Description:

Johnson Lyndon

 

Lyndon B. Johnson Signed Souvenir Typescript of Great Society Inaugural Address

 

A souvenir typescript of the 1965 Inaugural Address of President Lyndon B. Johnson (1908-1973), in which he reiterated his commitment to Great Society reforms, signed by him as "To Dick Murphy - / with best wishes, Lyndon B. Johnson" at lower right. On fancy textured paper with an enormous presidential seal watermark measuring 6.75" in diameter. Hinged verso to a cream colored mat. With Abilene, Texas copyright. Isolated discolored spots, else near fine. Overall: 12.875" x 15.875".

 

President Johnson's greatest presidential legacy was his Great Society platform, a series of ambitious domestic reforms aimed at eradicating poverty, racism, and social inequality, and addressing shortfalls in education, health, and medicine. In his Inaugural Address delivered on January 20, 1965, President Johnson explored the semi-mystical origins of the American experience, arguing that the Great Society was just the latest ideological offshoot of these origins, and that it was consistent with the national ethos.

 

In part:

 

"They came here - the exile and the stranger, brave and frightened - to find a place where a man could be his own man. They made a covenant with this land. Conceived in justice, written in liberty, bound in union, it was meant one day to inspire the hopes of all mankind. It bind us still. And if keep its terms we shall flourish.

 

First, justice was the promise that all who made the journey would share in the fruits of the land.

 

In a land of great wealth, families must not live in hopeless poverty.

 

In a land rich in harvest, children just must not go hungry.

 

In a land of healing miracles, neighbors must not suffer and die unattended.

 

In a great land of learning and scholars, young people must be taught to read and write…

 

Under this covenant - of justice, liberty, and union - we have become a nation; prosperous, great, and mighty. And we have kept our freedom.

 

But we have no promise from God that our greatness will endure.

 

We have been allowed by Him to seek greatness with the sweat of our hands and the strength of our spirit.

 

I do not believe that the Great Society is the ordered, changeless, and sterile battalion of the ants.

 

It is the excitement of becoming--always becoming, trying, probing, falling, resting, and trying again--but always trying and always gaining.

 

In each generation, with toil and tears, we have had to earn our heritage again.

 

If we fail now, we shall have forgotten in abundance what we learned in hardship: that democracy rests on faith, that freedom asks more than it gives, and that the judgment of God is harshest on those who are most favored.

 

If we succeed, it will not be because of what we have, but it will be because of what we are; not because of what we own, but, rather because of what we believe."

 

President Johnson dedicated this typescript to Richard J. Murphy (1929-2006), who served as U.S. Assistant Postmaster General of Personnel between 1961-1969. While in this role, Murphy encouraged the desegregation of the U.S. Post Office and the hiring of minority employees. President Johnson considered Murphy's successful reformation of the U.S. Post Office as substantial progress towards achieving Great Society goals.

 

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

 

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