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"And they were frugal, possibly of necessity, because I have found out in later years we were very poor, but the glory of America is that we didn't know it then. All that we knew was that our parents—of great courage—could say to us: 'Opportunity is all about you. Reach out and take it. Do you want to go to school? Well, go. What are you afraid of? Do you have to stand around until someone comes along with a fat checkbook and takes care of every possible care or difficulty you can have in that school?' They didn't believe so. They were thrifty, they were economical, and they were honest . . .
"They were people of great courage, and I think they never stooped—they never had time—to hate or despise an enemy, or those that used them spitefully. I don't think they ever loved the drought and the locusts that ruined their first business down in your little town of Hope, a few miles south of here—a drought and the locusts that really drove them to Texas and brought about the strange paradox in our family that I was born in Texas. [The Kansans rumbled a laugh.] But they accepted these trials and tribulations, and met them with courage and with never a thought of failure. They were a part and parcel of their community, of the philosophy that then governed our lives . . ."
Days of Interdependence. "Those days were essentially simple ones. We did not feel intimately any relationship with Iran. We did not think about needing the tin and tungsten of Malaya, or the uranium of the Belgian Congo or the tin of Bolivia. We felt, rather, independent and alone . . . But now we realize the world is a great interdependent, complex entity . . . We have learned no part of us can prosper, no nation can really in the long fun be at peace and have security unless others enjoy the same."
Then, with great humility and clarity, Eisenhower made his main point:
"And yet, in spite of the difficulties of the problems we have, I ask you this one question: If each of us in his own mind would dwell more upon those simple virtues—integrity, courage, self-confidence and unshakable belief in his Bible—would not some of these problems tend to simplify themselves? Would not we, after having done our very best with them, be content to leave the rest with the Almighty, and not to charge all our fellow men with the fault of bringing us where we were and are? I think it is possible that a contemplation, a study, a belief in those simple virtues would help us mightily."
The Level. As Ike said, the creed was an old one. But the man, the year and the place made it new and alive. This was not the local-boy-makes-good story. It was not the up-from-log-cabin story. Nor was Ike suggesting that all problems could be solved by the simple equations of rural Kansas. This was the story of fundamentals which had served Ike Eisenhower well —and through him, the nation. It was the creed of the man who could say "Free government is the political expression of a deeply felt religious faith."