheritage,andunwillingtowitnessor

permittheslowundoingofthosehumanrightstowhichthisnationhasalwaysbeencommitted,andtowhichweare

committedtodayathomeandaroundtheworld.

Leteverynationknow,whetheritwishesuswellorill,thatweshallpayanyprice,bearanyburden,meetany

hardship,supportanyfriend,opposeanyfoe,toassurethesurvivalandthesuccessofliberty.

Thismuchwepledge-andmore.

Tothoseoldallieswhoseculturalandspiritualoriginswoshare,wopledgetheloyaltyoffaithfulfriends.United

thereislittlewecannotdoinahostofcooperativeventures.Dividedthereislittlewecando-forwedarenotmeet

apowerfulchallengeatoddsandsplitasunder.

Tothosenewstateswhomwewelcometotheranksofthefree,wepledgeourwordthatoneformofcolonialcontrol

shallnothavepassedawaymerelytobereplacedbyafarmoreirontyranny.Weshallnotalwaysexpecttofindthem

supportingourview.Butweshallalwayshopetofindthemstronglysupportingtheirownfreedom-andto

rememberthat,inthepast,thosewhofoolishlysoughtpowerbyridingthebackofthetigerendedupinside.

Tothosepeopleinthehutsandvillagesofhalftheglobestrugglingtobreakthebondsofmassmisery,wepledgeour

besteffortstohelpthemhelpthemselves,forwhateverperiodisrequired--notbecausetheCommunistsmaybe

doingit,notbecauseweseektheirvotes,butbecauseitisright.Ifafreesocietycannothelpthemanywhoarepoor,

itcannotsavethefewwhoarerich.

Tooursisterrepublicssouthofourborder,weofferaspecialpledge:toconvertourgoodwordsintogooddeeds,ina

newallianceforprogress,toassistfreemenandfreegovernmentsincastingoffthechainsofpoverty.Butthis

peacefulrevolutionofhopecannotbecomethepreyofhostilepowers.Letallourneighborsknowthatweshalljoin

withthemtoopposeaggressionorsubversionanywhereintheAmericas.Andleteveryotherpowerknowthatthis

hemisphereintendstoremainthemasterofitsownhouse.

Tothatworldassemblyofsovereignstates,theUnitedNations,ourlastbesthopeinanagewheretheinstrumentsof

warhavefaroutpacedtheinstrumentsofpeace,werenewourpledgeofsupport—topreventitfrombecoming

merelyaforumforinvective,tostrengthenitsshieldofthenewandtheweak,andtoenlargetheareainwhichits

writmayrun.

Finally,tothosenationswhowouldmakethemselvesouradversary,weoffernotapledgebutarequest:thatboth

sidesbeginanewthequestforpeace,beforethedarkpowersofdestructionunleashedbyscienceengulfallhumanity

inplannedoraccidentalself-destruction.

Wedarenottemptthemwithweakness.Foronlywhenourarmsaresufficientbeyonddoubtcanwebecertain

beyonddoubtthattheywillneverbeemployed.

Butneithercantwogreatandpowerfulgroupsofnationstakecomfortfromourpresentcourse-bothsides

overburdenedbythecostofmodernweapons,bothrightlyalarmedbythesteadyspreadofthedeadlyatom,yetboth

racingtoalterthatuncertainbalanceofterrorthatstaysthehandofmankind'sfinalwar.

Soletusbeginanew-rememberingonbothsidesthatcivilityisnotasignofweakness,andsincerityisalways

subjecttoproof.Letusnevernegotiateoutoffear,butletusneverfeartonegotiate.

Letbothsidesexplorewhatproblemsuniteusinsteadofbelaboringthoseproblemswhichdivideus.

Letbothsides,forthefirsttime,formulateseriousandpreciseproposalsfortheinspectionandcontrolofarms,and

bringtheabsolutepowertodestroyothernationsundertheabsolutecontrolofallnations.

Letbothsidesseektoinvokethewondersofscienceinsteadofitsterrors.Togetherletusexplorethestars,conquer

thedeserts,eradicatedisease,taptheoceandepths,andencouragetheartsandcommerce.

Letbothsidesunitetoheed,inallcornersoftheearth,thecommandofIsaiah--to"undotheheavyburdens,and[to]

lettheoppressedgofree."1

And,ifabeachheadofcooperationmaypushbackthejungleofsuspicion,letbothsidesjoinincreatinganew

endeavor—notanewbalanceofpower,butanewworldoflaw—wherethestrongarejust,andtheweaksecure,and

thepeacepreserved.

Allthiswillnotbefinishedinthefirstonehundreddays.Norwillitbefinishedinthefirstonethousanddays;norin

thelifeofthisAdministration;norevenperhapsinourlifetimeonthisplanet.Butletusbegin.

Inyourhands,myfellowcitizens,morethanmine,willrestthefinalsuccessorfailureofourcourse.Sincethis

countrywasfounded,eachgenerationofAmericanshasbeensummonedtogivetestimonytoitsnationalloyalty.The

gravesofyoungAmericanswhoansweredthecalltoservicesurroundtheglobe.

Nowthetrumpetsummonsusagain—notasacalltobeararms,thougharmsweneed--notasacalltobattle,

thoughembattledweare-butacalltobeartheburdenofalongtwilightstruggle,yearinandyearout,"rejoicingin

hope;patientintribulation,"2astruggleagainstthecommonenemiesofman:tyranny,poverty,disease,andwar

itself.

Canweforgeagainsttheseenemiesagrandandglobalalliance,NorthandSouth,EastandWest,thatcanassurea

morefruitfullifeforallmankind?Willyoujoininthathistoriceffort?

Inthelonghistoryoftheworld,onlyafewgenerationshavebeengrantedtheroleofdefendingfreedominitshour

ofmaximumdanger.Idonotshrinkfromthisresponsibility-Iwelcomeit.Idonotbelievethatanyofuswould

exchangeplaceswithanyotherpeopleoranyothergeneration.Theenergy,thefaith,thedevotionwhichwebringto

thisendeavorwilllightourcountryandallwhoserveit.Andtheglowfromthatfirecantrulylighttheworld.

Andso,myfellowAmericans,asknotwhatyourcountrycandoforyou;askwhatyoucandoforyourcountry.

Myfellowcitizensoftheworld,asknotwhatAmericawilldoforyou,butwhattogetherwecandoforthefreedom

ofman.

Finally,whetheryouarecitizensofAmericaorcitizensoftheworld,askofusherethesamehighstandardsof

strengthandsacrificewhichweaskofyou.Withagoodconscienceouronlysurereward,withhistorythefinaljudge

ofourdeeds,letusgoforthtoleadthelandwelove,askingHisblessingandHishelp,butknowingthathereonearth

God'sworkmusttrulybeourown.

三、FranklinDelanoRoosevelt

FirstInauguralAddress

PresidentHoover,Mr.ChiefJustice,myfriends:

Thisisadayofnationalconsecration.AndIamcertainthatonthisdaymyfellowAmericansexpectthatonmy

inductionintothePresidency,Iwilladdressthemwithacandorandadecisionwhichthepresentsituationofour

peopleimpels.

Thisispreeminentlythetimetospeakthetruth,thewholetruth,franklyandboldly.Norneedweshrinkfrom

honestlyfacingconditionsinourcountrytoday.ThisgreatNationwillendure,asithasendured,willreviveandwill

prosper.

So,firstofall,letmeassertmyfirmbeliefthattheonlythingwehavetofearisfearitself—nameless,unreasoning,

unjustifiedterrorwhichparalyzesneededeffortstoconvertretreatintoadvance.Ineverydarkhourofournational

life,aleadershipoffranknessandofvigorhasmetwiththatunderstandingandsupportofthepeoplethemselves

whichisessentialtovictory.AndIamconvincedthatyouwillagaingivethatsupporttoleadershipinthesecritical

days.

Insuchaspiritonmypartandonyourswefaceourcommondifficulties.Theyconcern,thankGod,onlymaterial

things.Valueshaveshrunktofantasticlevels;taxeshaverisen;ourabilitytopayhasfallen;governmentofallkinds

isfacedbyseriouscurtailmentofincome;themeansofexchangearefrozeninthecurrentsoftrade;thewithered

leavesofindustrialenterpriselieoneveryside;farmersfindnomarketsfortheirproduce;andthesavingsofmany

yearsinthousandsoffamiliesaregone.Moreimportant,ahostofunemployedcitizensfacethegrimproblemof

existence,andanequallygreatnumbertoilwithlittlereturn.Onlyafoolishoptimistcandenythedarkrealitiesofthe

moment.

Andyetourdistresscomesfromnofailureofsubstance.Wearestrickenbynoplagueoflocusts.Comparedwiththe

perilswhichourforefathersconquered,becausetheybelievedandwerenotafraid,wehavestillmuchtobethankful

for.Naturestilloffersherbountyandhumaneffortshavemultipliedit.Plentyisatourdoorstep,butageneroususe

ofitlanguishesintheverysightofthesupply.

Primarily,thisisbecausetherulersoftheexchangeofmankind'sgoodshavefailed,throughtheirownstubbornness

andtheirownincompetence,haveadmittedtheirfailure,andhaveabdicated.Practicesoftheunscrupulousmoney

changersstandindictedinthecourtofpublicopinion,rejectedbytheheartsandmindsofmen.

True,theyhavetried.Buttheireffortshavebeencastinthepatternofanoutworntradition.Facedbyfailureofcredit,

theyhaveproposedonlythelendingofmoremoney.Strippedofthelureofprofitbywhichtoinduceourpeopleto

followtheirfalseleadership,theyhaveresortedtoexhortations,pleadingtearfullyforrestoredconfidence.Theyonly

knowtherulesofagenerationofself-seekers.Theyhavenovision,andwhenthereisnovisionthepeopleperish.

Yes,themoneychangershavefledfromtheirhighseatsinthetempleofourcivilization.Wemaynowrestorethat

templetotheancienttruths.Themeasureofthatrestorationliesintheextenttowhichweapplysocialvaluesmore

noblethanmeremonetaryprofit.

Happinessliesnotinthemerepossessionofmoney;itliesinthejoyofachievement,inthethrillofcreativeeffort.

Thejoy,themoralstimulationofworknolongermustbeforgotteninthemadchaseofevanescentprofits.These

darkdays,myfriends,willbeworthalltheycostusiftheyteachusthatourtruedestinyisnottobeministeredunto

buttoministertoourselves,toourfellowmen.

Recognitionofthatfalsityofmaterialwealthasthestandardofsuccessgoeshandinhandwiththeabandonmentof

thefalsebeliefthatpublicofficeandhighpoliticalpositionaretobevaluedonlybythestandardsofprideofplace

andpersonalprofit;andtheremustbeanendtoaconductinbankingandinbusinesswhichtoooftenhasgiventoa

sacredtrustthelikenessofcallousandselfishwrongdoing.Smallwonderthatconfidencelanguishes,foritthrives

onlyonhonesty,onhonor,onthesacrednessofobligations,onfaithfulprotection,andonunselfishperformance;

withoutthemitcannotlive.

Restorationcalls,however,notforchangesinethicsalone.ThisNationisaskingforaction,andactionnow.

Ourgreatestprimarytaskistoputpeopletowork.Thisisnounsolvableproblemifwefaceitwiselyand

courageously.ItcanbeaccomplishedinpartbydirectrecruitingbytheGovernmentitself,treatingthetaskaswe

wouldtreattheemergencyofawar,butatthesametime,throughthisemployment,accomplishinggreat—greatly

neededprojectstostimulateandreorganizetheuseofourgreatnaturalresources.

Handinhandwiththatwemustfranklyrecognizetheoverbalanceofpopulationinourindustrialcentersand,by

engagingonanationalscaleinaredistribution,endeavortoprovideabetteruseofthelandforthosebestfittedfor

theland.

Yes,thetaskcanbehelpedbydefiniteeffortstoraisethevaluesofagriculturalproducts,andwiththisthepowerto

purchasetheoutputofourcities.Itcanbehelpedbypreventingrealisticallythetragedyofthegrowinglossthrough

foreclosureofoursmallhomesandourfarms.ItcanbehelpedbyinsistencethattheFederal,theState,andthelocal

governmentsactforthwithonthedemandthattheircostbedrasticallyreduced.Itcanbehelpedbytheunifyingof

reliefactivitieswhichtodayareoftenscattered,uneconomical,unequal.Itcanbehelpedbynationalplanningforand

supervisionofallformsoftransportationandofcommunicationsandotherutilitiesthathaveadefinitelypublic

character.Therearemanywaysinwhichitcanbehelped,butitcanneverbehelpedbymerelytalkingaboutit.

Wemustact.Wemustactquickly.

Andfinally,inourprogresstowardsaresumptionofwork,werequiretwosafeguardsagainstareturnoftheevilsof

theoldorder.Theremustbeastrictsupervisionofallbankingandcreditsandinvestments.Theremustbeanendto

speculationwithotherpeople'smoney.Andtheremustbeprovisionforanadequatebutsoundcunency.

These,myfriends,arethelinesofattack.IshallpresentlyurgeuponanewCongressinspecialsessiondetailed

measuresfortheirfulfillment,andIshallseektheimmediateassistanceofthe48States.

Throughthisprogramofactionweaddressourselvestoputtingourownnationalhouseinorderandmakingincome

balanceoutgo.Ourinternationaltraderelations,thoughvastlyimportant,areinpointoftime,andnecessity,

secondarytotheestablishmentofasoundnationaleconomy.Ifavor,asapracticalpolicy,theputtingoffirstthings

first.Ishallsparenoefforttorestoreworldtradebyinternationaleconomicreadjustment;buttheemergencyathome

cannotwaitonthataccomplishment.

Thebasicthoughtthatguidesthesespecificmeansofnationalrecoveryisnotnationally—narrowlynationalistic.It

istheinsistence,asafirstconsideration,upontheinterdependenceofthevariouselementsinandpartsoftheUnited

StatesofAmerica-arecognitionoftheoldandpermanentlyimportantmanifestationoftheAmericanspiritofthe

pioneer.Itisthewaytorecovery.Itistheimmediateway.Itisthestrongestassurancethatrecoverywillendure.

Inthefieldofworldpolicy,IwoulddedicatethisNationtothepolicyofthegoodneighbor:theneighborwho

resolutelyrespectshimselfand,becausehedoesso,respectstherightsofothers;theneighborwhorespectshis

obligationsandrespectsthesanctityofhisagreementsinandwithaworldofneighbors.

IfIreadthetemperofourpeoplecorrectly,wenowrealize,aswehaveneverrealizedbefore,ourinterdependenceon

eachother;thatwecannotmerelytake,butwemustgiveaswell;thatifwearetogoforward,wemustmoveasa

trainedandloyalarmywillingtosacrificeforthegoodofacommondiscipline,becausewithoutsuchdisciplineno

progresscanbemade,noleadershipbecomeseffective.

Weare,Iknow,readyandwillingtosubmitourlivesandourpropertytosuchdiscipline,becauseitmakespossiblea

leadershipwhichaimsatthelargergood.This,Iproposetooffer,pledgingthatthelargerpuiposeswillbinduponus,

binduponusallasasacredobligationwithaunityofdutyhithertoevokedonlyintimesofarmedstrife.

Withthispledgetaken,Iassumeunhesitatinglytheleadershipofthisgreatarmyofourpeoplededicatedtoa

disciplinedattackuponourcommonproblems.

Actioninthisimage,actiontothisendisfeasibleundertheformofgovernmentwhichwehaveinheritedfromour

ancestors.OurConstitutionissosimple,sopracticalthatitispossiblealwaystomeetextraordinaryneedsby

changesinemphasisandarrangementwithoutlossofessentialform.Thatiswhyourconstitutionalsystemhas

proveditselfthemostsuperblyenduringpoliticalmechanismthemodernworldhaseverseen.

Ithasmeteverystressofvastexpansionofterritory,offoreignwars,ofbitterinternalstrife,ofworldrelations.And

itistobehopedthatthenormalbalanceofexecutiveandlegislativeauthoritymaybewhollyequal,whollyadequate

tomeettheunprecedentedtaskbeforeus.Butitmaybethatanunprecedenteddemandandneedforundelayedaction

maycallfortemporarydeparturefromthatnormalbalanceofpublicprocedure.

Iampreparedundermyconstitutionaldutytorecommendthemeasuresthatastrickennationinthemidstofa

strickenworldmayrequire.Thesemeasures,orsuchothermeasuresastheCongressmaybuildoutofitsexperience

andwisdom,Ishallseek,withinmyconstitutionalauthority,tobringtospeedyadoption.

But,intheeventthattheCongressshallfailtotakeoneofthesetwocourses,intheeventthatthenationalemergency

isstil