Press Release, Non-Political Speech of President Harry S. Truman, Raleigh, North Carolina

HOLD FOR RELEASE HOLD FOR RELEASE HOLD FOR RELEASE OCTOBER 18, 1948 CONFIDENTIAL: The following address of the President, to be delivered at the State Capitol in Raleigh, North Carolina -- at the dedication of a monument to Andrew Jackson, James K. Polk and Andrew Johnson -- tomorrow, Tuesday, October 19, 1948, MUST BE HELD FOR RELEASE until 11:30 A.M., Eastern Standard Time, October 19, and no portion, synopsis, or intimation may be given out, or broadcast or published until that time. TOUMAN The same release applies to all newspapers, radio ARCHIVES "NATIONAL REQORDS AND announcers and news broadcasters. SERVICE PLEASE USE CARE TO AVOID PREMATURE PUBLICATION OR RADIO ANNOUNCEMENT. CHARLES G. ROSS Secretary to the President This is an occasion to which I have looked forward for a long time. I have been interested in this memorial since I was con- sulted about it by an old friend, who invited me to be here today. I cannot allow this occasion to pass without reference to that great North Carolinian who contributed so much to the creation of this monument. This project was very close to the heart of my old friend who was the first chairman of the monument commission - Josephus Daniels. There is no need for me to tell people in North Carolina what kind of a man Josephus Daniels was. Three times he won eminence in the nation at large - once as Secretary of the Navy during the First World War, then as ambassador to Mexico, and finally as historian of his own times. Triple fame comes to few men. Yet I am inclined to think that you, among whom he lived, may have known him in a capacity greater than any of these. I congratulate you on having known, not just the official, not just the diplomat, not just the scholar, but also the honorable citizen, the kindly neighbor, the great-hearted gentleman that he was. Mr. Daniels understood these great North Carolinians to whom we dedicate this monument today. He knew that all three had in common the rugged, self-reliant qualities of a free people. They were all men of the people, of deep religious faith, democratic sympathies and dauntless courage. They never swerved from the people's cause. They deserve not only an enduring monument but understanding remembrance. We are in the midst of a political campaign upon which depends much of the country's future. It is good at such a time to pause to take strength and guidance from our country's past. This year, as in all the years, the State of North Carolina has much to teach the country. Its great sons have important things to say to us still. And we have important things to learn from them. We deal here today not merely with the dedication of a monument. Our task is the re-dedication of ourselves. Each of the three men whose fame this monument celebrates held the office of President in a time of trouble. Andrew Jackson had to face the nullification crisis, which was the first threat of secession. James K. Polk was confronted by the Mexican War. Andrew Johnson was caught in the mass hysteria following (OVER)