CIVIL RIGHTS

But America stands for progress in human rights as well as economic affairs, and a strong America requires the assurance of full and equal rights to all its citizens, of any race or of any color.  This Administration has shown as never before how much could be done through the full use of Executive powers—­through the enforcement of laws already passed by the Congress—­through persuasion, negotiation, and litigation, to secure the constitutional rights of all:  the right to vote, the right to travel without hindrance across State lines, and the right to free public education.

I issued last March a comprehensive order to guarantee the right to equal employment opportunity in all Federal agencies and contractors.  The Vice President’s Committee thus created has done much, including the voluntary “Plans for Progress” which, in all sections of the country, are achieving a quiet but striking success in opening up to all races new professional, supervisory, and other job opportunities.

But there is much more to be done—­by the Executive, by the courts, and by the Congress.  Among the bills now pending before you, on which the executive departments will comment in detail, are appropriate methods of strengthening these basic rights which have our full support.  The right to vote, for example, should no longer be denied through such arbitrary devices on a local level, sometimes abused, such as literacy tests and poll taxes.  As we approach the 100th anniversary, next January, of the Emancipation Proclamation, let the acts of every branch of the Government—­and every citizen—­portray that “righteousness does exalt a nation.”

HEALTH AND WELFARE

Finally, a strong America cannot neglect the aspirations of its citizens—­the welfare of the needy, the health care of the elderly, the education of the young.  For we are not developing the Nation’s wealth for its own sake.  Wealth is the means—­and people are the ends.  All our material riches will avail us little if we do not use them to expand the opportunities of our people.

Last year, we improved the diet of needy people—­provided more hot lunches and fresh milk to school children—­built more college dormitories—­and, for the elderly, expanded private housing, nursing homes, health services, and social security.  But we have just begun.

To help those least fortunate of all, I am recommending a new public welfare program, stressing services instead of support, rehabilitation instead of relief, and training for useful work instead of prolonged dependency.

To relieve the critical shortage of doctors and dentists—­and this is a matter which should concern us all—­and expand research, I urge action to aid medical and dental colleges and scholarships and to establish new National Institutes of Health.

To take advantage of modern vaccination achievements, I am proposing a mass immunization program, aimed at the virtual elimination of such ancient enemies of our children as polio, diphtheria, whooping cough, and tetanus.