79th Congress 1 SENATE { D S, CU1, J?, KT 
 
 1st session J I No. 40 
 
 FOURTH 
 INAUGURAL ADDRESS 
 
 OF 
 
 FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT 
 
 PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES 
 
 DELIVERED ON THE PORTICO OF THE WHITE HOUSE 
 WASHINGTON, D. C. 
 
 TOGETHER WITH THE INVOCATION AND BENEDICTION 
 
 JANUARY 20, 1945 
 
 UNITED STATES 
 GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 
 WASHINGTON : 1945 
 
SUBMITTED BY MR. BILBO 
 
 In the Senate of the United States, 
 April 24 {legislative day, April 16), 1945. 
 Ordered, That the Inaugural Address of the President of the United 
 States, delivered on Saturday, January 20, 1945, together with the 
 invocation and benediction, be printed as a Senate document. 
 
 Attest: 
 
 Leslie L Biffle, 
 Secretary, United States Senate. 
 
FOURTH INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF PRESIDENT 
 FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT 
 
 INVOCATION 
 
 The Right Reverend Angus Dun, Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal 
 diocese of Washington, offered the following prayer: 
 
 Almighty God, Thou alone holdest rightful rule over the kingdoms 
 of the world, and without Thy favor we are but dust that builds on 
 dust. As we, the people of these United States, entrust the powers of 
 government to those whom we have chosen, enable us to dedicate 
 them, and to rededicate ourselves, to the tasks to which Thou has 
 called us. Keep us ever mindful of the sacrifices we ask of those who 
 give their lives on our behalf; keep us mindful of the heritage of good 
 or of ill which we shall leave to our children and to our children's 
 children. Hold these Thy servants, and us, steadfastly faithful to the 
 maintenance of responsible liberty for all, and equal justice under law. 
 For the sake of this people and of all peoples, lift those who bear 
 authority among us above the claims of class, the prejudices of race, 
 the seeking of party advantage, and make them in truth the resolute 
 servants of the common good. And in these days of perplexity and 
 pain, forbid that we shall be content with any peace save that of a 
 world at unity with itself where all nations in mutual trust may bring 
 their glory unto Thy kingdom. Hear us, O Father, and grant our 
 prayer for the honor of Thy holy name. 
 
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INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF THE PRESIDENT 
 
 Mr. Chief Justice, Mr. Vice President, my friends, you will under- 
 stand and, I believe, agree with my wish that the form of this inaugura- 
 tion be simple and its words brief. 
 
 We Americans of today, together with our allies, are passing through 
 a period of supreme test. It is a test of our courage — of our resolve — 
 of our wisdom — of our essential democracj 7 . 
 
 If we meet that test — successfully and honorably — we shall perform 
 a service of historic importance which men and women and children 
 will honor throughout all time. 
 
 As I stand here today, having taken the solemn oath of office in the 
 presence of my fellow countrymen — in the presence of our God — I 
 know that it is America's purpose that we shall not fail. 
 
 In the days and in the years that are to come we shall work for a 
 just and honorable peace, a durable peace, as today wc work and fight 
 for total victory in war. 
 
 We can and we will achieve such a peace. 
 
 We shall strive for perfection. We shall not achieve it imrae- 
 di&tely — but we still shall strive. We may make mistakes — but they 
 must never be mistakes which result from faintness of heart or 
 abandonment of moral principle. 
 
 I remember that my old schoolmaster, Dr. Peabody, said, in days 
 that seemed to us then to be secure and untroubled: "Things in life 
 will not always run smoothly. Sometimes we will be rising toward 
 the heights — then all will seem to reverse itself and start downward. 
 The great fact to remember is that the trend of civilization itself is 
 forever upward; that a line drawn through the middle of the peaks 
 and the valleys of the centuries always has an upward trend." 
 
 Our Constitution of 1787 was not a perfect instrument; it is not 
 perfect yet. But it provided a firm base upon which all manner of 
 men, of all races and colors and creeds, could build our solid structure 
 of democracy. 
 
 And so today, in this year of war, 1945, we have learned lessons— 
 at a fearful cost — and we shall profit by them. 
 
 We have learned that we cannot live alone, at peace; that our own 
 well-being is dependent on the well-being of other nations far away. 
 We have learned that we must live as men, not as ostriches, nor as 
 dogs in the manger. 
 
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 FOURTH INAUGURAL ADDRESS OF FRANKLIN D. ROOSEVELT 
 
 We have learned to be citizens of the world, members of the human 
 community. 
 
 Wc have learned the simple truth, as Emerson said, that "The only 
 way to have a friend is to be one." 
 
 We can gain no lasting peace if we approach it with suspicion and 
 mistrust or with fear. We can gain it only if we proceed with the 
 understanding, the confidence, and the courage which flow from con- 
 viction. 
 
 The Almighty God has blessed our land in many ways. He has 
 given our people stout hearts and strong arms with which to strike 
 mighty blows for freedom and truth. He has given to our country 
 a faith which has become the hope of all peoples in an anguished world. 
 
 So we pray to Him now for the vision to see our way clearly — to see 
 the way that leads to a better life for ourselves and for all our fellow 
 men — to the achievement of His will, to peace on earth. 
 
BENEDICTION 
 
 The Right Reverend Monsignor John A. Ryan, director of the Social 
 Action Department of the National Catholic Welfare Conference, 
 pronounced the following benediction: 
 
 In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. 
 
 Almighty and all-merciful God, we beseech Thee to bless the United 
 States of America, inspire our magistrates and legislators with wisdom 
 and prudence; infuse the minds and hearts of our people with senti- 
 ments of loyalty, cooperation, and brotherhood. Crown, we beseech 
 Thee, our fighting forces with a decisive and righteous victory, and 
 bring to all the nations of the world a just and lasting peace. 
 
 In particular, we beg Thee to bless, enlighten, and strengthen the 
 man who has this day been reinaugurated in his great office. The 
 tasks which he faces are supremely difficult; the responsibilities which 
 he assumes are weightier and more complex than those that burdened 
 any of his predecessors. Continue, we beseech Thee, to bless and 
 prosper his efforts and endeavors for social and international justice. 
 
 Through Christ, our Lord. Amen. 
 
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