Larry O'Brien will be the boss of a department that has 600,000 employees.

He believes in every man's right to fight for what he actually believes in.

Our task, then, is to make our cities good place to live, expensive and demanding as we realize that task is going to be.

Our old friend Jim Farley is one of several Irishmen who have served this country with great distinction as Postmaster General.

And Larry's coming here today reminds all of us in America that the large and the small are equally the concern of their Government-and of us all.

It was about 53 years ago that I mailed my first letter from this post office.

I take great pride in reading every day some of the letters from some of the boys in their teens--18, 19, 20 year olds--who are willing to leave and go into battle and give their lives in order that you can enjoy the freedom you have this…

So, this morning, we honor them as brothers in the quest for liberty.

The future of our relations is bright with hope.

I have assured them that there are a number of more important positions that await their doing.

Larry O'Brien's new job will extend to every corner of America.

I do not advocate and, of course, realize that we cannot return to the America that I knew when I was a boy.

I am very pleased that Mrs. Gronouski and the Gronouski children could be here, in this living room in front of this aged fireplace, while we administer the oath of office to what I consider to be one of the best public servants and one of…

He will be an Ambassador first of peace and goodwill, whose mission is to build new bridges not just to Poland but to the people of Eastern Europe.

Our ties with Poland began two centuries ago, when Pulaski came to our shores to help us in our struggle for independence.

But the price of progress must not be two kinds of America--one rural and one urban, or one northern and one southern or one Protestant and one Catholic.

And what is that? Tolerance of the other man's viewpoint.

So, we welcome him into our Cabinet family.