I learned long ago, about 16 years ago, that these Democratic functions are tremendous but the thing is not to make a speech, so I am going to be very brief.

Therefore, while maintaining our readiness for war, let us exhaust every avenue for peace.

Let us resolve to be the masters, not the victims, of our history, controlling our own destiny without giving way to blind suspicion and emotion.

While the road to that peace is long and hard, and full of traps and pitfalls, there is no reason not to take each step that we can safely take.

And it is that spirit, the spirit of both preparedness and peace, that this Nation today is stronger than ever before--strengthened by both the increased power of our defenses and our increased efforts for peace.

And, building on that rich base, I see no reason why we cannot fulfill our obligations abroad.

So if you can find new markets, if you can persuade others to come to the United States--we lose in our balance of payments every year $1,800 million on tourists alone; if we could get as many people to come here and spend the same money…

If we could increase our exports by 10 percent, we would have solved our balance of payments problem.

This is a matter of the greatest national significance to us.

I am glad to welcome the citizens of Illinois, as well as the businessmen, as well as the financiers.

We have a good many things in our country that are worth retaining.