And it's going to take place in this decade.

It is essential that the United States participate in this great adventure.

We choose to go to the Moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard, because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our energies and skills, because that challenge is…

I can imagine no action, no adventure which is more essential and more exciting than to be involved in the most important and significant adventure that any man has been able to participate in the history of the world.

I congratulate you on what you have done and I congratulate you on being part of this adventure.

We have a long way to go, but with your effort and commitment and the effort of all of our fellow Americans and their commitment, we shall be first.

The effort that we and you are making in common is to defend our countries, defend our peace, defend the vital interests of the free world in the strong belief that in time the disease of liberty, as Thomas Jefferson called it, will be…

I want to express our great satisfaction in your presence here in the United States.

You're here on a most important mission, and that is one which is greatly identified with the traditional and present and future aspirations of free men and women.

We're confident that you will teach us as much as you will learn.

But I believe that we are an advancing society, and I believe that we are on the rise, and I believe that their system is as old as time.