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<v Narrator>The Congress convenes in joint session</v>

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to hear President Kennedy's first

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State of the Union message.

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A grave challenge to the nation and the legislature

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to prepare for serious perils abroad

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and economic recession at home.

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The president proclaims this the time of national peril

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and of national opportunity,

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as he sums up the economic picture.

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<v ->In short, the American economy is in trouble.</v>

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The most resourceful industrialized country on Earth

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ranks among the last in the rate of economic growth.

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Since last spring, our economic growth rate

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has actually declined.

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Business investment is in a decline.

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Profits have fallen below predicted levels.

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Construction is off.

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A million unsold automobiles are in inventory.

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Fewer people are working, and the average work week

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has shrunk well below 40 hours.

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Yet prices have continued to rise,

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so that now too many Americans have less to spend

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for items that cost more to buy.

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No man entering upon this office, regardless of his party,

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regardless of his previous service in Washington,

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could fail to be staggered upon learning,

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even in this brief 10 day period,

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the harsh enormities of the trials

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through which we must pass in the next four years.

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Each day the crises multiply.

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Each day their solution grows more difficult.

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Each day we draw nearer the hour of maximum danger,

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as weapons spread and hostile forces grow stronger.

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I feel I must inform the Congress that our analysis

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over the last 10 days make it clear

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that in each of the principal areas of crisis,

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the tide of events has been running out

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and time has not been our friend.

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<v Narrator>Mr. Kennedy refers to the Soviet challenge</v>

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in Latin America.

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<v ->We are pledged to work with our sister republics</v>

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to free the Americas of all such foreign domination

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and all tyranny, working towards the goal

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of a free hemisphere of free governments,

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extending from Cape Horn to the Arctic Circle.

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(applause)

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We must increase our support of the United Nations

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as an instrument to end the Cold War,

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instead of an arena in which to fight it.

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In recognition of its increasing importance,

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and the doubling of its membership,

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we are enlarging and strengthening our own mission

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to the U.N.

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We shall help insure that it is properly financed.

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We shall work to see that the integrity of the office

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of the Secretary-General is maintained.

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(applause)

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Life in 1961 will not be easy.

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Wishing it, predicting it, even asking for it,

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will not make it so.

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There will be further setbacks before the tide is turned.

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But turn it we must.

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(applause)

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<v Narrator>A brave and sobering call for action</v>

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and dedication.