Where there have been mistakes, we will try very hard to correct them.

Where there has been progress, we will try to build upon it.

Our second objective is partnership—­to create an effective partnership at all levels of government.  And I should treasure nothing more than to have that partnership begin between the executive and the Congress.

The 88th and the 89th Congresses passed more social and economic legislation than any two single Congresses in American history.  Most of you who were Members of those Congresses voted to pass most of those measures.  But your efforts will come to nothing unless it reaches the people.

Federal energy is essential.  But it is not enough.  Only a total working partnership among Federal, State, and local governments can succeed.  The test of that partnership will be the concern of each public organization, each private institution, and each responsible citizen.

Each State, county, and city needs to examine its capacity for government in today’s world, as we are examining ours in the executive department, and as I see you are examining yours.  Some will need to reorganize and reshape their methods of administration—­as we are doing.  Others will need to revise their constitutions and their laws to bring them up to date—­as we are doing.  Above all, I think we must work together and find ways in which the multitudes of small jurisdictions can be brought together more efficiently.

During the past 3 years we have returned to State and local governments about $40 billion in grants-in-aid.  This year alone, 70 percent of our Federal expenditures for domestic programs will be distributed through the State and local governments.  With Federal assistance, State and local governments by 1970 will be spending close to $110 billion annually.  These enormous sums must be used wisely, honestly, and effectively.  We intend to work closely with the States and the localities to do exactly that.

Our third objective is priorities, to move ahead on the priorities that we have established within the resources that are available.

I wish, of course, that we could do all that should be done—­and that we could do it now.  But the Nation has many commitments and responsibilities which make heavy demands upon our total resources.  No administration would more eagerly utilize for these programs all the resources they require than the administration that started them.

So let us resolve, now, to do all that we can, with what we have—­knowing that it is far, far more than we have ever done before, and far, far less than our problems will ultimately require.

Let us create new opportunities for our children and our young Americans who need special help.

We should strengthen the Head Start program, begin it for children 3 years old, and maintain its educational momentum by following through in the early years.