I proposed the Public Service Education Act aimed at increasing the number of good students who choose careers in government.

I also want you to know that I am grateful for your willingness to remain available to serve your country when needed.

You ought not to be in government if you don't want to serve humanity, if you don't want to do the greatest good for the greatest number.

I am a free man first, an American second, a public servant third, and a Democrat fourth, in that order.

This act could help us lead to a better day and I hope it will:--a day when some form of voluntary service to the community and the Nation and the world is as common in America as going to school; when no man has truly lived who only served himself.

Anything which touches the lives of so many citizens asks for Government action.

I commend to the consideration of the Congress legislation enabling the Smithsonian Institution to accept this gift on behalf of all our people.

Among the many blessings which Americans can count is a corps of Federal civil servants that is unequaled anywhere in the world.

Through public spirited citizens such as yourself we will find the new and creative solutions and that will move this country closer to the goal of a better life for all our people.

I want to see every single employee of the Federal Government helping to set an example for the rest of the Nation to follow.

There are 2 1/2 million men and women in the Federal Government who work each day to advance the progress of this uncommon land.

Whether they were Democrat or Republican, he served them all with equal fidelity and equal wisdom.

In a free society, skepticism toward Government is both healthy and imperative and we should welcome it, but private citizens should always guard against allowing such healthy skepticism to corrode or to destroy their respect for their fellow citizens who serve them.

We must make certain that we express our appreciation to the outstanding individuals in positions at all levels of Government who supply the special creative ability, the extra productive effort, or the unusually superlative skill that is vitally needed to carry our Federal programs to the topmost heights of excellence.

Each of these men has demonstrated in his field that extra measure of professional excellence needed to carry out effectively our many action programs in the people's service.

I am here because I care about people and I think that is why you are here, too.

There will be 15 White House Fellows and they will serve for 15 months.

We pledge to you for as long as we are privileged to be there that we shall do what is right and what is best for all the people of this land.