To strengthen the work of Congress I strongly urge an amendment to provide a 4-year term for Members of the House of Representatives—­which should not begin before 1972.

The present 2-year term requires most Members of Congress to divert enormous energies to an almost constant process of campaigning—­depriving this Nation of the fullest measure of both their skill and their wisdom.  Today, too, the work of government is far more complex than in our early years, requiring more time to learn and more time to master the technical tasks of legislating.  And a longer term will serve to attract more men of the highest quality to political life.  The Nation, the principle of democracy, and, I think, each congressional district, will all be better served by a 4-year term for Members of the House.  And I urge your swift action.  IV.

Tonight the cup of peril is full in Vietnam.  That conflict is not an isolated episode, but another great event in the policy that we have followed with strong consistency since World War II.

The touchstone of that policy is the interest of the United States—­the welfare and the freedom of the people of the United States.  But nations sink when they see that interest only through a narrow glass.

In a world that has grown small and dangerous, pursuit of narrow aims could bring decay and even disaster.

An America that is mighty beyond description—­yet living in a hostile or despairing world—­would be neither safe nor free to build a civilization to liberate the spirit of man.

In this pursuit we helped rebuild Western Europe.  We gave our aid to Greece and Turkey, and we defended the freedom of Berlin.

In this pursuit we have helped new nations toward independence.  We have extended the helping hand of the Peace Corps and carried forward the largest program of economic assistance in the world.

And in this pursuit we work to build a hemisphere of democracy and of social justice.

In this pursuit we have defended against Communist aggression—­in Korea under President Truman—­in the Formosa Straits under President Eisenhower—­in Cuba under President Kennedy—­and again in Vietnam.

Tonight Vietnam must hold the center of our attention, but across the world problems and opportunities crowd in on the American Nation.  I will discuss them fully in the months to come, and I will follow the five continuing lines of policy that America has followed under its last four Presidents.

While special Vietnam expenditures for the next fiscal year are estimated to increase by $5.8 billion, I can tell you that all the other expenditures put together in the entire Federal budget will rise this coming year by only $.6 billion.  This is true because of the stringent cost-conscious economy program inaugurated in the Defense Department, and followed by the other departments of Government.

We will vigorously pursue existing proposals—­and seek new ones—­to control arms and to stop the spread of nuclear weapons.