Private enterprise continues to make major contributions to economic development in all parts of the world.  But we have not yet marshalled the full potential of American business for this task, particularly in countries which have recently attained their independence.  I shall present to this Congress a program designed to encourage greater participation by private enterprise in economic development abroad.

Further, all of us know that to advance the cause of freedom we must do much more than help build sound economies.  The spiritual, intellectual, and physical strength of people throughout the world will in the last analysis determine their willingness and their ability to resist Communism.

To give a single illustration of our many efforts in these fields:  We have been a participant in the effort that has been made over the past few years against one of the great scourges of mankind—­disease.  Through the Mutual Security program public health officials are being trained by American universities to serve in less developed countries.  We are engaged in intensive malaria eradication projects in many parts of the world.  America’s major successes in our own country prove the feasibility of success everywhere.

By these and other means we shall continue and expand our campaign against the afflictions that now bring needless suffering and death to so many of the world’s people.  We wish to be part of a great shared effort toward the triumph of health.  IV.

America is best described by one word, freedom.

If we hope to strengthen freedom in the world we must be ever mindful of how our own conduct reacts elsewhere.  No nation has ever been so floodlighted by world opinion as the United States is today.  Everything we do is carefully scrutinized by other peoples throughout the world.  The bad is seen along with the good.

Because we are human we err.  But as free men we are also responsible for correcting the errors and imperfections of our ways.

Last January I made comprehensive recommendations to the Congress for legislation in the labor-management field.  To my disappointment, Congress failed to act.  The McClellan Committee disclosures of corruption, racketeering, and abuse of trust and power in labor-management affairs have aroused America and amazed other peoples.  They emphasize the need for improved local law enforcement and the enactment of effective Federal legislation to protect the public interest and to insure the rights and economic freedoms of millions of American workers.  Halfhearted measures will not do.  I shall recommend prompt enactment of legislation designed: 

To safeguard workers’ funds in union treasuries against misuse of any kind whatsoever.

To protect the rights and freedoms of individual union members, including the basic right to free and secret elections of officers.

To advance true and responsible collective bargaining.