We should all remember Hurricane Betsy--and how the Red Cross rescued thousands from the brink of that disaster.

I want to apologize to you for being late on account of conditions that I could not control.

AT THIS very minute, somewhere in Vietnam, the American Red Cross is saving a soldier's life--feeding a starving child--sheltering a refugee family.

I want to congratulate each of you and all of you, particularly you six women who are the forerunners of what I think is a new era.

This is particularly a Federal concern.

We should all remember the nurses, doctors, and countless volunteers who stand watch around the clock in hospitals, tents, shelters--wherever there is human need or suffering--here and in Vietnam this very minute.

I hope that the Congress will give early and favorable consideration to this legislation.

You ladies honor your sex and your Government and your professions by your accomplishments.

That agency should be the Department of the Interior.

We owe it the goodness of our hearts and the labors of our hands.

To meet this need I am transmitting, for the consideration of the Congress, the attached bill to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to establish a National Visitor Center in the District of Columbia.

Now there will be individual situations.

We are determined to do what we think ought to be done there.

I have seen Mr. Meany and the other leaders of labor several times.

We want to defeat social misery.

So far as I am concerned, I repeat now what I said last July, and what I said in New York the other night: As he makes his requests, they will be considered and they will be met.

I am very grateful for the support of the leaders of both parties.

I think I could still carry out our commitments there.