Document Archive

Public Papers of the Presidents

State of the Union
Addresses & Messages
Inaugural Addresses
Weekly Addresses
Fireside Chats
News Conferences
Executive Orders
Proclamations
Signing Statements
Press Briefings
Statements of
Administration Policy
Economic Report of the President
Debates
Convention Speeches
Party Platforms
2012 Election Documents
2008 Election Documents
2004 Election Documents
1960 Election Documents
2009 Transition
2001 Transition

Data Archive
Data Index

Media Archive

Tweet
27 - The President's Inaugural Address
January 20, 1965

My fellow cou n t r y m en :
On t h is occa sion t h e oa t h I h a v e t a k en befor e y ou a n d befor e God is n ot m in e a lon e, bu t ou r s t og et h er . W e
a r e on e n a t ion a n d on e people. Ou r fa t e a s a n a t ion a n d ou r fu t u r e a s a people r est n ot u pon on e cit izen bu t
u pon a ll cit izen s.
T h a t is t h e m a jest y a n d t h e m ea n in g of t h is m om en t .
For ev er y g en er a t ion t h er e is a dest in y . For som e, h ist or y decides. For t h is g en er a t ion t h e ch oice m u st be
ou r ow n .
Ev en n ow , a r ock et m ov es t ow a r d Ma r s. It r em in ds u s t h a t t h e w or ld w ill n ot be t h e sa m e for ou r ch ildr en ,
or ev en for ou r selv es in a sh or t spa n of y ea r s. T h e n ex t m a n t o st a n d h er e w ill look ou t on a scen e t h a t is
differ en t fr om ou r ow n .
Ou r s is a t im e of ch a n g e--r a pid a n d fa n t a st ic ch a n g e--bea r in g t h e secr et s of n a t u r e, m u lt iply in g t h e
n a t ion s, pla cin g in u n cer t a in h a n ds n ew w ea pon s for m a st er y a n d dest r u ct ion , sh a k in g old v a lu es a n d
u pr oot in g old w a y s.

Lyndon B. Johnson
1965: Book I

Ou r dest in y in t h e m idst of ch a n g e w ill r est on t h e u n ch a n g ed ch a r a ct er of ou r people a n d on t h eir fa it h .

vide o

Audio/Video Index

Elections

T HE A MERICA N COV ENA NT T h ey ca m e h er e--t h e ex ile a n d t h e st r a n g er , br a v e bu t fr ig h t en ed--t o fin d a

pla ce w h er e a m a n cou ld be h is ow n m a n . T h ey m a de a cov en a n t w it h t h is la n d. Con ceiv ed in ju st ice,
w r it t en in liber t y , bou n d in u n ion , it w a s m ea n t on e da y t o in spir e t h e h opes of a ll m a n k in d. A n d it bin ds
u s st ill. If w e k eep it s t er m s w e sh a ll flou r ish .

Election Index
Florida 2000

Links

Presidential Libraries

View Public Papers by

Month and Year
Month

Year

INCLUDE documents from

the Office of the Press
Secretary
INCLUDE election
campaign documents
Search the Entire
Document Archive
Enter keyword:

OR

NOT

Limit by Year

From: 1789
To

In a la n d of g r ea t w ea lt h , fa m ilies m u st n ot liv e in h opeless pov er t y . In a la n d r ich in h a r v est , ch ildr en ju st

m u st n ot g o h u n g r y . In a la n d of h ea lin g m ir a cles, n eig h bor s m u st n ot su ffer a n d die u n t en ded. In a g r ea t
la n d of lea r n in g a n d sch ola r s, y ou n g people m u st be t a u g h t t o r ea d a n d w r it e.
For m or e t h a n 3 0 y ea r s t h a t I h a v e ser v ed t h is Na t ion I h a v e believ ed t h a t t h is in ju st ice t o ou r people, t h is
w a st e of ou r r esou r ces, w a s ou r r ea l en em y . For 3 0 y ea r s or m or e, w it h t h e r esou r ces I h a v e h a d, I h a v e
v ig ila n t ly fou g h t a g a in st it . I h a v e lea r n ed a n d I k n ow t h a t it w ill n ot su r r en der ea sily .
Bu t ch a n g e h a s g iv en u s n ew w ea pon s. Befor e t h is g en er a t ion of A m er ica n s is fin ish ed, t h is en em y w ill n ot
on ly r et r ea t , it w ill be con qu er ed.

View PPPUS

AND

JUST ICE A ND CHA NGE Fir st , ju st ice w a s t h e pr om ise t h a t a ll w h o m a de t h e jou r n ey w ou ld sh a r e in t h e

fr u it s of t h e la n d.

: 2014

Limit results per page

30
INCLUDE documents from
the Office of the Press
Secretary
INCLUDE election
campaign documents

Location:

District of C olum bia

W ashington
Font Size :

R e port Typo
Share

The American Presidency

Project

Ju st ice r equ ir es u s t o r em em ber : w h en a n y cit izen den ies h is fellow , sa y in g : "His color is n ot m in e or h is
beliefs a r e st r a n g e a n d differ en t ," in t h a t m om en t h e bet r a y s A m er ica , t h ou g h h is for ebea r s cr ea t ed t h is
Na t ion .
LIBERT Y A ND CHA NGE Liber t y w a s t h e secon d a r t icle of ou r cov en a n t . It w a s self-g ov er n m en t . It w a s ou r
Bill of Rig h t s. Bu t it w a s m or e. A m er ica w ou ld be a pla ce w h er e ea ch m a n cou ld be pr ou d t o be h im self:
st r et ch in g h is t a len t s, r ejoicin g in h is w or k , im por t a n t in t h e life of h is n eig h bor s a n d h is n a t ion .
T h is h a s becom e m or e difficu lt in a w or ld w h er e ch a n g e a n d g r ow t h seem t o t ow er bey on d t h e con t r ol a n d
ev en t h e ju dg m en t of m en . W e m u st w or k t o pr ov ide t h e k n ow ledg e a n d t h e su r r ou n din g s w h ich ca n
en la r g e t h e possibilit ies of ev er y cit izen .
T HE W ORLD A ND CHA NGE T h e A m er ica n cov en a n t ca lled on u s t o h elp sh ow t h e w a y for t h e liber a t ion of
m a n . A n d t h a t is t oda y ou r g oa l. T h u s, if a s a n a t ion , t h er e is m u ch ou t side ou r con t r ol, a s a people n o
st r a n g er is ou t side ou r h ope.
Ch a n g e h a s br ou g h t n ew m ea n in g t o t h a t old m ission . W e ca n n ev er a g a in st a n d a side, pr idefu l in
isola t ion . T er r ific da n g er s a n d t r ou bles t h a t w e on ce ca lled "for eig n " n ow con st a n t ly liv e a m on g u s. If
A m er ica n liv es m u st en d, a n d A m er ica n t r ea su r e be spilled, in cou n t r ies t h a t w e ba r ely k n ow , t h en t h a t is
t h e pr ice t h a t ch a n g e h a s dem a n ded of con v ict ion a n d of ou r en du r in g cov en a n t .
T h in k of ou r w or ld a s it look s fr om t h a t r ock et t h a t is h ea din g t ow a r d Ma r s. It is lik e a ch ild's g lobe, h a n g in g
in spa ce, t h e con t in en t st u ck t o it s side lik e color ed m a ps. W e a r e a ll fellow pa ssen g er s on a dot of ea r t h . A n d
ea ch of u s, in t h e spa n of t im e, h a s r ea lly on ly a m om en t a m on g ou r com pa n ion s.

Promote Your Page Too

Search
Instructions
You can search the Public
Papers in two ways:
1. Search by Keyword and
Year
You can search by keyword
and choose the range of years
within your search by filling
out the boxes under Search
the Public Papers.
2. View by Month and/or
Year
Select the month and/or year
you would like information
about and press View Public
Papers. Then choose a Public
Paper and the page will load
for you.
Search Engine provided b y the
Harry S. Truman Lib rary. Our
thanks to
Jim Borwick and Dr. Rafee Che
Kassim at Project Whistlestop
for critical assistance in the
implementation of the search
function, and to Scott Roley at
the
Truman
Lib rary
for
facilitating this collab oration.

How in cr edible it is t h a t in t h is fr a g ile ex ist en ce w e sh ou ld h a t e a n d dest r oy on e a n ot h er . T h er e a r e possibilit ies en ou g h for a ll w h o

w ill a ba n don m a st er y ov er ot h er s t o pu r su e m a st er y ov er n a t u r e. T h er e is w or ld en ou g h for a ll t o seek t h eir h a ppin ess in t h eir
ow n w a y .
Ou r Na t ion 's cou r se is a bu n da n t ly clea r . W e a spir e t o n ot h in g t h a t belon g s t o ot h er s. W e seek n o dom in ion ov er ou r fellow m a n , bu t
m a n 's dom in ion ov er t y r a n n y a n d m iser y .
Bu t m or e is r equ ir ed. Men w a n t t o be pa r t of a com m on en t er pr ise, a ca u se g r ea t er t h a n t h em selv es. A n d ea ch of u s m u st fin d a
w a y t o a dv a n ce t h e pu r pose of t h e Na t ion , t h u s fin din g n ew pu r pose for ou r selv es. W it h ou t t h is, w e w ill sim ply becom e a n a t ion of
st r a n g er s.
UNION A ND CHA NGE T h e t h ir d a r t icle is u n ion . T o t h ose w h o w er e sm a ll a n d few a g a in st t h e w ilder n ess, t h e su ccess of liber t y
dem a n ded t h e st r en g t h of u n ion . T w o cen t u r ies of ch a n g e h a v e m a de t h is t r u e a g a in .
No lon g er n eed ca pit a list a n d w or k er , fa r m er a n d cler k , cit y a n d cou n t r y side, st r u g g le t o div ide ou r bou n t y . By w or k in g sh ou lder
t o sh ou lder t og et h er w e ca n in cr ea se t h e bou n t y of a ll. W e h a v e discov er ed t h a t ev er y ch ild w h o lea r n s, a n d ev er y m a n w h o fin ds
w or k , a n d ev er y sick body t h a t is m a de w h ole--lik e a ca n dle a dded t o a n a lt a r -br ig h t en s t h e h ope of a ll t h e fa it h fu l.
So let u s r eject a n y a m on g u s w h o seek t o r eopen old w ou n ds a n d r ek in dle old h a t r eds. T h ey st a n d in t h e w a y of a seek in g n a t ion .
Let u s n ow join r ea son t o fa it h a n d a ct ion t o ex per ien ce, t o t r a n sfor m ou r u n it y of in t er est in t o a u n it y of pu r pose. For t h e h ou r a n d
t h e da y a n d t h e t im e a r e h er e t o a ch iev e pr og r ess w it h ou t st r ife, t o a ch iev e ch a n g e w it h ou t h a t r ed; n ot w it h ou t differ en ce of
opin ion bu t w it h ou t t h e deep a n d a bidin g div ision s w h ich sca r t h e u n ion for g en er a t ion s.
T HE A MERICA N BELIEF Un der t h is cov en a n t of ju st ice, liber t y , a n d u n ion w e h a v e becom e a n a t ion --pr osper ou s, g r ea t , a n d
m ig h t y . A n d w e h a v e k ept ou r fr eedom . Bu t w e h a v e n o pr om ise fr om God t h a t ou r g r ea t n ess w ill en du r e. W e h a v e been a llow ed
by Him t o seek g r ea t n ess w it h t h e sw ea t of ou r h a n ds a n d t h e st r en g t h of ou r spir it .
I do n ot believ e t h a t t h e Gr ea t Societ y is t h e or der ed, ch a n g eless, a n d st er ile ba t t a lion of t h e a n t s. It is t h e ex cit em en t of becom in g a lw a y s becom in g , t r y in g , pr obin g , fa llin g , r est in g , a n d t r y in g a g a in --bu t a lw a y s t r y in g a n d a lw a y s g a in in g .
In ea ch g en er a t ion , w it h t oil a n d t ea r s, w e h a v e h a d t o ea r n ou r h er it a g e a g a in . If w e fa il n ow t h en w e w ill h a v e for g ot t en in
a bu n da n ce w h a t w e lea r n ed in h a r dsh ip: t h a t dem ocr a cy r est s on fa it h , t h a t fr eedom a sk s m or e t h a n it g iv es, a n d t h e ju dg m en t of
God is h a r sh est on t h ose w h o a r e m ost fa v or ed.
If w e su cceed it w ill n ot be beca u se of w h a t w e h a v e, bu t it w ill be beca u se of w h a t w e a r e; n ot beca u se of w h a t w e ow n , bu t r a t h er
beca u se of w h a t w e believ e.
For w e a r e a n a t ion of believ er s. Un der n ea t h t h e cla m or of bu ildin g a n d t h e r u sh of ou r da y 's pu r su it s, w e a r e believ er s in ju st ice
a n d liber t y a n d in ou r ow n u n ion . W e believ e t h a t ev er y m a n m u st som e da y be fr ee. A n d w e believ e in ou r selv es.
A n d t h a t is t h e m ist a k e t h a t ou r en em ies h a v e a lw a y s m a de. In m y lifet im e, in depr ession a n d in w a r t h ey h a v e a w a it ed ou r
defea t . Ea ch t im e, fr om t h e secr et pla ces of t h e A m er ica n h ea r t , ca m e for t h t h e fa it h t h a t t h ey cou ld n ot see or t h a t t h ey cou ld n ot
ev en im a g in e. A n d it br ou g h t u s v ict or y . A n d it w ill a g a in .
For t h is is w h a t A m er ica is a ll a bou t . It is t h e u n cr ossed deser t a n d t h e u n clim bed r idg e. It is t h e st a r t h a t is n ot r ea ch ed a n d t h e
h a r v est t h a t is sleepin g in t h e u n plow ed g r ou n d. Is ou r w or ld g on e? W e sa y fa r ew ell. Is a n ew w or ld com in g ? W e w elcom e it , a n d
w e w ill ben d it t o t h e h opes Of m a n .
A n d t o t h ese t r u st ed pu blic ser v a n t s a n d t o m y fa m ily , a n d t h ose close fr ien ds of m in e w h o h a v e follow ed m e dow n a lon g w in din g
r oa d, a n d t o a ll t h e people of t h is Un ion a n d t h e w or ld, I w ill r epea t t oda y w h a t I sa id on t h a t sor r ow fu l da y in Nov em ber la st y ea r :
I w ill lea d a n d I w ill do t h e best I ca n .
Bu t y ou , y ou m u st look w it h in y ou r ow n h ea r t s t o t h e old pr om ises a n d t o t h e old dr ea m s. T h ey w ill lea d y ou best of a ll.
For m y self, I a sk on ly in t h e w or ds of a n a n cien t lea der : "Giv e m e n ow w isdom a n d k n ow ledg e, t h a t I m a y g o ou t a n d com e in befor e
t h is people: for w h o ca n ju dg e t h is t h y people, t h a t is so g r ea t ?"

As delivered in person at the Capitol at 12:02 p.m.

Citation: Lyndon B. Johnson: "The Pre side nt's Inaugural Addre ss," January 20, 1965. O nline by Ge rhard Pe te rs and John T. W oolle y,
The American Presidency Project. http://www.pre side ncy.ucsb.e du/ws/?pid=26985.

Home

Contact

1999-2014 - Gerhard Peters - The American Presidency Project