Lyndon Johnson

Asia just must no longer sit at the second table of the 20th century's concern.

We intend to land the first man on the surface of the moon and we intend to do this in the decade of the sixties.

His name is Jim Webb.

Rivers can be tamed.

It is not possible--and it is not right--to neglect a people's hopes because the ocean is vast, or their culture is alien, or their language may be strange, or their race different, or their skin another color.

I think we have the man.

The whole Nation now understands the true significance of America's space efforts.

This is a moment in which history and hope meet and move on from here as partners.

And while I expect they will continue to make their argument of isolationism versus globalism--for we all are determined to preserve their right to speak up in this land--I hope they, too, expect me to try to keep on making my case for…

The Asian Development Bank is the first step of what I conceive to be a very long journey.

The act I sign this morning authorizes the United States of America to ratify the charter of the Asian Development Bank.

Today we have begun to redeem that pledge.

It is simply that there is no rest from the trials of freedom, there is no recalling what the pace of change has done to the map of this big world, there is no reducing our responsibilities while the challenges of progress will not permit…

It is that we cannot turn from the place of shared needs and expect either peace or progress to follow us.

And what is that case?

I believe that the development of the space age will bring the beginning of the longest and greatest boom of abundance and prosperity in the history of man.

So today we have come here to the historic East Room of the White House and gathered at this place to start a journey together.

In accepting this award this morning, I want to declare once again that so long as I am in public office, I am going to do everything within my power and my capability to prevent us from falling behind.

I believe that those who make that case are no less patriotic and no less sincere than those who believe that we cannot shorten the length of our reach into the world.

There are no bounds to the possibilities, if there are no limits to our dreams.

We seek only one real monument, a monument with peace and progress for its base and justice for its pinnacle.

For the United States it is our first major commitment under our promise to expand economic and social development in Southeast Asia.

Seldom have nations joined together in a collective venture that is so endowed with promise.

First, for the Asian leaders, who conceived and organized the bank and who are so ably represented here today by the Ambassadors from their countries.

So to those who ask what our present struggle in Vietnam really means, let me say: Our purpose is to demonstrate to the remaining advocates of violence that there is more human profit to be had from peace than there is from war.