Eisenhower

It should generate confidence both at home and abroad as to our purposes in this vital area of international economic relations.

The functions under section 108 of the Act, with respect to making reports to Congress, are reserved to the President.

I regard this document as an important announcement of the philosophy of this Administration with respect to agricultural foreign economic policy.

It is imperative that we continue to coordinate United States programs affecting other nations.

I have today issued an Executive order providing for the administration of the Agricultural Trade Development and Assistance Act of 1954.

In January of this year, I stated in my message on Agriculture that surplus agricultural stocks can be used for constructive purposes that will benefit the people of the United States and our friends abroad.

In implementing these policies with respect to agricultural commodities, the United States Government will seek to assure conditions of commerce permitting the private trader to function effectively.

I shall look to you for advice concerning policy issues that may develop.

The delegation to the State Department of responsibility for negotiations with foreign governments is intended to give recognition to State Department's central responsibility in this area.

The adjustment of world supply to world demand will require adjustments of production in other countries, as well as the United States.

The United States will seek in cooperation with friendly countries to utilize its agricultural surpluses to increase consumption in those areas where there is demonstrable under-consumption.

Enactment of this legislation is a major step forward in achieving that broad objective.

The functions of negotiating and entering into agreements with friendly nations or organizations of friendly nations conferred upon the President by the Act are hereby delegated to the Secretary of State.

I request you to assume responsibility for organizing this Committee and to serve as its Chairman.

This program must be carried out in accordance with and in furtherance of our foreign policy objectives.

I shall expect you to be guided by the policy statement concerning foreign trade as related to agriculture which I have approved and issued today.

Fellow citizens: On this Labor Day, 1954, we Americans pause to take special note of the dignity and the worth--and the tremendous accomplishment--of the individual worker in our land.

On this day we salute with special pride the unmatched productivity of our working men and women.

It is our good fortune, therefore, that on this special day we take a historic step forward, opening for all of us new avenues to constructive employment, to prosperity, to respite from burdensome toil.

My friends, through such measures as these, and through knowledge we are sure to gain from this new plant we begin today, I am confident that the atom will not be devoted exclusively to the destruction of man, but will be his mighty…

It is, then, with profound hope and confidence--and with prayer for the future ages of mankind--that I now, by this act, begin construction of America's first commercial-size atomic power plant.

I was going to do my best to pick a Cabinet that would do its best, to pick administrators that would do their best, to look at the United States as a whole.

I spent a long time in the Army, and we had textbooks that told why a commander should go around and visit the people who were doing the actual fighting--this was to inspire the troops.

And that is why we are here--trying to learn, not merely to make speeches.

I soon found that for my part I seemed to be different.