In the past three years, responding to what our people want their Government to do, the Congress and the Executive have done much in building a stronger, better America.  There has been broad progress in fostering the energies of our people, in providing greater opportunity for the satisfaction of their needs, and in fulfilling their demands for the strength and security of the Republic.

Our country is at peace.  Our security posture commands respect.  A spiritual vigor marks our national life.  Our economy, approaching the 400 billion dollar mark, is at an unparalleled level of prosperity.  The national income is more widely and fairly distributed than ever before.  The number of Americans at work has reached an all-time high.  As a people, we are achieving ever higher standards of living—­earning more, producing more, consuming more, building more and investing more than ever before.

Virtually all sectors of our society are sharing in these good times.  Our farm families, if we act wisely, imaginatively and promptly to strengthen our present farm programs, can also look forward to sharing equitably in the prosperity they have helped to create.

War in Korea ended two and a half years ago.  The collective security system has been powerfully strengthened.  Our defenses have been reinforced at sharply reduced costs.  Programs to expand world trade and to harness the atom for the betterment of mankind have been carried forward.  Our economy has been freed from governmental wage and price controls.  Inflation has been halted; the cost of living stabilized.

Government spending has been cut by more than ten billion dollars.  Nearly three hundred thousand positions have been eliminated from the Federal payroll.  Taxes have been substantially reduced.  A balanced budget is in prospect.  Social security has been extended to ten million more Americans and unemployment insurance to four million more.  Unprecedented advances in civil rights have been made.  The long-standing and deep-seated problems of agriculture have been forthrightly attacked.

This record of progress has been accomplished with a self imposed caution against unnecessary and unwise interference in the private affairs of our people, of their communities and of the several States.

If we of the Executive and Legislative Branches, keeping this caution ever in mind, address ourselves to the business of the year before us—­and to the unfinished business of last year—­with resolution, the outlook is bright with promise.

Many measures of great national importance recommended last year to the Congress still demand immediate attention legislation for school and highway construction; health and immigration legislation; water resources legislation; legislation to complete the implementation of our foreign economic policy; such labor legislation as amendments of the Labor-Management Relations Act, extension of the Fair Labor Standards Act to additional groups not now covered, and occupational safety legislation; and legislation for construction of an atomic-powered exhibit vessel.