Our classrooms contain 2 million more children than they can properly have room for, taught by 90,000 teachers not properly qualified to teach.  One third of our most promising high school graduates are financially unable to continue the development of their talents.  The war babies of the 1940’s, who overcrowded our schools in the 1950’s, are now descending in 1960 upon our colleges—­with two college students for every one, ten years from now—­and our colleges are ill prepared.  We lack the scientists, the engineers and the teachers our world obligations require.  We have neglected oceanography, saline water conversion, and the basic research that lies at the root of all progress.  Federal grants for both higher and public school education can no longer be delayed.

Medical research has achieved new wonders—­but these wonders are too often beyond the reach of too many people, owing to a lack of income (particularly among the aged), a lack of hospital beds, a lack of nursing homes and a lack of doctors and dentists.  Measures to provide health care for the aged under Social Security, and to increase the supply of both facilities and personnel, must be undertaken this year.

Our supply of clean water is dwindling.  Organized and juvenile crimes cost the taxpayers millions of dollars each year, making it essential that we have improved enforcement and new legislative safeguards.  The denial of constitutional rights to some of our fellow Americans on account of race—­at the ballot box and elsewhere—­disturbs the national conscience, and subjects us to the charge of world opinion that our democracy is not equal to the high promise of our heritage.  Morality in private business has not been sufficiently spurred by morality in public business.  A host of problems and projects in all 50 States, though not possible to include in this Message, deserves—­and will receive—­the attention of both the Congress and the Executive Branch.  On most of these matters, Messages will be sent to the Congress within the next two weeks.

IV.

But all these problems pale when placed beside those which confront us around the world.  No man entering upon this office, regardless of his party, regardless of his previous service in Washington, could fail to be staggered upon learning—­even in this brief 10 day period—­the harsh enormity of the trials through which we must pass in the next four years.  Each day the crises multiply.  Each day their solution grows more difficult.  Each day we draw nearer the hour of maximum danger, as weapons spread and hostile forces grow stronger.  I feel I must inform the Congress that our analyses over the last ten days make it clear that—­in each of the principal areas of crisis—­the tide of events has been running out and time has not been our friend.

In Asia, the relentless pressures of the Chinese Communists menace the security of the entire area—­from the borders of India and South Viet Nam to the jungles of Laos, struggling to protect its newly-won independence.  We seek in Laos what we seek in all Asia, and, indeed, in all of the world—­freedom for the people and independence for the government.  And this Nation shall persevere in our pursuit of these objectives.