Pres. Johnson's State of the Union speeches: on Principles & Values

Continue JFK's plans, not in sorrow, but because it's right

We can fight in Vietnam while also building a Great Society

We will not permit those who fire upon us in Vietnam to win a victory over the desires and the intentions of all the American people. This Nation is mighty enough, its society is healthy enough, its people are strong enough, to pursue our goals in the rest of the world while still building a Great Society here at home.

I recommend that [Congress] provides the resources to carry forward, with full vigor, the great health and education programs that Congress enacted into law last year. I recommend that we prosecute with vigor and determination our war on poverty. I recommend to you a program to rebuild completely, on a scale never before attempted, entire central and slum areas of several of our cities in America.

Programs, partnerships, priorities, prosperity, and peace

1. Programs: We must see to it that these new programs that we have passed work effectively and are administered in the best possible way.
2. Partnership--to create an effective partnership at all levels of government, beginning between the executive and the Congress.
3. Priorities: to move ahead on the priorities that we have established within the resources that are available. 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.
4. Prosperity: to keep our economy moving ahead, moving ahead steadily and safely.
5. Peace: I come now finally to Southeast Asia-and to Vietnam in particular. We are in Vietnam because we are committed by the SEATO Treaty to "act to meet the common danger" of aggression.