White House Press Release, Address of President Harry S. Truman to the Washington State Press Club

231 HOLD FOR RELEASE HOLD FOR RELEASE HOLD FOR RELEASE JUNE 9, 1948 CONFIDENTIAL The following address of the President to be delivered under the auspices of the Washington State Press Club, Seattle, Washington, tomorrow, Thursday, June 10, 1948, MUST BE HELD IN THE STRICTEST CONFIDENCE and no portion, synopsis or intimation may be given out, broadcast or pub- lished UNTIL DELIVERY HAS BEGUN. EXTREME CARE MUST BE EXERCISED TO AVOID PREMATURE PUBLICATION OR RADIO ANNOUNCEMENT. The same caution applies to all newspapers, radio commentators and news broadcasters, both in the United States and abroad. CHARLES G. ROSS Secretary to the President Mr. Chairman, Governor Wallgren, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen: Yesterday, I visited the Grand Coulee Dam for the third time. The sight of that great project moved me deeply, as it has moved me in the past. For Grand Coulee has a significance far beyond the direct contribution it makes to the prosperity of the Pacific Northwest, vital as that is. To me, that magnificent structure stands for many things to which I am deeply devoted. NARA It stands for the wise use of the natural resources with which God has endowed U.S for the benefit of all the people. It stands for the use of water for two purposes essential to the growth of the West - irrigation and hydro-electric power. It stands for the industrial development of the West, which is so vital for the growth of the whole Nation. It stands for the courage and determination of far-sighted citizens, who kept up the fight for the construction of this dam until the fight was won. It stands for the use of the powers of the Federal Government to promote the welfare of its citizens. And, finally, it stands for the great heart and the great vision of one who did so much to make it possible - Franklin D. Roosevelt. When I saw Grand Coulee Dari yesterday, it was pounded by the waters of the worst flood that has visited the Columbia River in fifty-four years. This flood has taken precious human lives. It has done tremendous damage to towns and farms. I cannot express too strongly the concern that this disaster has brought to me. But it is an experience from which we can learn a lesson - or rather get added proof for a lesson that many of us learned long ago. The Federal Government must press forward vigorously with projects to control the waters of our rivers and direct them to useful purposes. The waters of the Columbia River can be controlled. The shock of this tragedy should reinforce our determination to build the dams and other structures needed to bring about such control. Nothing can ever completely repair the damage caused by this flood, or replace the lives that have been lost. But we can do something to see that it does not happen again. We know what must be done to achieve this. We have already proved it in the Tennessee Valley. The Tennessee River used to flood every year or so. But that doesn't happen any more. The waters have been checked by dams. Now, they are used for electric power, and for navigation and recreation. Now, those waters that used to rush down CVER