My Countrymen: THIS occasion is not alone the administrationof the most sacred oath which can be assumed by an American citizen. Itis a dedication and consecration under God to the highest office in serviceof our people. I assume this trust in the humility of knowledge that onlythrough the guidance of Almighty Providence can I hope to discharge itsever-increasing burdens. | 1 |
| It is in keeping with tradition throughout our history thatI should express simply and directly the opinions which I hold concerningsome of the matters of present importance. | 2 |
Our Progress
If we survey the situation of our Nation both at home and abroad,we find many satisfactions; we find some causes for concern. We have emergedfrom the losses of the Great War and the reconstruction following it withincreased virility and strength. From this strength we have contributedto the recovery and progress of the world. What America has done has givenrenewed hope and courage to all who have faith in government by the people.In the large view, we have reached a higher degree of comfort and securitythan ever existed before in the history of the world. Through liberationfrom widespread poverty we have reached a higher degree of individual freedomthan ever before. The devotion to and concern for our institutions are deepand sincere. We are steadily building a new race—a new civilizationgreat in its own attainments. The influence and high purposes of our Nationare respected among the peoples of the world. We aspire to distinction inthe world, but to a distinction based upon confidence in our sense of justiceas well as our accomplishments within our own borders and in our own lives.For wise guidance in this great period of recovery the Nation is deeplyindebted to Calvin Coolidge.
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| But all this majestic advance should not obscure the constantdangers from which self-government must be safeguarded. The strong man mustat all times be alert to the attack of insidious disease. | 4 |
The Failure of Our System of Criminal Justice
The most malign of all these dangers today is disregard anddisobedience of law. Crime is increasing. Confidence in rigid and speedyjustice is decreasing. I am not prepared to believe that this indicatesany decay in the moral fiber of the American people. I am not prepared tobelieve that it indicates an impotence of the Federal Government to enforceits laws.
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| It is only in part due to the additional burdens imposed uponour judicial system by the eighteenth amendment. The problem is much widerthan that. Many influences had increasingly complicated and weakened ourlaw enforcement organization long before the adoption of the eighteenthamendment. | 6 |
| To reestablish the vigor and effectiveness of law enforcementwe must critically consider the entire Federal machinery of justice, theredistribution of its functions, the simplification of its procedure, theprovision of additional special tribunals, the better selection of juries,and the more effective organization of our agencies of investigation andprosecution that justice may be sure and that it may be swift. While theauthority of the Federal Government extends to but part of our vast systemof national, State, and local justice, yet the standards which the FederalGovernment establishes have the most profound influence upon the whole structure. | 7 |
| We are fortunate in the ability and integrity of our Federaljudges and attorneys. But the system which these officers are called uponto administer is in many respects ill adapted to present-day conditions.Its intricate and involved rules of procedure have become the refuge ofboth big and little criminals. There is a belief abroad that by invokingtechnicalities, subterfuge, and delay, the ends of justice may be thwartedby those who can pay the cost. | 8 |
| Reform, reorganization and strengthening of our whole judicialand enforcement system, both in civil and criminal sides, have been advocatedfor years by statesmen, judges, and bar associations. First steps towardthat end should not longer be delayed. Rigid and expeditious justice isthe first safeguard of freedom, the basis of all ordered liberty, the vitalforce of progress. It must not come to be in our Republic that it can bedefeated by the indifference of the citizen, by exploitation of the delaysand entanglements of the law, or by combinations of criminals. Justice mustnot fail because the agencies of enforcement are either delinquent or inefficientlyorganized. To consider these evils, to find their remedy, is the most sorenecessity of our times. | 9 |
Enforcement of the Eighteenth Amendment
Of the undoubted abuses which have grown up under the eighteenthamendment, part are due to the causes I have just mentioned; but part aredue to the failure of some States to accept their share of responsibilityfor concurrent enforcement and to the failure of many State and local officialsto accept the obligation under their oath of office zealously to enforcethe laws. With the failures from these many causes has come a dangerousexpansion in the criminal elements who have found enlarged opportunitiesin dealing in illegal liquor.
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| But a large responsibility rests directly upon our citizens.There would be little traffic in illegal liquor if only criminals patronizedit. We must awake to the fact that this patronage from large numbers oflaw-abiding citizens is supplying the rewards and stimulating crime. | 11 |
| I have been selected by you to execute and enforce the lawsof the country. I propose to do so to the extent of my own abilities, butthe measure of success that the Government shall attain will depend uponthe moral support which you, as citizens, extend. The duty of citizens tosupport the laws of the land is coequal with the duty of their Governmentto enforce the laws which exist. No greater national service can be givenby men and women of good will—who, I know, are not unmindful of theresponsibilities of citizenship—than that they should, by their example,assist in stamping out crime and outlawry by refusing participation in andcondemning all transactions with illegal liquor. Our whole system of self-governmentwill crumble either if officials elect what laws they will enforce or citizenselect what laws they will support. The worst evil of disregard for somelaw is that it destroys respect for all law. For our citizens to patronizethe violation of a particular law on the ground that they are opposed toit is destructive of the very basis of all that protection of life, of homesand property which they rightly claim under other laws. If citizens do notlike a law, their duty as honest men and women is to discourage its violation;their right is openly to work for its repeal. | 12 |
| To those of criminal mind there can be no appeal but vigorousenforcement of the law. Fortunately they are but a small percentage of ourpeople. Their activities must be stopped. | 13 |
A National Investigation
I propose to appoint a national commission for a searching investigationof the whole structure of our Federal system of jurisprudence, to includethe method of enforcement of the eighteenth amendment and the causes ofabuse under it. Its purpose will be to make such recommendations for reorganizationof the administration of Federal laws and court procedure as may be founddesirable. In the meantime it is essential that a large part of the enforcementactivities be transferred from the Treasury Department to the Departmentof Justice as a beginning of more effective organization.
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The Relation of Government to Business
The election has again confirmed the determination of the Americanpeople that regulation of private enterprise and not Government ownershipor operation is the course rightly to be pursued in our relation to business.In recent years we have established a differentiation in the whole methodof business regulation between the industries which produce and distributecommodities on the one hand and public utilities on the other. In the former,our laws insist upon effective competition; in the latter, because we substantiallyconfer a monopoly by limiting competition, we must regulate their servicesand rates. The rigid enforcement of the laws applicable to both groups isthe very base of equal opportunity and freedom from domination for all ourpeople, and it is just as essential for the stability and prosperity ofbusiness itself as for the protection of the public at large. Such regulationshould be extended by the Federal Government within the limitations of theConstitution and only when the individual States are without power to protecttheir citizens through their own authority. On the other hand, we shouldbe fearless when the authority rests only in the Federal Government.
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Cooperation by the Government
The larger purpose of our economic thought should be to establishmore firmly stability and security of business and employment and therebyremove poverty still further from our borders. Our people have in recentyears developed a new-found capacity for cooperation among themselves toeffect high purposes in public welfare. It is an advance toward the highestconception of self-government. Self-government does not and should not implythe use of political agencies alone. Progress is born of cooperation inthe community—not from governmental restraints. The Government shouldassist and encourage these movements of collective self-help by itself cooperatingwith them. Business has by cooperation made great progress in the advancementof service, in stability, in regularity of employment and in the correctionof its own abuses. Such progress, however, can continue only so long asbusiness manifests its respect for law.
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| There is an equally important field of cooperation by the FederalGovernment with the multitude of agencies, State, municipal and private,in the systematic development of those processes which directly affect publichealth, recreation, education, and the home. We have need further to perfectthe means by which Government can be adapted to human service. | 17 |
Education
Although education is primarily a responsibility of the Statesand local communities, and rightly so, yet the Nation as a whole is vitallyconcerned in its development everywhere to the highest standards and tocomplete universality. Self-government can succeed only through an instructedelectorate. Our objective is not simply to overcome illiteracy. The Nationhas marched far beyond that. The more complex the problems of the Nationbecome, the greater is the need for more and more advanced instruction.Moreover, as our numbers increase and as our life expands with science andinvention, we must discover more and more leaders for every walk of life.We can not hope to succeed in directing this increasingly complex civilizationunless we can draw all the talent of leadership from the whole people. Onecivilization after another has been wrecked upon the attempt to secure sufficientleadership from a single group or class. If we would prevent the growthof class distinctions and would constantly refresh our leadership with theideals of our people, we must draw constantly from the general mass. Thefull opportunity for every boy and girl to rise through the selective processesof education can alone secure to us this leadership.
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Public Health
In public health the discoveries of science have opened a newera. Many sections of our country and many groups of our citizens sufferfrom diseases the eradication of which are mere matters of administrationand moderate expenditure. Public health service should be as fully organizedand as universally incorporated into our governmental system as is publiceducation. The returns are a thousand fold in economic benefits, and infinitelymore in reduction of suffering and promotion of human happiness.
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World Peace
The United States fully accepts the profound truth that ourown progress, prosperity, and peace are interlocked with the progress, prosperity,and peace of all humanity. The whole world is at peace. The dangers to acontinuation of this peace to-day are largely the fear and suspicion whichstill haunt the world. No suspicion or fear can be rightly directed towardour country.
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| Those who have a true understanding of America know that wehave no desire for territorial expansion, for economic or other dominationof other peoples. Such purposes are repugnant to our ideals of human freedom.Our form of government is ill adapted to the responsibilities which inevitablyfollow permanent limitation of the independence of other peoples. Superficialobservers seem to find no destiny for our abounding increase in population,in wealth and power except that of imperialism. They fail to see that theAmerican people are engrossed in the building for themselves of a new economicsystem, a new social system, a new political system all of which are characterizedby aspirations of freedom of opportunity and thereby are the negation ofimperialism. They fail to realize that because of our abounding prosperityour youth are pressing more and more into our institutions of learning;that our people are seeking a larger vision through art, literature, science,and travel; that they are moving toward stronger moral and spiritual life—thatfrom these things our sympathies are broadening beyond the bounds of ourNation and race toward their true expression in a real brotherhood of man.They fail to see that the idealism of America will lead it to no narrowor selfish channel, but inspire it to do its full share as a nation towardthe advancement of civilization. It will do that not by mere declarationbut by taking a practical part in supporting all useful international undertakings.We not only desire peace with the world, but to see peace maintained throughoutthe world. We wish to advance the reign of justice and reason toward theextinction of force. | 21 |
| The recent treaty for the renunciation of war as an instrumentof national policy sets an advanced standard in our conception of the relationsof nations. Its acceptance should pave the way to greater limitation ofarmament, the offer of which we sincerely extend to the world. But its fullrealization also implies a greater and greater perfection in the instrumentalitiesfor pacific settlement of controversies between nations. In the creationand use of these instrumentalities we should support every sound methodof conciliation, arbitration, and judicial settlement. American statesmenwere among the first to propose and they have constantly urged upon theworld, the establishment of a tribunal for the settlement of controversiesof a justiciable character. The Permanent Court of International Justicein its major purpose is thus peculiarly identified with American idealsand with American statesmanship. No more potent instrumentality for thispurpose has ever been conceived and no other is practicable of establishment.The reservations placed upon our adherence should not be misinterpreted.The United States seeks by these reservations no special privilege or advantagebut only to clarify our relation to advisory opinions and other matterswhich are subsidiary to the major purpose of the court. The way should,and I believe will, be found by which we may take our proper place in amovement so fundamental to the progress of peace. | 22 |
| Our people have determined that we should make no politicalengagements such as membership in the League of Nations, which may commitus in advance as a nation to become involved in the settlements of controversiesbetween other countries. They adhere to the belief that the independenceof America from such obligations increases its ability and availabilityfor service in all fields of human progress. | 23 |
| I have lately returned from a journey among our sister Republicsof the Western Hemisphere. I have received unbounded hospitality and courtesyas their expression of friendliness to our country. We are held by particularbonds of sympathy and common interest with them. They are each of them buildinga racial character and a culture which is an impressive contribution tohuman progress. We wish only for the maintenance of their independence,the growth of their stability, and their prosperity. While we have had warsin the Western Hemisphere, yet on the whole the record is in encouragingcontrast with that of other parts of the world. Fortunately the New Worldis largely free from the inheritances of fear and distrust which have sotroubled the Old World. We should keep it so. | 24 |
| It is impossible, my countrymen, to speak of peace without profoundemotion. In thousands of homes in America, in millions of homes around theworld, there are vacant chairs. It would be a shameful confession of ourunworthiness if it should develop that we have abandoned the hope for whichall these men died. Surely civilization is old enough, surely mankind ismature enough so that we ought in our own lifetime to find a way to permanentpeace. Abroad, to west and east, are nations whose sons mingled their bloodwith the blood of our sons on the battlefields. Most of these nations havecontributed to our race, to our culture, our knowledge, and our progress.From one of them we derive our very language and from many of them muchof the genius of our institutions. Their desire for peace is as deep andsincere as our own. | 25 |
| Peace can be contributed to by respect for our ability in defense.Peace can be promoted by the limitation of arms and by the creation of theinstrumentalities for peaceful settlement of controversies. But it willbecome a reality only through self-restraint and active effort in friendlinessand helpfulness. I covet for this administration a record of having furthercontributed to advance the cause of peace. | 26 |
Party Responsibilities
In our form of democracy the expression of the popular willcan be effected only through the instrumentality of political parties. Wemaintain party government not to promote intolerant partisanship but becauseopportunity must be given for expression of the popular will, and organizationprovided for the execution of its mandates and for accountability of governmentto the people. It follows that the government both in the executive andthe legislative branches must carry out in good faith the platforms uponwhich the party was entrusted with power. But the government is that ofthe whole people; the party is the instrument through which policies aredetermined and men chosen to bring them into being. The animosities of electionsshould have no place in our Government, for government must concern itselfalone with the common weal.
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Special Session of the Congress
Action upon some of the proposals upon which the RepublicanParty was returned to power, particularly further agricultural relief andlimited changes in the tariff, cannot in justice to our farmers, our labor,and our manufacturers be postponed. I shall therefore request a specialsession of Congress for the consideration of these two questions. I shalldeal with each of them upon the assembly of the Congress.
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Other Mandates from the Election
It appears to me that the more important further mandates fromthe recent election were the maintenance of the integrity of the Constitution;the vigorous enforcement of the laws; the continuance of economy in publicexpenditure; the continued regulation of business to prevent dominationin the community; the denial of ownership or operation of business by theGovernment in competition with its citizens; the avoidance of policies whichwould involve us in the controversies of foreign nations; the more effectivereorganization of the departments of the Federal Government; the expansionof public works; and the promotion of welfare activities affecting educationand the home.
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| These were the more tangible determinations of the election,but beyond them was the confidence and belief of the people that we wouldnot neglect the support of the embedded ideals and aspirations of America.These ideals and aspirations are the touchstones upon which the day-to-dayadministration and legislative acts of government must be tested. More thanthis, the Government must, so far as lies within its proper powers, giveleadership to the realization of these ideals and to the fruition of theseaspirations. No one can adequately reduce these things of the spirit tophrases or to a catalogue of definitions. We do know what the attainmentsof these ideals should be: The preservation of self-government and its fullfoundations in local government; the perfection of justice whether in economicor in social fields; the maintenance of ordered liberty; the denial of dominationby any group or class; the building up and preservation of equality of opportunity;the stimulation of initiative and individuality; absolute integrity in publicaffairs; the choice of officials for fitness to office; the direction ofeconomic progress toward prosperity for the further lessening of poverty;the freedom of public opinion; the sustaining of education and of the advancementof knowledge; the growth of religious spirit and the tolerance of all faiths;the strengthening of the home; the advancement of peace. | 30 |
| There is no short road to the realization of these aspirations.Ours is a progressive people, but with a determination that progress mustbe based upon the foundation of experience. Ill-considered remedies forour faults bring only penalties after them. But if we hold the faith ofthe men in our mighty past who created these ideals, we shall leave themheightened and strengthened for our children. | 31 |
Conclusion
This is not the time and place for extended discussion. Thequestions before our country are problems of progress to higher standards;they are not the problems of degeneration. They demand thought and theyserve to quicken the conscience and enlist our sense of responsibility fortheir settlement. And that responsibility rests upon you, my countrymen,as much as upon those of us who have been selected for office.
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| Ours is a land rich in resources; stimulating in its gloriousbeauty; filled with millions of happy homes; blessed with comfort and opportunity.In no nation are the institutions of progress more advanced. In no nationare the fruits of accomplishment more secure. In no nation is the governmentmore worthy of respect. No country is more loved by its people. I have anabiding faith in their capacity, integrity and high purpose. I have no fearsfor the future of our country. It is bright with hope. | 33 |
| In the presence of my countrymen, mindful of the solemnity ofthis occasion, knowing what the task means and the responsibility whichit involves, I beg your tolerance, your aid, and your cooperation. I askthe help of Almighty God in this service to my country to which you havecalled me. | 34 |