Suggested Statement for Vice President Harry S. Truman for Jefferson Day Dinner
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OCR Page 1 of 6Suggested Statement for VICE PRESIDENT TRUMAN for Jefferson Day Dinner April 13, 1945
THE FATHER OF DEMOCRACY
Mr. Chairman, distinguished guests and fellow Democrats:
We are gathered here this evening for two primary purposes. First,
to pay homage on his birthday to the Father of Democracy -- the great Thomas
Jefferson. Second, we should renew and reaffirm our sincere faith in basic
democratic ideals, such as those Jefferson represented.
By and large, the Democratic Party has been the champion of the
progressives and the poorer people. In sharp contrast, the Republican Party
usually represents the reactionaries and the rich. Even in times of prosperity,
the Democratic Party frequently finds itself financially embarrassed. Of
necessity, our Party usually had to depend primarily upon the relatively modest
donations of rank and file supporters. Even during the last general election,
for every dollar the Democrats raised, our Republican opponents spent two.
Fortunately, however, elections are won by principles and performance, and
not merely money and wealth!
The two party system is the very essence of American democracy. To
permit our constitutional government to operate effectively, we must support
the Party of our choice, and in America, thank God, we still have a free choice!
In recent years certain political writers have glibly stated that
there is little basic difference between the two great political parties in
America. In my humble opinion, there always has been a tremendous difference
between the two parties. Their fundamental political philosophy is so distinct
that the gap between them can never be bridged. It is a difference of principles,
not merely procedure. It is a conflict of ideals, not merely methods.
TRUMAD
NARA
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