State of the Union Addresses of Lyndon B. Johnson
The addresses are separated by three asterisks: ***
Dates of addresses by Lyndon B. Johnson in this eBook:
January 8, 1964
January 4, 1965
January 12, 1966
January 10, 1967
January 17, 1968
January 14, 1969
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State of the Union Address
Lyndon B. Johnson
January 8, 1964
Mr. Speaker, Mr. President, Members of the House and Senate, my fellowAmericans:
I will be brief, for our time is necessarily short and our agenda isalready long.
Last year's congressional session was the longest in peacetime history.With that foundation, let us work together to make this year's session thebest in the Nation's history.
Let this session of Congress be known as the session which did more forcivil rights than the last hundred sessions combined; as the session whichenacted the most far-reaching tax cut of our time; as the session whichdeclared all-out war on human poverty and unemployment in these UnitedStates; as the session which finally recognized the health needs of all ourolder citizens; as the session which reformed our tangled transportationand transit policies; as the session which achieved the most effective,efficient foreign aid program ever; and as the session which helped tobuild more homes, more schools, more libraries, and more hospitals than anysingle session of Congress in the history of our Republic.
All this and more can and must be done. It can be done by this summer, andit can be done without any increase in spending. In fact, under the budgetthat I shall shortly submit, it can be done with an actual reduction inFederal expenditures and Federal employment.
We have in 1964 a unique opportunity and obligation--to prove the successof our system; to disprove those cynics and critics at home and abroad whoquestion our purpose and our competence.
If we fail, if we fritter and fumble away our opportunity in needless,senseless quarrels between Democrats and Republicans, or between the Houseand the Senate, or between the South and North, or between the Congress andthe administration, then history will rightfully judge us harshly. But ifwe succeed, if we can achieve these goals by forging in this country agreater sense of union, then, and only then, can we take full satisfactionin the State of the Union. II.
Here in the Congress you can demonstrate effective legislative leadershipby discharging the public business with clarity and dispatch, voting eachimportant proposal up, or voting it down, but at least bringing it to afair and a final vote.
Let us carry forward the plans and programs of John Fitzgerald Kennedy--notbecause of our sorrow or sympathy, but because they are right.
In his memory today, I especially ask all members of my own politicalfaith, in this election year, to put your country ahead of your party, andto always debate principles; never debate personalities.
For my part, I pledge a progressive administration which is efficient, andhonest and frugal. The budget to be submitted to the Congress shortly is infull accord with this pledge.
It will cut our deficit in half--from $10 billion to $4,900 million. Itwill be, in proportion to our national output, the smallest budget since1951.
It will call for a substantial reduction i