February 25, 1969
Page 4485
THE 17TH ANNUAL PRESIDENTIAL PRAYER BREAKFAST
HON. JENNINGS RANDOLPH OF WEST VIRGINIA IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
Tuesday, February 25, 1969
Mr. RANDOLPH. Mr. President, the 17th annual Presidential Prayer Breakfast was held at the Sheraton-Park Hotel on Thursday, January 30. It was attended by the President, the Vice President, members of the Cabinet, members of the Supreme Court, members of the diplomatic corps, Governors of various States, and members of the executive and legislative branches of the Government.
Presidents of national and international labor unions, leaders in industry and business, chancellors and presidents from colleges and universities, and citizens from other phases of our economic life were present.
This year, the Armed Forces Radio and Television System broadcast the Prayer Breakfast to millions of men and women in uniform around the globe.
Mr. President, the 2,200 worshippers at the breakfast were given an hour of inspiration and devotion and truth. Prior to the Presidential Prayer Breakfast, a congressional prayer breakfast was held.
There is a great value in prayer. Elizabeth Cottam Walker has written "Who Once Has Prayed." Her moving lines are:
WHO ONCE HAS PRAYED
Who once has prayed shall live in prayer forever;
This is no passing impulse, to depart
Leaving a life unscrolled, a seeking mind
Untouched by light. A prayer will lift the heart
To realms unsensed in crowded, active hours
Burdened with tasks. Like a bell's clear ringing
A sincere prayer renews, and echoing, blesses,
And sets each life so touched to rhythmic singing.
Whom prayer has winged to set the spirit soaring,
Though brief the flight, shall never rise alone:
Companioned by light, and by an inward hearing,
Will listen always for a prompting tone.
Who once has prayed, though life be etched in sorrow,
Shall walk in light toward a bright tomorrow.
I ask unanimous consent to have the text of the two programs and the proceedings of the latter event published in the RECORD at this point.
There being no objection, the programs and the proceedings of the Presidential Prayer Breakfast were ordered to be printed in the RECORD, as follows:
CONGRESSIONAL PRAYER BREAKFAST PROGRAM
Sea Chanters: "God of Our Fathers."
Presiding: The Honorable Albert H. Quie, U.S. House of Representatives.
Invocation: The Honorable Gerald R. Ford, U.S. House of Representatives.
BREAKFAST
Introduction of head table and statement: The Honorable Albert H. Quie.
Old Testament reading and comments: The Honorable George Romney, Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.
Prayer for national leaders: The Honorable Joseph D. Tydings, U.S. Senate.
New Testament reading and comments: The Honorable Jennings Randolph, U.S. Senate.
The President of the United States.
Closing prayer: The Honorable James G. O'Hara, U.S. House of Representatives.
Closing song: "America."
"Our Father's God to Thee,
Author of liberty,
To Thee we sing.
Long may our land be bright
With freedom's holy light
Protect us by Thy might,
Great God, our King."
"The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might" – Deuteronomy 6: 4, 5
"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.'' – Proverbs 14: 34.
"'and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind, and with all your strength.' The second is this, 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these." – Mark 12: 30, 31.
"Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." – II Corinthians 3: 17.
PRESIDENTIAL PRAYER BREAKFAST PROGRAM
Singing Sergeants: "A Mighty Fortress is Our God."
Presiding: The Honorable Frank Carlson, U.S. Senate.
Invocation: The Honorable Robert H. Finch, Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare.
BREAKFAST
Introduction of head table and statement: The Honorable Frank Carlson.
Greetings from House breakfast group, The Honorable Graham Purcell, U.S. House of Representatives.
Old Testament reading: The Honorable Dr. Guillermo Sevilla-Sacasa, Dean of the Diplomatic Corps.
Greetings from Senate breakfast group: The Honorable John Stennis, U.S. Senate.
New Testament reading: The Vice President of the United States.
Prayer for national leaders: The Honorable Edmund S. Muskie, U.S. Senate.
Message: Dr. Billy Graham.
The President of the United States.
Closing prayer: The Honorable Mark O. Hatfield, U.S. Senate.
Closing song: "America"
"Our Father's God to Thee,
Author of liberty,
To Thee we sing.
Long may our land be bright
With freedom's holy light
Protect us by Thy might,
Great God, our King."
"Above everything else, we need faith ... a faith not only in the rightness of our cause, but faith in God."
"Our tradition is not simply one of great military strength, of tremendous economic productivity, but it is one [of] faith, faith in God, faith in our country, and faith in the great God-given rights which we believe belong to every man in the world today."RICHARD M. NIXON, March 12, 1959.
PROCEEDINGS OF PRESIDENTIAL PRAYER BREAKFAST
INVOCATION
(By the Honorable Robert H. Finch, Secretary of Health, Education, and Welfare)
Shall we pray:
Our Father, we are gathered here today to reaffirm our faith in Thy guidance, to express our gratitude for Thy bountiful blessings upon this land.
We especially pray today for Thy blessings upon the President of the United States as he faces these formidable tasks before all of us.
We pray for the wisdom to discern Thy truth, and the strength and the courage to act upon it. We pray for humility to be receptive to Thy guidance, and for the spirit of charity and compassion to accompany all of our works.
We pray that Thy inspiration be with all us who strive for peace in the world and open their eyes to the paths of peace and justice.
As we pause in this moment to proclaim our faith, we humbly commit ourselves to Thy will, knowing that the ultimate hope of progress and strength of action is in our God, "for blessed is that nation whose trust is in the Lord, and blessed are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of God." Amen.
STATEMENT OF HON. FRANK CARLSON, U.S. SENATE
It is my privilege, on behalf of the men of the U.S. Senate and the House of Representatives who meet informally each week in the spirit of Christ to consider spiritual issues and to pray for ourselves and the nations, to welcome to this Breakfast our new President, members of the official family, and distinguished citizens from across the nation.
This morning we meet for the 17th consecutive year as the Presidential Prayer Breakfast. We are honored in having the President of the United States and Mrs. Nixon as our honored guests.
It is perhaps fitting to be reminded that President Richard Nixon, as then Vice President, was part of the very first Presidential Prayer Breakfast begun with President Eisenhower. And, Mr. President, if I may be permitted this personal word, I would like to say that what you had to say in this context in those early days was not only an inspiration then but provided a foundation for the widespread good which has resulted in our meeting together in this way.
In fact, anticipating this moment together, I recalled one of your messages, Mr. President, and looking back in the Congressional Record for it, I discovered that in your statement illustrating the great contribution of the spirit which America had to offer, you concluded with these words:
"And so, with that, may I say that the work you do in inspiring faith in leaders in your own communities and leaders in the halls of Congress and Government is basically important – important because you are emphasizing the phase of American life which needs emphasizing today. You are helping us to point out to the world that we have something more to offer than the enemies of freedom, and you are helping to remind us of the fact that our tradition is not simply one of great military strength, of tremendous economic productivity, but it's one in which we have arrived where we have arrived because we have faith – faith in God, faith in our country, and faith in the great God-given rights which we all believe belong to every man in the world today."
End of the quote, Mr. President, and that was in 1953. Now it is a testimony to the vision of men originally conceiving this idea that each successive President has attached a great growing measure of importance and significance to this event which involves so meaningfully so many of our national leaders in all walks of life.
And I'm glad to announce that this morning, for the first time, the Presidential Prayer Breakfast is being broadcast by the Armed Forces Radio to the United States military commands and servicemen around the world. This Breakfast inspiration is going out over more than 300 Armed Forces Radio stations to personnel in 29 foreign countries, 9 United States territories and possessions. And it's reassuring to realize that this morning 95 per cent of our troops in Vietnam will be hearing this Breakfast.
This Presidential Prayer Breakfast grew out of the inspiration received by members of Congress in the weekly United States Senate and the House of Representatives Prayer Groups beginning in 1943 – and, as you know, the Senate group meets weekly on Wednesday mornings, and the House group on Thursday mornings. These groups, as you know, are completely private and they are unpublicized. The two groups meet together, and met together for the first time in 1953, when they invited President Eisenhower as their guest, and each year since the two groups have continued to meet together on a date at the opening of Congress to bring about this event now known as the Presidential Prayer Breakfast.
So, over the past 15 years the growth of this idea has been rather remarkable. The influence of the Presidential Breakfast has resulted in prayer groups in practically every State in the Union, a Governor's prayer breakfast, breakfasts involving political, business, labor and professional leadership of our nation. And I think I would state it might be well said that the observable result of the Congressional Prayer Breakfast groups as well as the Presidential Prayer Breakfast has been the building of friendships between the leaders of nations by developing common spiritual ties on a private basis.
Now, it's my distinct honor this morning to present the head table. And before introducing our head-table guests, it's my high privilege to present the First Lady of the land, Mrs. Richard Nixon.
Now, I shall present those who will not be participating in the program, and, in view of the shortness of time, I would urge that as I present these names they remain standing and we'll give the applause at the conclusion of the presentation of these fine people.
I'm going to start on my right with the Honorable John Volpe, Secretary of Transportation, and Mrs. Volpe;
The Honorable George Shultz, Secretary of Labor, and Mrs. Schultz;
The Postmaster General of the Unite, States, the Honorable Winton Blount.
The Secretary of Defense, the Honorable Melvin Laird, and Mrs. Laird;
The Honorable Valenzuelo Valdo President of the Congress of Chile;
The Secretary of State, the Honorable William Rogers and Mrs. Rogers;
The distinguished Senator from the State of Oregon, the Honorable Mark Hatfield, and Mrs. Hatfield;
The wife of our distinguished Vice President, Mrs. Agnew.
The Secretary of the Treasury, the Honorable David M. Kennedy and Mrs. Kennedy.
The Mayor of our great city, the Nation's Capital, the Honorable Walter Washington, and Mrs. Washington;
The Honorable John Mitchell, Attorney-General;
The Honorable Maurice Stans, Secretary of Commerce;
The Honorable Secretary of Interior, Walter Hickel and Mrs. Hickel;
The Honorable Clifford Hardin, Secretary of Agriculture, and Mrs. Hardin;
The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, the Honorable George Romney, and Mrs. Romney;
The Honorable Robert Andreas, head of the Canadian delegation and the Minister of Indian Affairs of Canada.
And now, proceeding with the program, it is my great privilege to present a very distinguished member of the House of Representatives who will bring us greetings from the House Breakfast Prayer Group, the Honorable Graham Purcell of the United States House of Representatives.
GREETINGS FROM HOUSE BREAKFAST GROUP
(By the Honorable GRAHAM PURCELL, U.S. House of Representatives)
Mr. President, honored guests and friends: I convey to you the warmest of greetings from the Prayer Breakfast Group of the House of Representatives. By custom we meet each Thursday at 8 a.m. These same mornings from our fellowship together we go forth strengthened and renewed with a better ability to handle the burdens of our office. The spark that sometimes lies dormant will have been fanned by that brief hour together, and we will feel as if the light gained will better enable us to see the road that must be followed to find the true meaning of our lives and our purpose as a nation.
It perhaps is Government's destiny to function through the works of man, but there is no mandate that Government and its leaders must function without the benefit of God's guidance. Quite to the contrary, we feel that it is the very withdrawal from God that has brought us to a point in time where as never before race hates race, crime sweeps the streets, and a craze for materialism and soft living in a land of plenty has threatened the very foundations of our existence.
We are painfully aware that this is not as things should be. But how guilty also are we of holding out the promise of action by the Government as a panacea for the aches of the soul of a people? We remember that we must seek the true well-spring, gain a return to spiritual caring, simple human kindness and a renewal of our hopes and work – just work – for this nation.
At such a time, those of us who are fortunate enough to be able to share together that hour between 8 and 9 Thursday mornings, we are able to renew our true values, to see ourselves more realistically. We recall that so many people across the globe placed really little credence in the display of technology and skill which placed man behind the moon, but chose instead to rejoice at the miracle of the Biblical words spoken Christmas Eve from the Lunar perimeter. Thus recalling, we take heart, we feel refreshed, and our tremors are still.
And now, for several years we have looked forward to this very special day when we could come join with you and share in this international commitment of free men joining together and praising the Lord, calling upon Him for Divine Guidance. Most fully from our hearts go out our prayers for our president and for our leaders everywhere. We seek these things not only for you and ourselves as individuals, but so necessarily for the good earth.
OLD TESTAMENT READING
(By Dr. Guillermo Sevilla-Sacasa, Ambassador of Nicaragua)
Mr. President and Mrs. Nixon, Mr. Vice president and Mrs. Agnew, Excellencies, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen:
It is an honor and a source of great satisfaction to my colleagues in the Diplomatic Corps and to me to attend this splendid and highly significant Presidential Breakfast honored by the presence of our illustrious friend, His Excellency, the President of the United States, Richard M. Nixon, and Mrs. Nixon, and His Excellency, the Vice President, Spiro T. Agnew, and Mrs. Agnew.
It is a pleasure to recall our fortunate meeting last year; our thanks to Divine providence for having given us the opportunity to meet again as friends and as brothers. It is indeed gratifying to share the bread of friendship, the bread that has most the meaning in the Christian meaning, the bread of friendship.
"Friendship" is a sacred word, a novel sentiment, that precious essence that flavors life. We know that the cross symbolizes Christianity, and it is under this symbol that the sublime Power brings us together. The arms of the cross are always open as if to receive us. So, on this happy occasion, we, too, are meeting with open arms to greet our friends who reside far from here and have come to this famed Capitol, the heart of a glorious nation, to share with us the bread of friendship.
This breakfast is being held, as I just stated, in a glorious country, whose Founders brought in their veins the heart and blood of her power for generations, and in their souls the guiding faith and rebellious spirit that made them the heroic builders of friendship.
We greet with respect and highest esteem His Excellency, the President, Richard M. Nixon and Mrs. Nixon, whose presence has greatly pleased us. We greet His Excellency, Vice President Spiro T. Agnew and Mrs. Agnew with sentiment of deep regard. We greet the Honorable Frank Carlson, the indefatigable person responsible for promoting this event, whose qualities are so worthy of our respect. We greet all the distinguished personalities, gentlemen and charming ladies, who are present here today, whose attendance adds to our satisfaction. To you all I would like to say that we are of sincere hope we shall meet again under the sign of friendship, that delicious matter that will never cease to flow because it flows from the heart.
Now, Mr. President, Mrs. Nixon, Mr. Vice President, Mrs. Agnew, distinguished guests, Senator Carlson, ladies and gentlemen, Psalm 24, psalm of David:
"The earth is the Lord's, and the fullness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
"For he hath founded it upon the seas, and established it upon the floods.
“Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or Who shall stand in his holy place?
“He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.
"He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
"This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
"Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
"Who is this King of glory? The Lord strong and mighty, the Lord mighty in battle.
"Lift up your heads, O ye gates; even lift them up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
"Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah."
GREETINGS FROM SENATE BREAKFAST GROUP
(By the Honorable JOHN STENNIS, U.S. Senate)
President Nixon, Mrs. Nixon, Vice President Agnew, Mrs. Agnew, Distinguished Guests, other Friends:
It is my privilege to bring greetings from the Senate Breakfast Group which meets Wednesday morning each week during Congressional sessions. First we enjoy the fellowship and friendship that comes from having breakfast together, and then have a 15-minute talk by a previously chosen Senator on a spiritual subject of his choice, with an added 15 minutes of round-the-table responses or questions by the members present. The attendance at our meetings so far this year has averaged 24 Senators per meeting.
All sessions are personal and private; all talks, questions and responses are strictly off the record. Under these circumstances we bare our minds, our hearts, our feelings, our very souls, far beyond all other experiences we have together. This brings out the real man. There we find the best chance to know each other. This has been by far my most rewarding experience in the Senate.
As one who has attended these weekly meetings fairly regularly and listened to the discussions for years, I am impressed with the extent to which all the members continue to be influenced by the spiritual values and lessons that came in their early years – their early teachings and beliefs – given by a mother, a father, a sister, a teacher, a minister or a friend. Clearly, these influences have prevailed through the years of busy lives and continue to be a major factor in our official life as we daily make grave decisions on far-reaching policies that affect the 200,000,000 citizens of our Nation as well as many added millions around the world.
If I could sum up these expressions and experiences related by the members at these sessions, they would add up to the word – FAITH – positive faith in spiritual values.
This includes a faith in our system of self-government; a faith in the raw product of humanity; a faith in individuals; and moreover, it means a faith in eternal truths, and a faith in an eternal God.
In a large measure, these are the things that are missing in many, but by no means all, of our youth, and is largely the cause of much honest uncertainty and unrest as well as a major cause why many are in tragic revolt against authority in our time. We will find an answer amidst these principles that we were taught, but have failed to effectively pass on to many of our time.
Let us try harder – let us try harder to instill these principles in the minds and hearts of both the youth and many of the adults of our time, so that they may and will take their rightful place in helping solve the problems confronting our nation. We must find a way, and can do so – with God's help.
NEW TESTAMENT READING
(By Vice President SPIRO T. AGNEW)
Mr. President, Mrs. Nixon, distinguished members of our governmental family, visitors from other governmental families, ladies and gentlemen:
This morning I have selected a passage from Chapter 6 of St. Luke, because this particular passage brought to my attention more forcibly than anything I've read recently the transitory nature of our existence and our preoccupation with what we may describe as "indescribable complexity" – if you can use those two words together, and I think you can in this context – attempt to describe.
The problem seems to be that we are beset with so many opinions forcing themselves upon our attention – so many opinions that sometimes we lose sight of the simple edict of the Commandments of our faith, and the need to become aware that these things should transcend our thoughts, should reinforce us in moments when we are not entirely sure of the direction we should take.
I was raised as an Episcopalian because my mother was born to that faith. My father was Greek Orthodox. What they left me as a heritage did not come from the doctrinaire teachings of either one of those religions, but from the way they lived their belief in God from day to day. And my father had an expression that I remember so well. And that expression was "He was a good man." And when my father said someone was a good man, he meant not that he was wealthy or talented or handsome; but he meant that he lived and guided his existence by his belief in the concepts of God. And I think that today we stand on the threshold of space. This teaches us really not how much we have progressed, but how far there is yet to go. We must guide ourselves by the words in the scriptures. These passages, I think, are appropriate to those who find themselves confused:
"Blessed be ye poor; for yours is the kingdom of God.
"Blessed are ye that hunger now: for ye shall be filled. Blessed are ye who weep now: for ye shall laugh.
"Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake.
"Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets."
PRAYER FOR NATIONAL LEADERS
(By the Honorable EDMUND S. MUSKIE, U.S. Senate)
Mr. President and Mrs. Nixon, Mr. Vice President and Mrs. Agnew, let us pray:
Our Father, we are gathered here this morning perplexed and deeply troubled. We are grateful for the many blessings You have bestowed upon us; the great resources of our land and our people; the freedom to apply them to uses of our own choosing; the successes which have marked our efforts.
We are perplexed that notwithstanding these blessings, we have not succeeded in making possible a life of promise for all our people and a growing dissatisfaction, division and distrust threaten our unity and our progress toward peace and justice.
We are deeply troubled that we may not be able to agree upon the common purposes and the basis for our mutual trust which are essential if we are to overcome our difficulties.
And, so, Our Father, we turn to You for help. Teach us to listen to one another with a kind of attention which is receptive to other points of view, however different, and with a healthy skepticism as to our own infallibility.
Teach us to understand one another with a kind of sensitivity which springs from deep-seated sympathy and compassion. Teach us to trust one another beyond mere tolerance with the willingness to take a chance on the perfectability of our fellow man. Teach us to help one another beyond charity in the kind of mutual involvement which is essential if a free society is to work.
Each of us in this room in some degree bears the responsibility and the burden of leadership. Our task has been described as the art of changing the nation from what it is into what it ought to be.
Such a task is a challenge to the best that is in each of us.
And so we pray, Our Father, that You will bestow the gifts of wisdom and inspiration and strength in full measure upon our President, the Vice President, the Cabinet, the Congress, the Courts, and all others in authority. And as we raise our eyes and our hopes above our weaknesses and shortcomings help us, Our Father, to move toward the day envisioned by Franklin in his prayer: "God grant that not only the love of liberty, but a thorough knowledge of the rights of man may pervade all the nations of the earth so that a philosopher may set his foot anywhere on its surface and say, ‘This is my country.’"
We ask it in Jesus' name, Amen.
MESSAGE BY DR. BILLY GRAHAM
Mr. President, Mrs. Nixon, Senator Carlson, Mr. Vice President and Mrs. Agnew:
We're running about a half an hour behind schedule, and I'm not going to presume upon the time of the President, whom you've come to hear and to see, and upon the appointments of so many distinguished leaders of Government by taking a long time this morning.
I had four points in my talk, but I'm going to concentrate only on the last one and cut out the first.
One of the things that disturbs me in America at this moment is the over-self-criticism that we have, of which I too have been guilty. Sir Winston Churchill once said that our problems are beyond us. Jean-Paul Sartre wrote a book entitled "No Exit." He said there is no answer to the problems of the human dilemma. I say to both of those distinguished men, I believe there is an answer. There is a way out. We have too much introspection. This is a great government, a great system and a great way of life.
Two days ago, I spent four hours with one of the theoreticians of the "new left." We debated, we talked, we disagreed and we agreed. He said within five years we will have either revolution or dictatorship. He said, "We're going to burn the country down."
I said, "What will stop it?"
He said, "Only one thing. A religious awakening in this country would save the country." In that I agreed.
We faced difficult times in American history before. When Washington was at Valley Forge, what could have been more difficult and more pessimistic than that hour? A third of his men had deserted, a third died from malnutrition, only a third were left. And Washington got on his knees and prayed, and out of that winter of prayer came the victory of the Revolution.
What could have been more hopeless than those men meeting, trying to bring about a Constitution of the United States and they could not agree, and it seemed that the little country would die in the beginning? And Franklin stood up and called for prayer, and those men went to their knees in prayer, and out of that prayer came our Constitution.
What could have been more hopeless than Lincoln, during the Civil War, when brother was fighting against brother and cousin against cousin, and blood was being spilled all over this country, and hate was rampant? And Lincoln would call his Cabinet together and ask them to get on their knees. And out of those times of prayer there came an answer. The union was preserved. The nation was saved.
In 1955, President Eisenhower was in Pittsburgh and he said this: "The history of free men is never really written by change, but by choice – their choice."
Ladies and gentlemen, I believe we have a choice. Our poverty problem, our race problem, the war problem are problems of the heart, problems of the spirit. The President of the United States has reminded us that ours is a crisis of the spirit, and he was right. This is the basic crisis. And if we can solve that problem, all of our other problems can be solved. The nation can be preserved. World peace can come.
And I think it's time that we take our eyes off our shortcomings and off our failures and off ourselves and put them on the Christ who said, "You must be born again."
Eric Hoffer said the other night on television that we need a new birth. He was right. We need a new birth. But it needs to start with somebody. It needs to start with me. It needs to start with you. Christ said, "You must be born again if you are to be saved." You must have a new birth of the spirit, a new birth of the heart, and that can come about in your life today if you would be willing to get alone somewhere today with God and say, "O God, I have sinned against You. I put my trust and my confidence in Your Son Jesus Christ." And in that moment you can have a new birth. And through you, America and the world could have a new birth.
Thank you very much.
REMARKS OF THE PRESIDENT
Mr. Vice President and Mrs. Agnew, Senator Carlson, all the distinguished Members of Congress, representatives of the Administration, and particularly to your distinguished guests from other countries and those listening on radio and those who may see bits and pieces on television:
I am honored to be here on one of the first public appearances since the Inauguration; and particularly so because I have had the opportunity to share with you in these very eloquent moments in which we have heard from people in both Parties, in which we have also heard from a representative of another nation. There is, however, a common theme that runs through it all. That theme is religious faith which, despite the differences we may have, brings us together – brings us together in this Nation and, we trust, may help bring us together in the world.
As I was preparing my Inaugural Address, I did what I am sure every President who has had that responsibility did – I read all the ones that had previously been made. They were very different. Some were much longer than others. One was an hour and forty minutes. Another, the shortest, was ten minutes. Some spoke of all the great issues as the State of the Union message does, and others were rather brief, speaking only of the principles which were to be held to by the next President of the United States.
But there was one theme that was common to every one of them. That was that each President, as he was being inaugurated, in his own way, recognized the spiritual heritage of this Nation and asked for the blessing of God on this country – in not only its affairs at home, but its affairs abroad.
In talking to Billy Graham, who has spoken to us so eloquently today, he told me he had made a study of the Presidents of the United States. He had reached an interesting conclusion. Some of them came to the Presidency with a much deeper and more basic religious faith than others, but however they may have come to that awesome responsibility, all had left the Presidency with a very deep religious faith.
Yesterday, Speaker McCormack gave me a striking example of this. One of the early great Presidents, Andrew Jackson, came to the Presidency from the battlefields. Perhaps those who had read history were not aware of the deep religious faith which he perhaps had then but had not expressed, but which in his later years – and particularly after he left the Presidency – he often attested to.
The Speaker referred to an occasion when President Jackson was asked to participate in a dedication ceremony marking the Battle of New Orleans. He refused because the ceremony was set for Sunday.
Those who were inviting him said, "But, Mr. President, you fought in the Battle of New Orleans on Sunday." Jackson answered,
"Well, that was a matter of necessity. I am speaking now from choice."
During these past few days, as is the case with any newly-inaugurated President, I have found very little time to do what I would like to do; to meet people, to read the thousands of letters that come in from all over the country. But each evening at the end of the day I try to read a few, to get a feeling of the country, so as not to get out of touch – in that Oval Room – with all of the deep feelings that people around this country have about the Presidency and our Nation.
I found one common theme that ran through a majority of those letters. I was somewhat surprised that it did so. In these days in which religion is not supposed to be fashionable in many quarters, in these days when skepticism and even agnosticism seems to be on the upturn, over half of all the letters that have come into our office have indicated that people of all faiths and of all nations in a very simple way are saying: "We are praying for you, Mr. President. We are praying for this country. We are praying for the leadership that this Nation may be able to provide for this world."
As I read those letters I realize how great was my responsibility and how great was your responsibility, those who share with me these days in Government.
I realize that people who we will never meet have this deep religious faith which has run through the destiny of this land from the beginning.
I realize that we carry on our shoulders their hopes, but more important, we are sustained by their prayers.
I say to all of you joining us here today in this Presidential Prayer Breakfast, that in the many events that I will participate in, none will mean more to me, personally, none, I think, will mean more to the Members of the Cabinet and to Congress than this occasion.
You have inspired us. You have given us a sense of the continuity of history which brings us together from the beginning to now. You have told us in a very simple and eloquent way that, great as the problems which now confront us, with faith, faith in Our Lord, faith in the ideals of our country, and also with a deep dedication to what our role is in this nation and the world, we are going to be able to make these next years great years for this nation and great years for the world.
I believe that and it is to that end that we dedicate ourselves today. That objective transcends all partisan considerations. I am proud to stand here today in the presence of those who, by your being here, indicate that you have not lost faith in this nation. You have not lost faith in the religions background that has sustained us.
As a matter of fact, we are entering a period when, sustained by that faith, will be able to meet the challenge which is ours – a challenge which comes to very few people in the history of man. It is America's now. Whether we succeed or we fail will depend or determine whether peace and freedom survive on this world.
We will meet the challenge. We will meet it because we are going to devote every hour of the day to seeing that we meet it properly. But we will meet it also because we will be sustained and inspired by the prayers of millions of people across this world. Those prayers do mean something. Through the medium of these words I want to thank the people of this nation, the people of this world who are praying for us. We trust that we can be worthy of your prayers and worthy of your faith.
CLOSING PRAYER
(By the Honorable MARK O. HATFIELD, U.S. Senate)
Holy, Holy, Lord God Almighty, hear now our prayer.
We are grateful for having brought us together, but let this time not be merely an annual occasion in our lives. Grant us a realization of the possible impact of answers to our prayers, the impact on other people and nations. Excite our imagination with all our potential to serve and love You by sharing ourselves and resources with our fellow man. Burn into our mind a sense of urgency to mobilize our technology to conquer the enemies of man – disease, hunger, poverty.
Grant our President, Richard Nixon, and all leaders of men profound wisdom to achieve peace in all parts of the world. Purge our hearts of all sin, especially bigotry, hatred, jealousy and all others. Teach us to worship not self, money, glamor, prestige, but to displace ego with a love of Jesus Christ our Saviour, and You, as our Father, God, send now Your Holy Spirit with each one of us to guide and to protect. Amen.