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President Harry S. Truman. Source: Truman Library. |
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The Public Papers of Harry S. Truman contain most of President Truman's public messages, statements, speeches, and
news conference remarks. Documents such as Proclamations, Executive Orders, and similar documents that are published in the Federal Register
and the Code of Federal Regulations, as required by law, are usually not included. The documents within the Public Papers
are arranged in chronological order. President Truman delivered the remarks or addresses from Washington, D. C., unless
otherwise indicated. The White House in Washington issued statements, messages, and letters unless noted otherwise.
(Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States, Harry S. Truman, 1945-1953. Washington, D.C.: United States Government Printing Office, 1966)
The Public Papers contain items such as the Statement by the President Announcing the Use of the A-Bomb at Hiroshima
(August 6, 1945), the Special Message to the Congress on Greece and Turkey: The Truman Doctrine (March 12, 1947),
the White House Statement Announcing Recognition of the Government of Israel (January 31, 1949), the Statement and
Order by the President on Relieving General MacArthur of His Commands (April 11, 1951), and The President's Farewell
Address to the American People (January 15, 1953).
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252.
Remarks at the Women's National Democratic Club Dinner |
November 8, 1949
Madam President, Madam Chairman, Mrs. Wilson, distinguished guests, and fellow Democrats:
It certainly is a most happy evening. This is, I think, one of the nicest gatherings I have ever attended. It is always a pleasure, of course, to meet with Democrats, and when we can meet with that section of the Democratic Party, the Women's Democratic Club, that makes among the greatest contributions to Democratic victory, it is more than a pleasure.
I am very certain that every woman in the great State of New York has been doing her duty today, as a result of those returns. That means she has made the old man go to the polls, and she has gone herself and voted. That is really what counts.
You know, the people of this great Nation of ours are not always appreciative of their privileges. They neglect the very thing that gives them the liberties which we all enjoy. They do not, when they have the opportunity, exercise the right to vote.
We must try--and the women of this country are trying--to instill into all the people the necessity for exercising that duty and that privilege under the Constitution of the United States, which gives you the right to vote.
If you didn't have that right, you would be marching up and down in front of the White House with banners, saying, "Votes for Women--Votes for Women--Votes for Women,"
Now you have the right, yet only about 50 percent of us vote. I will tell you that 2 percent more women vote than the men, and if we don't look out--if we don't look out!we will probably have a feminine government some day. I don't think the country would be any worse off, do you?
I am exceedingly happy if the New York Times and the New York Daily News are correct, that we have won a victory in New York--which will have a very decided effect on the elections in 1950.
When we win that sort of victory, in a year such as this, we assume a much greater responsibility from now on than we have had in the past year.
We have had a tremendous responsibility thrust upon the Democratic Party as the party of the people on account of the elections in 1948--as I have to reiterate time and again, a surprise election to a lot of people.
But the Democratic platform set out certain things which it is our duty to try to accomplish. And I want to say to you that the first session of the 81st Congress did a remarkable job, and the second session of the 81st Congress is going to do a better job, as a result of these elections today.
And I am more than convinced that the Democratic Party, the party of the people, will continue to do that job for the welfare of this Nation, and for the welfare of the world.
We have two great objects, as set out in the Democratic platform: that is the welfare and the prosperity of the United States of America, and the welfare and the prosperity of the world as a whole.
Back in 1918--1917 and 1918--that great President, Woodrow Wilson, had a vision of a world ass ...
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