Now all of us deplore this vast military spending. Yet, in the face of the Soviet attitude, we realize its necessity. Whatever the cost, America will keep itself secure. But in the process we must not, by our own hand, destroy or distort the American system. This we could do by useless overspending. I know one sure way to overspend. That is by overindulging sentimental attachments to outmoded military machines and concepts.
Whatever America hopes to bring to pass in the world must first come to pass in the heart of America.
Faith is the mightiest force that man has at his command. It impels human beings to greatness in thought and word and deed.
There is an old saw in the services: that which is not inspected deteriorates.
One of the things that I noticed in war was how difficult it was for our soldiers, at first, to realize that there are no rules to war. Our men were raised in sports, where a referee runs a football game, or an umpire a baseball game, and so forth.
The building of such a peace is a bold and solemn purpose. To proclaim it is easy. To serve it will be hard. And to attain it, we must be aware of its full meaning, and ready to pay its full price.
As long as I am back in my military life for a second, I should like to observe one thing about leadership that one of the great has said -, Napoleon. He said, the great leader, the genius in leadership, is the man who can do the average thing when everybody else is going crazy.
I would say that the Presidency is probably the most taxing job, as far as tiring of the mind and spirit; but it also has, as I have said before, its inspirations which tend to counteract each other. There have been times in war where I thought nothing could be quite as wearing and tearing as that with lives directly involved. But I would say, on the whole, this is the most wearing, although not necessarily, as I say, the most tiring.
You did not tell me what you are doing athletically just now but I do hope that if your arm comes along next spring you can get it in good shape to try out for the pitching spot on the varsity. However, if you don't make it then I suggest you take up golf which after all is the best game of all of them.
A people that values its privileges above its principles soon loses both.