This is a great responsibility, a great opportunity, and you are the leaders of it.

This does represent the most direct challenge that the free world has, I believe, here in Central America and in Latin America.

I come here today with 180 million fellow Americans who want this hemisphere to be free, and who want this hemisphere to be an example to a watching world in the crucial years of this century and this decade.

We are very grateful to you and to the people of Costa Rica.

That is why we are here today.

We are delighted to be here and to be the guests of our distinguished Ambassador, who is an old friend of mine, and also to be here with you.

Our high voyage, Mr. President, is not to seek new lands to conquer, but to make sure that old lands remain free.

Personnel actions should be based, in accordance with merit principles, solely on the ability of candidates to meet qualification requirements and physical standards of the position to be filled.

Older persons must receive fair and full consideration for employment and advancement in the competitive service.

The Surgeon General of the Department of the Army shall, from time to time, prescribe or approve a list enumerating various medical conditions or physical defects that disqualify registrants for service in the Armed Forces.

The appeal board shall classify the registrant, giving consideration to the various classes in the same manner in which the local board gives consideration thereto when it classifies a registrant.