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THE PRESIDENT'S READING COPY INAUGURAL ADDRESS Washington, D. C. January 20, 1973 Mr. Vice President Mr. Chief Justice, Mr. Speaker, Mrs. Eisenhower, and my fellow citizens of this great and good land that we share together: When we met here four years ago, America was bleak in spirit, depressed by the prospect of seemingly endless war abroad and of destructive conflict at home. I. As we meet here today, we stand on the threshhold of a new era of peace in the world. The central question before us is: How we shall use that peace? I. Let us resolve that this era we are about to enter will not be what other post-war periods have beent to ten (I) A time of retreat and isolation that leads to stagnation at home and invites new danger abroad.