AHTER 1961 01 Dwight D Eisenhower - Farewell A

As we peer into society's future, we, you and I and our government, must avoid the impulse to live only for today, plundering for our own ease and convenience the precious resources of tomorrow. We cannot mortgage the material assets of our grandchildren without risking the loss of their political and spiritual heritage.

We want democracy to survive for all generations to come, not to become the insolvent phantom of tomorrow. During the long lane of the history yet to be written, America knows that this world of ours, ever growing smaller, must avoid becoming a community of dreadful fear and hate, and be instead a proud confederation of mutual trust and respect.

we must learn how to compose differences, not with arms, but with intellect and decent purpose. Because this need is so sharp and apparent, I confess that I laid down my official responsibilities in this field with a definite sense of disappointment, as one who has witnessed the horror and the lingering sadness of war, as one who knows that another war could utterly destroy this

civilization which has been so slowly and painfully built over thousands of years. I wish I could say tonight that a lasting peace is in sight. Happily I can say that war has been avoided. Steady progress toward our ultimate goal has been made, but so much remains to be done. As a private citizen, I shall never cease to do what little I can to help the world

of advance along that road. So in this my last good night to you as your president, I thank you for the many opportunities you have given me for public service in war and in peace.