After all, it has been scarcely fifteen years since most Americans rejected out-of-hand the wise counsel that aggressors must be “quarantined”.  The very concept of collective security, the foundation-stone of all our actions now, was then strange doctrine, shunned and set aside.  Talk about adapting; talk about adjusting; talk about responding as a people to the challenge of changed times and circumstances—­there has never been a more spectacular example than this great change in America’s outlook on the world.

Let all of us pause now, think back, consider carefully the meaning of our national experience.  Let us draw comfort from it and faith, and confidence in our future as Americans.

The Nation’s business is never finished.  The basic questions we have been dealing with, these eight years past, present themselves anew.  That is the way of our society.  Circumstances change and current questions take on different forms, new complications, year by year.  But underneath, the great issues remain the same—­prosperity, welfare, human rights, effective democracy, and above all, peace.

Now we turn to the inaugural of our new President.  And in the great work he is called upon to do he will have need for the support of a united people, a confident people, with firm faith in one another and in our common cause.  I pledge him my support as a citizen of our Republic, and I ask you to give him yours.

To him, to you, to all my fellow citizens, I say, Godspeed.

May God bless our country and our cause.

***

State of the Union Address
Dwight D. Eisenhower
February 2, 1953

Mr. President, Mr. Speaker, Members of the Eighty-third Congress: 

I welcome the honor of appearing before you to deliver my first message to the Congress.

It is manifestly the joint purpose of the congressional leadership and of this administration to justify the summons to governmental responsibility issued last November by the American people.  The grand labors of this leadership will involve: 

Application of America’s influence in world affairs with such fortitude and such foresight that it will deter aggression and eventually secure peace;

Establishment of a national administration of such integrity and such efficiency that its honor at home will ensure respect abroad;

Encouragement of those incentives that inspire creative initiative in our economy, so that its productivity may fortify freedom everywhere; and

Dedication to the well-being of all our citizens and to the attainment of equality of opportunity for all, so that our Nation will ever act with the strength of unity in every task to which it is called.

The purpose of this message is to suggest certain lines along which our joint efforts may immediately be directed toward realization of these four ruling purposes.

The time that this administration has been in office has been too brief to permit preparation of a detailed and comprehensive program of recommended action to cover all phases of the responsibilities that devolve upon our country’s new leaders.  Such a program will be filled out in the weeks ahead as, after appropriate study, I shall submit additional recommendations for your consideration.  Today can provide only a sure and substantial beginning.